Franklin throws 4 TDs, Edmonton readies to head East

James Franklin showed Saturday that the Edmonton Eskimos have a backup plan, orchestrating a 41-17 win over the Toronto Argonauts in their regular-season finale.

Edmonton (10-8), which is gunning to become the first crossover playoff team to make the Grey Cup, has seldom had to call upon its 25-year-old understudy. Starter Mike Reilly has been durable and productive, amassing a CFL-leading 5,554 passing yards. In what amounted to an audition reel for the league's other eight teams, Franklin showed off his improved mechanics by humming four touchdown passes. Rookie slotback Brandon Zylstra also went off for nine receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

The performance also showed that Edmonton has some insurance if something should happen to Reilly against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division semifinal on Nov. 13. Edmonton is 5-1 in its last six games, including a win in Hamilton on Oct. 28.

Franklin went 1-1 as a starter in 2015 while Reilly was injured, but had attempted only two passes all season prior to getting the nod for a game with no bearing on the final standings. Edmonton was confirmed as the crossover team after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won Friday to secure a top-three finish in the West Division.

Toronto (5-13) came in with some incentive, since 37-year-old QB Ricky Ray was making his 200th - and perhaps last - career start, on his former home field no less. Ray has been afflicted by lung, rib, and knee injuries this season, sparking rumours he might retire after a career with almost 55,000 passing yards and three Grey Cup titles, including championships with Edmonton in 2003 and '05.

Ray completed his first six passes to help the Argonauts strike for a quick 7-0 lead. Franklin commenced making an audition reel, showing his improved mechanics while leading Edmonton to four consecutive touchdowns to build a 28-14 halftime lead.

Zylstra, Edmonton's third-leading receiver with 508 yards, even though he only played in six of 18 games, tight-roped the boundary on a 28-yard touchdown that started the run. Shakir Bell also finished off a 10-play, 94-yard drive with a four-yard TD catch. Rookie Devon Bailey scored his first CFL TD as well on a 72-yard pass-and-run play.

Toronto rallied mildly in the third quarter. Almondo Sewell got the first of his two sacks to limit the Argonauts to a field goal. Edmonton's offense got that back after Zylstra shielded off Devin Smith for a 40-yard reception into the Argonauts' zone. Defensive back Mike Dubuisson also broke up a third-down throw to Kenny Shaw on the last play of the quarter.

Franklin was 18-of-23 for 335 yards with the aforementioned four TDs. Backup QB Jordan Lynch tacked on a rushing TD in the fourth quarter. Bryant Mitchell chipped in five receptions for 69 yards. Sean Whyte was 2-of-2 on field goals, completing a regular season in which he was perfect from inside 40 yards.

Ray was 24-of-30 for 252 yards and one touchdown, which was rookie WR Brian Jones' first as a pro. Brandon Whitaker had 21 rushes for 117 yards and one TD. Lirim Hajrullahu was 1-of-1 on field goals.

Whitaker and Shaw each hit the 1,000-yard milestone. Whitaker upped his total to 1,009 - good for second place in the rushing race. Shaw (44 yards receiving on two receptions) completed his first full CFL season with 1,004 yards, becoming Toronto's first 1,000-yard receiver since 2012.

Edmonton's Adarius Bowman (1,761) and Derel Walker (1,589), whose combined 3,350 receiving yards is the highest total by two teammates in league history, were healthy scratches. Leading rusher John White and defensive signal-caller J.C. Sherritt didn't dress.