WINNIPEG – Edmonton Eskimos kicker Sean Whyte booted a 53-yard field goal just as time expired to help his team squeak past the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-23 at Investors Group Field on Saturday.
With the victory, Edmonton improves to 10-4 on the season. Winnipeg falls to 4-10.
The Eskimos took the lead in the fourth quarter when quarterback Mike Reilly capped off a 13 play, 81-yard drive with a goal line touchdown sneak. Winnipeg had a chance to pull even following a Cameron Marshall two-yard touchdown run but kicker Lirim Hajrullahu hit an upright on the convert attempt. Last year’s West Division nominee for the CFL’s top special teams player also missed four of five field goal attempts – from 44, 45, 46 and 40-yards out.
Edmonton carried a 13-7 lead into halftime thanks to a Mike Reilly 55-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Stafford in the second quarter. The Bombers jumped back in front in the third quarter with a five-yard Nick Moore touchdown catch. Moore hauled in a 41-yard pass from Matt Nichols on the previous play to set up the major.
Troy Stoudermire returned a Sean Whyte punt 78-yards for a touchdown in the dying seconds of the first quarter to put the Bombers ahead 7-6. Stoudermire’s major made up for him fumbling the opening kickoff at Winnipeg’s 25 yard line which led to an Eskimos 18-yard field goal. Whyte also split the uprights from 26-yards out in the first quarter.
The week 15 match-up marked Bombers’ centre Dominic Picard’s 150th career CFL regular season game.
The Bombers travel to BC next Saturday to face the Lions. Edmonton takes on the league leading Stampeders the same day.
Attendance at Investors Group Field was 24,179, nearly 10,000 short of a sellout.
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