STAMPEDERS 16 ESKIMOS 7

CALGARY – Mike Reilly’s return to the lineup couldn’t spark the Edmonton Eskimos to a win over the Calgary Stampeders on Labour Day.

With his team trailing 13-4 to start the fourth quarter, Reilly entered the game in relief of starting quarterback James Franklin, who completed 13-of-28 passes for 105 yards up to that point.

Reilly and the Eskimo offense could only engineer three points and the Stampeders went on to a 16-7 victory.

“I knew that I needed to be available,” said Reilly, who had been out of the lineup since suffering a knee injury in Edmonton’s 26-11 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in Fort McMurray, Alta., on June 27.

“We obviously wanted to have a little more time to practise, to get the timing down and knock the rust off and to really test the knee before putting it to work in a game scenario. I think we all felt comfortable as well that if I needed to go in I would be able to and we wouldn’t be risking anything.”

Reilly completed 5-of-12 passes for 90 yards, while finishing as Edmonton’s leading rusher with 25 yards on three carries.

Edmonton coach Chris Jones said he and his coaching staff will evaluate how Reilly throws the ball in the days leading up to Saturday’s rematch before deciding who will start the game.

“We’ll make that decision later on,” said Jones, who was pleased to see Reilly get right back up after getting sacked by hulking Calgary defensive lineman Charleston Hughes. “When he gets out there and extends drives, it certainly brings a bit of momentum to your team.”

(Canadian Press)