Edmonton Eskimos advance to West final with 18-10 win over Roughriders

EDMONTON - Kendial Lawrence had an 84-yard punt return touchdown and the Eskimos defence recorded five interceptions as Edmonton beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 18-10 in the CFL's West semifinal on Sunday.

The game was billed as a battle of the backup quarterbacks between Edmonton's Matt Nichols and Saskatchewan's 41-year-old QB Kerry Joseph, but neither lasted past the midmark of the third quarter.

Edmonton's No. 1 quarterback Mike Reilly came into the game six minutes into the third quarter despite nursing a broken bone in his right foot, and Tino Sunseri finishing off the game for the Roughriders.

The loss ended any hopes the Roughriders had of defending their Grey Cup championship from last year.

The Eskimos will now meet the Stampeders in the West final next Sunday in Calgary.