Aug 19, 2007, 6:45 GMT
Regina, SK - Kerry Joseph completed 17-of-29 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns, and his rushing TD late in the fourth sent Saskatchewan over Edmonton, 39-32, at Mosaic Stadium.
Matt Dominguez caught seven balls for 171 yards for the Roughriders (6-2), who move into first place in the West Division, a point ahead of British Columbia. D.J. Flick had three catches for 54 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Wes Cates rushed for 71 yards on 16 carries and added a key two-point conversion late.
Ricky Ray threw for 361 yards on 25-of-35 passing and one touchdown for the Eskimos (3-5-1). Steven Jyles scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, Kamau Peterson caught six balls for 112 yards and T.J. Acree had five receptions for 87 yards and a score.
With the home club down by five, a deluge of rain produced a lightning strike which sent both teams and officials into the locker room and delayed play early in the fourth quarter. The game was temporarily suspended by the officiating crew when conditions had not improved approximately 30 minutes later.
After a nearly one hour delay, play resumed and Luca Congi hit a 46-yard field goal to bring the Riders within 32-30. Congi's miss from 32 yards on Saskie's next possession garnered a single and a one-point deficit.
Edmonton then went three-and-out and the Riders went 75 yards for the go-ahead score, a two-yard TD run by Joseph. A 69-yard pass from Joseph to Dominguez keyed the charge. Cates' carry added a two-point conversion and Saskatchewan led 39-32.
The Eskimos failed to score on their final possession, and Joseph took a knee to close out the marathon contest.
The Riders struck first on Joseph's 16-yard TD pass to Flick on their initial possession only 42 seconds into the game, but Edmonton equalized on the next drive on Jyles' one-yard plunge.
Congi's 39-yard field goal put the home team up 10-7, but Ray threaded a pass to Acree at the near right pylon for a 39-yard touchdown and 14-10 lead after one quarter.
After a potential go-ahead score tipped off the hands of Flick into the waiting arms of Esks safety William Loftus in the end zone, Edmonton responded with a seven-play, 85-yard drive ending on another one-yard Jyles TD run and a 21-10 advantage.
Chris Czarka's two-yard run and a two-point conversion brought the Riders within 22-17, and responded on their next series on Flick's 13-yard touchdown reception to take a 24-22 lead.
In the third quarter, after a missed field goal by Sean Fleming resulted in a single, Jason Goss returned an errant Joseph pass 46 yards for a score to put Edmonton back up 30-24.
A Jamie Boreham safety concession gave Edmonton two points and an eight-point advantage, and after Jason Armistead dropped a sure-fire touchdown, the Riders had to settle for a 26-yard Congi make to come within 32-27 heading into the fourth.
Game Notes
After a bye, both teams return to action in Week 10, with Saskatchewan hosting Winnipeg September 2, and Edmonton travels to Calgary September 3.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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