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Zabransky shines in first start as Eskimos roll by Roughriders

Oct 24, 2010 - 2:13 AM EDMONTON, Alberta (CP) - Jared Zabransky made the most of his first real start in the CFL and newcomer Jason Armstead had a stunning Eskimo debut as Edmonton rolled to a 39-24 victory over the slumping Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday.

Zabransky completed 16 of 23 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in relief of starting quarterback Ricky Ray.

Zabransky, a second-year Eskimo out of Eastern Washington, started a game last season but ran only one play.

The win was fifth in six games for Edmonton (6-10), keeping them tied with B.C. Lions for third place in the West Division. The loss was the third straight for the Riders (9-7).

Daniel Porter had his second straight 100-plus yard running game, carrying 19 times for 121 yards, many of them setting up Edmonton touchdowns, including one of his own.

The Eskimos had a 22-10 lead after a first half full of dramatic surprises, beginning with the opening kickoff. Saskatchewan's Ryan Grice-Mullen had the ball bounce off his helmet and Edmonton's Larry Birdine recovered on the Riders' 32-yard line. The Eskimos had to settle for a single on a wide field goal try after Kelly Campbell couldn't keep his feet in bounds with a potential touchdown pass in the end zone.

The visitors jumped into a 7-1 lead with a four-play, 75-yard drive that featured runs of 28 and 22 yards up the middle by Wes Cates, who finished the march with a three-yard lunge into the end zone.

That was the highlight of the half for the Riders, as quarterback Darian Durant struggled with his throwing and the Eskimos did a much better job defending the run. Saskatchewan's lead lasted less than four minutes.

Armstead, the former Rider added to the Edmonton roster this week to replace injured kick returner Tristan Jackson, made a highlight-reel introduction to Eskimo fans. He took his first return 58 yards for a touchdown at 7:20, splitting the initial wave of Rider defenders and going untouched to the end zone.

Zabransky, who was good on seven of 11 passes for 85 yards in the half, and Porter, who ran for 79 yards, led the Eskimo offence to two more touchdowns. Porter ran for gains of 19 and 17 yards and Zabransky scrambled and hit Fred Stamps with a 37-yard reception to Saskatchewan's four-yard line. Zabransky found Stamps for a TD on the next play for a 15-7 lead after the first quarter.

Neither team's offence could mount any serious attack in the second quarter until Zabransky directed a seven-play 46-yard drive that ended with a six-yard Porter touchdown run at 12:16.

The Riders got a 37-yard field goal in the final seconds of the half.

Edmonton ran their lead to 29-10 in the third quarter with a seven-play, 45-yard touchdown march after Weldon Brown recovered Grice-Mullen's second fumble of the game. That ended with a 15-yard scoring strike to Derick Armstrong.

Durant went into the game the leading passer in terms of yardage but he struggled all day. He was good on 12 of 23 passes for 143 yards.

Typical of his day was a fourth-and-two play midway through the fourth quarter. His pass to a wide open Chris Getzlaf was a good three yards short and into the turf.

He was replaced late in the final quarter by Ryan Dinwiddie, but his second pass was picked off by Edmonton's T.J. Hill who returned it 28 yards for a touchdown with less than three minutes left. Dinwiddie did march the Riders 71 yards on six plays ending with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jason Clermont, then hit Cary Koch with a 42-yard scoring strike with three seconds left.

Edmonton kicker Derek Schiavone had a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to go with a single and five converts.