THURSDAY NIGHT CFL SIM: EDMONTON ROUTS SASK 49-12

EDMONTON – The Thursday Night Football CFL SIM clash between Edmonton and Saskatchewan won’t be shown on ESPN Classics anytime soon. However for fans of the Green & Gold, it was reason to celebrate.

In a computer-simulated game on Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football, Edmonton quarterback Trevor Harris threw for 417 yards and three touchdowns as the Edmonton Football Club clobbered Saskatchewan 49-12 at a sold-out virtual Commonwealth Stadium.

Edmonton was in control throughout, with kicker Sean Whyte notching 11- and 34-yard field goals in the first quarter along with a 2-yard touchdown run by Shaq Cooper for a 13-0 lead. Edmonton upped their lead to 25-6 by halftime courtesy a Harry McMaster 74-yard touchdown reception, a Whyte 30-yard field goal and a safety. Rider kicker Brett Lauther notched two field goals (44- and 43-yards) in the second period.

The home team continued to pour it on in the third quarter with a 98-yard Kenny Shaw touchdown and another Whyte field goal to make it 35-6. Rider WR Shaq Evans scored Saskatchewan’s highlight-of-the-night with a 77-yard touchdown reception from Cody Fajardo with 30 seconds to go in the third quarter.

Edmonton kept their foot on the gas in the final frame with three more Whyte field goals and a 21-yard Kenny Shaw touchdown catch to cap the scoring at 49-12.

The Riders lost the turnover battle 8-2 as Fajardo passed for 204 yards, four interceptions and the touchdown.

The highlights of the Facebook Live broadcast were the halftime performance by artist Jeffery Straker and Buffalo Bills linebacker Deon Lacey who tuned in for the entire game, conversing with fans in the comment section!

The win upped Edmonton’s record to 7-7 while the Riders fell to 9-6, losing their fourth in a row.

Edmonton visits Winnipeg in Week 18 while Saskatchewan travels to Ottawa.

Other Week 17 CFL SIM games feature BC at Toronto and Hamilton at Montreal. Both games will be simulated on Twitch TV at www.twitch.tv/nhacker49.

(Nelson Hackewich/Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football)