Eskimos survive Blue Bombers thanks to nightmarish outing from Hajrullahu

Mike Reilly threw for 298 yards and a touchdown and Sean Whyte knocked in a 53-yard field goal on the final play of the contest to give the Edmonton Eskimos a 24-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Investors Group Field on Saturday.

The victory is Edmonton's fourth in a row and second straight triumph on the road, but it didn't come without a helping hand. Whyte's counterpart, Bombers kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, missed four field-goal attempts and hit the uprights on a two-point try in an absolutely nightmarish outing.

Hajrullahu did earn a slice of redemption, knocking in his 45-yard try with 64 seconds left to give Winnipeg the lead, but Reilly led the Eskimos back into Bombers territory in the final moments to set up the game-winner.

Reilly was outplayed - in the second half, at least - by his former understudy Matt Nichols, who threw for 320 yards and a touchdown against the team he quarterbacked to five wins earlier this season with Reilly out.

Edmonton is still two points back of the West Division-leading Calgary Stampeders, which sets up a massive clash next Saturday at McMahon Stadium.