• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Edmonton locks in playoff spot with win over Riders

Oct 11, 2011 - 1:22 AM Edmonton, AB (Sports Network) - Jerome Messam ran for 118 yards on 20 carries, including a 51-yard score, as the Edmonton Eskimos clinched a playoff berth with a 17-1 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

With the win there is now a three-way tie atop the Western Division as Calgary, British Columbia and Edmonton all have identical 8-6 marks.

Ricky Ray completed 17-of-26 passes for 197 yards, while Fred Stamps caught seven balls for 68 yards.

Donovan Alexander recorded the first two interceptions of his four-year career

The loss eliminated the Roughriders from the West playoff race as they'll now set their sights on gaining an East Division crossover spot. Saskatchewan trails third-place Hamilton by six points with both teams having four games remaining, including a head-to-head matchup on October 29, at Mosaic Stadium.

Despite a sprained left foot, Darian Durant came on in the second half to relieve Ryan Dinwiddie, who struggled with three first-half interceptions. Durant hurt his left foot in the third quarter of a 40-3 loss to Calgary on October 1. He didn't practice all week.

Dinwiddie finished 8-of-15 for 83 yards, while Durant completed 7-of-24 passes for 62 yards.

The Roughriders attempted a fake punt on a 3rd-and-2 with a direct snap to the up man Neal Hughes, but Hughes was unable to move the chains as the Eskimos took over at the 55-yard line. Edmonton capitalized when Damon Duval nailed a 32-yard field goal to give them the first points of the game early in the second quarter.

The Eskimos added a safety, and Messam concluded a four-play, 61-yard scoring drive with a 51-yard touchdown run to give Edmonton a 12-0 lead at halftime.

Saskatchewan opened the second half with an unsuccessful onside-kick attempt. Edmonton moved the ball down to the Roughriders' 11-yard line, but the drive stalled and Duval booted his second field goal of the game, this time from 18 yards out.

The Roughriders finally got on the board with a single late in the third quarter when Chris Milo punted 50 yards into the end zone.

The Eskimos added two singles in the fourth quarter on a Duval 52-yard punt into the end zone, and a missed 35-yard field goal attempt.

Game Notes

The Roughriders haven't missed the playoffs since 2001, and have represented the West the last two seasons in the Grey Cup. They're 0-7 against the West this season...The Eskimos snapped a two-game losing streak. They're just 3-5 after starting the year 5-0.