Esks Win Big, But Calvillo Joins Elite Company In Loss

Ricky Ray completed 23 of 27 passes for 363 yards, three touchdowns and an interception as the Edmonton Eskimos ensued in their recent hot streak with a 33-19 win over the previously unbeaten Montreal Alouettes Thursday at Commonwealth Stadium.

The Eskimos, who were left for dead when they trailed Saskatchewan, 22-0 after the first quarter last Saturday, managed to pull out a tight win against the Roughriders and remained solid as they rolled up 425 yards against what has been a stingy Montreal defense this season.

Despite their defensive struggles, though, the Alouettes managed to pull within 26-19 in the fourth quarter on a 31-yard Damon Duval field goal.

However, Edmonton eschewed a conservative game plan on their next possession and put the game on ice when Ray hit Fred Stamps (4 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD’s) on a 48-yard strike.

Still, the loss had some bright spots for the Alouettes, as ex-Utah State star Anthony Calvillo surpassed the 60,000-yard mark in the first quarter.

Calvillo became only the second quarterback in CFL history to exceed 60,000 passing yards when he found Kerry Watkins for a 12-yard hookup and in so doing has joined some elite company.

The only other quarterbacks in professional North American history to surpass 60,000 yards are Damon Allen , the all-time CFL passing leader with 72,381 yards, Warren Moon, who in the NFL and CFL, passed for 70,533 yards, Brett Favre and Dan Marino.

The Alouettes fell to 4-1 with the loss, while Edmonton improved to 3-2.