Esks and Als battle for Grey Cup berth
Published on November 12, 2008 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Edmonton Elks News Release
Fresh off last week's decisive victory over Winnipeg, the "Eastern-Esks" are looking to continue their history-making ways as the first ever crossover team to earn a Grey Cup berth. But they'll have to do it against a well-rested Alouette team that was far and away the class of the East during the regular season and has the extra motivation AND pressure of hosting this years' championship game.
Eskimo Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Danny Maciocia says, "We know what type of effort it's going for us to go down to Montreal and win that football game, especially when they feel...they're just one game away from playing the big game in their own back yard. So it's going to take a great effort. Something along the lines of what we just got from our guys in Winnipeg."
Last week, Edmonton's defence turned in a sterling performance against the Bombers, shutting down the run, creating pressure on the quarterback and keeping Winnipeg out of the red zone all afternoon. The Als - led by Calvillo, Cahoon, Cobourne & Richardson - will provide a much more formidable task and the key will be trying to disrupt Montreal's quick strike offence.
Ricky Ray, who's yet to taste defeat in three previous division finals, says the keys to Edmonton's success on offence are fairly obvious. "You've got to control the line of scrimmage and then not turn the football over and just play a solid game. And when we've been able to do that this year we've won a lot of football games and when we haven't we've lost. So it's important to carry over what we did the last couple games into this game."
Montreal vs. Edmonton is the stuff of Grey Cup legends, but Saturday is uncharted territory as they have never met in the playoffs. But for Ricky Ray it only seems right that he'll face Anthony Calvillo in a high stakes game. "Every time I turn around in the playoffs we're lining up against Montreal and number 13. We've had some great battles and hopefully it will be another good one."
Notables
As a starting QB, Ricky Ray is 8-7-0 vs. Montréal, 2-1 in the Grey Cups and 3-3-0 in Montréal.
As a starting QB, Ricky Ray is 3-0-0 in Division Final play.
Since the CFL went to one game Division finals in the early '70s, the Eskimos are 5-4 when they are the visiting team.
Since 1996, the host of the Division Final is 13-11 (West Division is 5-7, East Division is 8-4). The Alouettes are 4-2 as hosts and the Eskimos are 2-1 as the visitor in that time period.
The last time the Eskimos played in Olympic Stadium, they beat the Als 30-20. Ron McClendon ran for 198 yards on 25 carries.
Last week, Ricky Ray threw for his 13th 300+ yard game of the year. Six of the last seven games, Ray has thrown for 300+ yards.
The Eskimos travel to Montréal to take on the Alouettes in the East Final on Saturday, November 15. Kickoff is at 11am MTN. For more information on the Edmonton Eskimo Football Club please visit our website at www.esks.com.
Canadian Football League Stories from November 12, 2008
- West Final Nearing Sell-out - Calgary Stampeders
- Esks and Als battle for Grey Cup berth - Edmonton Elks
- Over 30,000 Tickets Sold - Montreal Alouettes
- Doug Brown And Jason Armstead Named Players Of The Week - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Ray earns Offensive Player of the Week - Edmonton Elks
- Ryan Phillips scoops CFL Defensive Player of the Week nod - B.C. Lions
- Blue Bombers Relieve Berry Of Coaching Duties - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- CFL names players of the week - CFL
- 2008 CFL Defensive All-Star Team Named - CFL
- Lloyd and McKenzie named CFL All-Stars - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Five Lions named to CFL Defensive All-Star squad - B.C. Lions
- Goss named Defensive All-Star - Edmonton Elks
- Doug Brown And Zeke Moreno Named Defensive All-Stars - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Thompson Named CFL All-Star - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Browner named CFL Defensive All-Star - Calgary Stampeders
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