The Edmonton Eskimos ditched the unintentional tortoise strategy. Football games, at least according to a team in their position, aren’t won with a slow and steady pace through three quarters.
There’s no way to climb the standings by coming close, as the Eskimos did for two games against Montreal and Hamilton leading into their bye week.
That’s why quarterback Mike Reilly didn’t waste any of his time off, studying and planning for the Week 8 trip to Rogers Centre with offensive coordinator Doug Sams and head coach Kavis Reed.
| Reilly, Ray Shine |
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Mike Reilly and Ricky Ray were both stellar on Sunday night, combining for 924 yards and six touchdowns. WATCH: Reilly’s 51-yarder to Coehoorn |
On Sunday, the first-year starter completed 35 of 46 passes for 511 yards, notching league single-game highs for 2013.
Gone was the sluggish start or what Reed calls the team’s Achilles heel. For the first time since Edmonton’s only win of the season on July 7, the team managed more than three points in the first quarter.
Still, Edmonton fell to Toronto, 36-33, extending its losing streak to five games.
“The loss is very disappointing. It’s devastating,” Reed said. “This team fought extremely hard. They did not quit and that’s the resiliency of the team we have.”
For the fourth-straight game, the Eskimos had more than 300 net yards and a receiver with more than 100 yards. Edmonton outscored the Argonauts 17-3 in the fourth quarter, but none of it was enough.
If Reilly could trade a number that lands him fourth best in Eskimos history for most yards in a game, behind Jason Maas and Warren Moon (twice), he’d do it. He’d take 100 yards if it meant a win.
“You can talk all you want about points or yards or this or that, but the reality is, we played three quarters of a football game,” Reilly said.
Edmonton forgot its reshaped identity after halftime. The offensive pace was slowed by an offside penalty and missed throws; the difference was just a couple of steps for Reilly in two incomplete passes to receiver Fred Stamps in the third quarter, turning the modest 17-16 advantage for the Argos into a commanding 33-16 lead.
“[Our fans] deserve wins and we’re trying to do everything we can to get them, but right now it’s just not happening,” the quarterback said. “We’ve got to figure out how to get over the hump. I still believe once we break that seal, we’re going to have a great football club.”
Edmonton’s late-game heroics to mount 17 points in the last nine minutes of the game speak to the growth of Reilly. From the added game planning with Reed and Sam, the quarterback said the offence could click before the plays were even called.
Reilly’s heightened preparation found everyone on the field: Stamps for 172 yards and a touchdown, Nate Coehoorn for 92 yards (and a nearly impossible 51-yard catch in the fourth) and Cary Koch for 68.
“We’re starting to trust one another more everyday,” Stamps said of the collaborative effort. 
Still, nailing down what details are behind the too-little-too-late hustle even evade the seven-year veteran. What caused the Eskimos to retreat in the third quarter, the 15 minutes that made the difference in the final score, isn’t clear.
“I really can’t put my finger on it right now. We’re still alive. We’re not dead and we’re not giving up,” he said. “We’re going to fight for each other and put this one behind us. We can’t take anything away from Toronto, they played a hell of a game.”
Argos quarterback Ricky Ray was nearly flawless. His first-half 17-straight passes tied an Argos franchise record for consecutive completions. Ray took his first-ever regular season victory over his former club.
“They’re real poised. I mean, Ricky Ray…” Stamps shakes his head, as Ray’s former teammate, he’s not surprised at the execution. Toronto doesn’t make many mistakes.
“There’s a lot to take from [the loss], just knowing that Toronto has that good of a defence and we were able to put up those numbers,” said Henry, whose 96 receiving yards are a career high.
“We just know how good we are. We’re so close to winning the games. I think that’s what’s giving us the motivation to keep pushing. We just need that one game.”
Before entering the locker room, Reed’s most poignant point was loud and clear: “I’m resolved that this football team is not going to quit.”
And if Sunday’s monumental stats in a loss are a marked indication of what Edmonton can do when its on (paired with its exceptional talent for playing hard until the final second) the league had better be ready.
