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Blue Bombers, Eskimos battle to draw in season opener

Jan 9, 2008 - 4:51 PM EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Ricky Ray threw five touchdown passes as the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers battled to a 39-39 tie in double-overtime in the season opener for both teams on Thursday.

Ray completed 33-of-42 passes for 394 yards and Tyler Ebell carried 16 times for 132 yards for the Eskimos (0-0-1), who finished with 505 yards of total offense.

Ray's 16-yard TD pass to Jason Tucker gave Edmonton an early edge in OT, but Charles Roberts responded with a two-yard score six plays later.

Winnipeg's Milt Stegall scored his 137th career TD with a 15-yard catch with 32 seconds remaining to tie the game at 32-32, sending it to overtime. He is tied with George Reed and Mike Pringle for first place on the all-time list.

Stegall, who can break the record at home against Montreal next Thursday, hauled in seven catches for 126 yards.

Kevin Glen went 29-of-44 for 416 yards and a score and Roberts ran for 93 yards and four touchdowns for Winnipeg (0-0-1), which posted a stunning 25-22 victory in its previous meeting with Edmonton.