Ray lifts Edmonton over Saskatchewan

Oct 1, 2006, 5:30 GMT

Regina, SK - Ricky Ray's touchdown run with less than a minute remaining gave the Edmonton Eskimos a 30-25 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Ray went 17-for-33 with 235 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown for the Eskimos (5-9), who stopped a two-game slide.

Kerry Joseph went 11-for-20 with 138 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and Kenton Keith had 14 carries for 92 yards for the Roughriders (7-7), who had won four of five coming into the contest.

The Eskimos were trailing 25-17 after a Saskatchewan field goal with a little over 10 minutes to play.

They got to within 25-23 on field goals of 16 and 33 yards by Sean Fleming.

After stopping Saskatchewan and getting the ball back with a little over two minutes to play, Edmonton marched the ball downfield and Ray ran the ball into the end zone on a quarterback keep to make it a 30-25 contest with 42 seconds to play.

Saskatchewan was unable to score before time ran out and Edmonton held on to the victory.

Edmonton took a 3-0 lead in the first when Fleming connected on a 34-yard field goal a little over five minutes in.

Saskatchewan took a 7-3 lead when Joseph found Rob Lazeo in the end zone from one yard out with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Roughriders increased their lead to 14-3 less than five minutes into the second quarter as Joseph connected with Chris Szarka on a six-yard touchdown pass.

The Eskimos closed the gap on their ensuing possession as Pat Woodcock returned the kickoff 61 yards and four plays later Ricky Ray hit Woodcock for a nine-yard touchdown to make it a 14-10 contest.

Saskatchewan responded on its next possession with a 44-yard field goal for a 17-10 lead.

Edmonton, though, tied the game before the half when Ray hit Edward Hervey with a pass and he took it into the end zone on a 24-yard play.

The Roughriders grabbed the lead in the third quarter thanks to a safety that was conceded by Edmonton punter Fleming and a 32-yard field goal by Luca Congi in the last minute of the quarter.

Saskatchewan took a 25-17 lead on its first possession of the fourth quarter on a 25-yard field goal by Congi.

Game Notes

Hervey finished with seven catches for 72 yards and a score.

Woodcock had three catches for 59 yards.

© 2006 The Sports Network