Eskimos edge Ticats in East semi, Reilly shaken up

The Edmonton Eskimos will go to Ottawa for the East Division final - but the status of league-leading passer Mike Reilly is unclear.

Edmonton completed the first step on its quest to be the first cross-over team to reach the Grey Cup by defeating the banged-up Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 24-21. By the time Sean Whyte kicked the decisive 8-yard field goal with seven seconds left at Tim Hortons Field, Reilly was on the sideline was his non-passing arm braced. The quarterback injured his left arm in the fourth quarter when he was tackled on a keeper by Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence, forcing backup James Franklin (who has only three CFL starts) into action.

Ironically for a game where the winning team lost its QB, the decisive moment involved a controversial non-call on a head hit against the other quarterback, Hamilton's Zach Collaros. Whyte's winning field goal was set up by Eskimos outside linebacker Kenny Ladler intercepting Collaros and returning to Hamilton's 20-yard line with 1:25 to play.

The pickoff came one play after Collaros, who missed two games in October with a brain injury, took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Edmonton defensive end Odell Willis. No roughing the passer penalty was called - in fact, Hamilton had a holding penalty that wiped out a 17-yard pass play - and coach Kent Austin's challenge for a flag on Willis was denied.

Edmonton, which is just the third cross-over team to win a playoff game, will face the East-winning RedBlacks in the East final on Nov. 20; the contest signals the first time two teams have played in the Grey Cup and then played in a division final in consecutive seasons.

The Tiger-Cats used a swirling wind - and special teams savvy - to score nine points in a minute to level at 21-21 with 4:01 remaining. After being marooned in third-and-23, Hamilton pulled off an onside punt and Jermaine Robinson recovered the ball on the Eskimos' 36. On the next play, Collaros completed a back-shoulder fade to Gable for a 34-yard reception, setting up a touchdown and two-point convert. Maher deposited the ensuing kickoff in the end zone and wide receiver Giovanni Aprile tackled Shakir Bell to secure an 86-yard single.

Reilly was 10-of-19 for 133 yards, while Franklin was 2-of-4 for 19. John White had 20 rushes for 160 yards and both Edmonton touchdowns. Whyte was 3-of-3 on field goals and punter Grant Shaw added a 94-yard kickoff single.

Collaros, working with a receiving corps largely composed of late-season injury replacements, was 20-of-31 for 236 yards with one interception. Slotback Brian Tyms helped cover for the absence for veterans Andy Fantuz, Chad Owens, and Luke Tasker with eight receptions for 114 yards, more than triple his regular-season output. Running back C.J. Gable and short-yardage QB Jeremiah Masoli scored Hamilton's touchdowns. Maher was 2-of-3 on field goals and also missed a convert.

The Tiger-Cats' push back came when Collaros coolly directed an eight-play, 59-yard drive against the wind in the third quarter.

Edmonton scored touchdowns on their first two possessions - sandwiched around a Tiger-Cats field goal - on its way to opening an 18-3 halftime lead. A 12-play, 77-yard drive was extended by Eskimos coach Jason Maas successfully challenging for an illegal contact on a receiver penalty, negating a second-down stop. White scored four plays later.

Reilly also delivered an eight-play, 75-yard drive. White broke free for a 19-yard rush on a counter play after right guard Simeon Rottier and fullback Mike Miller sealed an alley.

The Tiger-Cats started the game with the wind and the ball, but an early opportunity vanished when Edmonton defensive tackle Almondo Sewell stuffed Masoli on third-and-inches at the Esks' 33 for a turnover on downs. On the next play, Hamilton free safety Courtney Stephen was injured, costing Hamilton a national starter. Stephen's backup, Mike Daly, also went down in the course of the game.