ESKIMOS 46 REDBLACKS 17

EDMONTON (CP) – Kendial Lawrence scored a pair of touchdowns as the Edmonton Eskimos handily won their home opener 46-17 over the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday Night Football.

Edmonton caught a break early on as Ottawa’s opening possession ended with kicker Delbert Alvarado’s 43-yard field goal attempt hitting the uprights.

Ottawa’s next series was even less fortunate as QB Henry Burris was picked off in flight by Eskimo John Ojo and taken 57 yards into the end zone for a pick six.

Edmonton made it 14-0 with four minutes left in the first quarter on a nine-yard TD catch by Adarius Bowman from QB Matt Nichols, who was in as starter with Mike Reilly out with 10 to 12 weeks with a knee injury.

The Eskimos (1-1) extended their lead to start the second on a one-yard TD plunge by backup quarterback Jordan Lynch, which went unconverted to make it 20-0.

Edmonton just kept coming, adding a two-yard passing major from Nichols to Lawrence, also unconverted.