EDMONTON - Mike Reilly ran in a pair of quarterback keepers as the Edmonton Eskimos secured a playoff spot, destroying the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-9 on Monday.
With the win, the Eskimos improved to 10-5, the 38th 10-plus win season in franchise history.
The Blue Bombers lost their sixth straight and seventh of their last eight games to fall to 6-9 after a 5-1 start to the season.
The Eskimos struck first with six minutes remaining in the opening quarter as they marched competently downfield before capping off the drive on a one-yard keeper by backup quarterback Pat White to make it 7-0.
A minute later the Eskimos had the ball back in scoring position as Bombers' back Paris Cotton was stripped of the ball by Almondo Sewell and Edmonton's Alonzo Lawrence scooped it up at the Winnipeg 29-yard-line. The turnover led to a 21-yard Hugh O'Neill field goal.
Winnipeg's offence for the first quarter was minus one yard.
Edmonton increased its lead to 14-0 on a missed field goal early in the second quarter and a successful 33-yard kick six minutes in.
The Blue Bombers looked to have caught a break with six minutes remaining as Edmonton punt returner Kendial Lawrence fumbled on his own 22-yard-line with Winnipeg's Carl Volny recovering. However, on the next play, Odell Willis stripped the ball out of quarterback Drew Willy's hands and it bounced around until it was picked up by Dexter McCoil who escaped several tackle attempts in an improbable 88-yard run into the end zone to put the Eskimos up 21-0. It was Edmonton's seventh defensive touchdown this season.
The Eskimos kept coming and added to their totals with just under three minutes left in the first half as starting quarterback Reilly scored on a one-yard plunge. Just 10 seconds later, McCoil sacked Willy in the end zone for a safety to make it 30-0.
Winnipeg continued to take costly penalties and were flagged for pass interference on Fred Stamps, leading to another one-yard Reilly touchdown plunge with four seconds remaining in the first half to make it 37-0.
Edmonton had 217 yards in net offence and 20 first downs to Winnipeg's 27 yards and two first downs in the opening half.
Willy did not return for the second half as the Bombers QB was listed as having an upper body injury. Brian Brohm came in as his replacement.
The Eskimos added to their lead on the first possession in the second half on a 16-yard O'Neill field goal.
The Blue Bombers finally avoided the shutout midway through the third quarter on a 43-yard field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu, who added another 31-yarder with just over a minute left to make it 40-6. Edmonton responded with a punt single to start the fourth.
Winnipeg added a 26-yard field goal five minutes into the fourth, the final scoring play of the game.
The Blue Bombers return home to entertain the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday. The Eskimos hit the road to face the Roughriders in Saskatchewan on Sunday.
