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Eskimos advance to East Division final

Nov 8, 2008 - 11:29 PM WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Ticker) -- The Edmonton Eskimos braved the elements and posted a historic victory.

A.J. Harris ran for a pair of touchdowns as the Eskimos overcame the cold and wind at Canad Inns Stadium on Saturday to defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 29-21, and become the first West Division club to post a playoff victory as a crossover team since the league adopted the format in 1996.

Ricky Ray completed 27-of-37 passes for 303 yards and Kelly Campbell had five receptions for 111 yards for Edmonton, which will visit the Montreal Alouettes in the East Division final next weekend.

Earning their first postseason berth since capturing the Grey Cup with a triumph over the Alouettes in 2005, the Eskimos fell behind early, 8-0, as Kevin Glenn connected with Romby Bryant for a 78-yard touchdown following a single off a missed field goal by Alexis Serna.

However, Edmonton scored 21 of the next 28 points to carry a six-point lead into the break.

Winnipeg's only score in the second quarter came on a 93-yard punt return by Jason Armstead that set a franchise playoff record. It also tied for the fourth-longest touchdown of its kind in league postseason history.

Fred Perry scored on a 31-yard interception return with 2:19 left in the first half to give Edmonton its 21-15 bulge, and Harris followed a single by Noel Prefontaine in the third quarter with a three-yard TD run for his second score of the game and a 29-15 cushion.

Glenn was 15-of-34 for 233 yards with an interception, Bryant hauled in three passes for 104 yards and Serna kicked a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter for the Blue Bombers, who have not won a championship since 1990.