Late TD pass lifts Eskimos over Roughriders 31-27

Sep 21, 2009 - 12:58 AM REGINA, Saskatchewan (CP) - The Edmonton Eskimos nearly dropped the ball.

Despite having numerous drops throughout the second half, Ricky Ray hit Maurice Mann for a game-winning 68-yard touchdown pass with 69 seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a late 31-27 win over the host Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.

Ray's performance prior to the play wasn't flashy, but it didn't have to be. Ray controlled the Saskatchewan defence for the entire first half completing his first 16 passes for 139 yards while leading Edmonton to three touchdowns.

Ray finished the game completing 24-of-33 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns, including 20 in a row. Eskimos QB Jason Maas holds the CFL's record for most consecutive completions with 22.

Mann's TD made him the game's leading receiver with 128 yards. Fred Stamps finished with 107 yards.

Arkee Whitlock capped Edmonton's first two drives with touchdown runs and Ray found Fred Stamps in the end zone for the other first-half scores as Edmonton took a 21-10 lead into the break.

Saskatchewan appeared to make a comeback, led by Omarr Morgan's CFL-record 108-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant hit Chris Getzlaf for a 20-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and Luca Congi kicked a 21-yard field goal to take a 27-24 lead.

The Riders offence stalled after that until they moved the ball to Edmonton's 17-yard line on a last-minute drive, which ended with an incompletion to Getzlaf in the end zone.

Cates scored the Riders' first touchdown of the game on the first play of the second quarter on a four-yard run. Congi also kicked a 22-yard field goal.

Durant finished the game 23-of-36 for 234 yards and a touchdown in the game.

With the win, Edmonton improves the 6-5 and a three-way tie for first place in the CFL's West Division with Calgary and Saskatchewan. These two teams will play each other again next week in Edmonton.

NOTES: Saskatchewan slotback Jason Clermont was scratched from the lineup for the second consecutive game. . . Former Roughriders equipment manager Norm Fong, quarterback Tom Burgess and receiver Dan Farthing were on hand after being inducted into the Plaza of Honour.