There’s a first time for everything.
This Sunday, the Edmonton Eskimos want to make CFL history by becoming the first-ever crossover team to appear in the Grey Cup.
First, though, they’ll have to travel to Ottawa and get by the RedBlacks.
After leaving the Eastern Semi-Final in the fourth quarter, there was speculation on quarterback Mike Reilly’s availability.
“I feel great,” said Reilly. “I don’t feel like I was hindered in the slightest. I don’t feel injured. I feel ready to go. I don’t feel any different right now than I did a week ago in terms of executing and playing football. If I felt like I wasn’t able to play at full level, not giving my team a good chance to win, I wouldn’t be out here right now.
“I’ve known for a couple of days that I’ve felt great, but to come out here and fully practice, I feel fine. I was able to make throws downfield without it feeling any different. I’m just excited to get more work tomorrow and get the game plan going.”
Reilly has had another great season and continuing on the playoff trail is now his main focus.
Eskimos head coach Jason Maas said the team knows what it has to do to improve on last week’s thrilling CFL Eastern Semi-Final win in Hamilton. Knowing that the team’s starting quarterback is healthy enough to play is a big relief.
“We have confidence with everybody on our football team, but a lot of it starts with your starting quarterback.
“He’s our leader and it was good to see him out here. Everybody knows what a warrior he is and how he’ll play through just about anything. He’s willing to do that. We’re all appreciative on how he plays the game and who he is.”
Having a quality run game can only help the cause.
“We haven’t shied away from the fact we’re a physical football team that needs to run to ball to be able to be a winning team,” said Maas. “We want to be able to run the ball and play off of that.”
Linebacker Deon Lacey appreciates the challenges ahead but feels the team is up for the task.
“We came together as a team,” said Lacey. “We’re not even the team we used to be. We started out with some rookie guys who have stepped up at this time of the year. We’ve gelled together and we’re a whole different team. We’re ready to roll.”
It was a late-game interception by rookie Kenny Ladler that set up the semifinal win against Hamilton.
For the second straight week, the defence will be facing a top-flight quarterback, this time in the form of future Hall of Famer Henry Burris.
“He has a strong arm, good receivers,” said Lacey. “As a defence, we’re ready to go.”