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To give you an idea how long it’s been since Edmonton beat Calgary, consider these tidbits: Prior to Saturday, when the Eskimos last beat the Stampeders, Stephen Harper was Prime Minister. Barack Obama was President of the United States. And “Two Broke Girls” hadn’t yet been cancelled. What? It still hasn’t? Remarkable.
Now, the takeaways.
1) It’s on now between the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders.
That the Eskimos could go toe to toe with the Stamps, defensively, was not in doubt. Whether they could muster enough offence to win a game was. Not now. With Mike Reilly back at quarterback, the Eskimos’ offence was elevated to a level it hadn’t seen in so long I’m surprised players weren’t keeling over due to not being used to the thin air. Rain? What rain? Reilly should have been wearing a fedora and twirling an umbrella as he danced down the field. Far different team when he’s under centre.
2) Shame on all who thought Matt Nichols wasn’t capable.
The veteran quarterback’s career sequel started awfully, in Winnipeg, yes. Thanks to a terrific effort from the defence, Nichols and his teammates stayed in the game despite five turnovers in the first half. In the second half, the sixth-year vet found a little rhythm and a bit of a happy place, so much so that he mimed a little bow and arrow routine after his touchdown throw to Julian Feoli-Gudino. Or maybe he’s just a big fan of “The Hunger Games.” In the pocket, on the roll, on the run — Nichols’ play was just the tonic Big Blue needed. His only real blemish was a fumble on a run. His other fumble came from a blind side sack. It happens. The interception he was shackled with was actually a well-thrown ball that should have been caught, but was instead tipped into the waiting arms of Saskatchewan’s Jeff Knox.
3) Trevor Harris is one tough hombre.
He was shellacked again and again and again by a hard-hitting Hamilton defence, on Friday night. He was only sacked twice, but was abused like a malfunctioning vending machine. Saturday, he must have felt like that vending machine had fallen on him. I don’t know who’s tougher; Harris or Mike Reilly. We ought to stand them toe to toe and have them just slap each other as hard as they can ’til one of ’em drops.
4) A reminder: There’s another Muamba, you know.
Cauchy Muamba must have been pretty tired of hearing so much talk about his brother Henoc, last week. “Where’s Henoc signing,” we all asked. “Any news about Henoc?” “Hey, Cauchy, know where your brother’s going?” Cauchy, who has a Grey Cup ring from his days as a BC Lion (beating Henoc’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2011), took over the headlines in the Muamba family on Saturday night.
In his first start of the season, he picked off two passes from his spot at free safety and added to an impressive 2015 resume that has seen him rise to the occasion whenever the Esks have asked him to, as a back up to Ryan Hinds. Let’s fill Henoc’s Twitter timeline with big brother praise until, exasperated, he goes all Jan Brady and screams out “Cauchy, Cauchy, Cauchy!!” It’s only fair.
5) Jeremiah Johnson has emerged as exactly what every CFL team needs.
An all-around back you can count on, heavily. Seventeen rushes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Five catches for 41 yards in the REDBLACKS’ win over the Lions in B.C. Since the release of Chevon Walker, Johnson has been a full load running back and has answered the call with quick cuts, sure hands and breakaway speed. What I didn’t know he had was the power and will to push the pile or surprise linebackers with a jolt. Showed all of that in Vancouver on Sunday. Jeremiah was a bullfrog? No. Jeremiah IS a bulldozer.
QUICK SLANTS
Winnipeg’s Mo Leggett and Saskatchewan’s Jerome Messam collided with such great force, all air bags in cars in the IGF Field parking lot were deployed.
John Hufnagel’s towel over the head look had me thinking he was just a few margaritas away from a karaoke-night Cher impression.
Hey, Richie Leone: A 47-yard convert? Some people do go to great lengths to make their point.
