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Eskimos halfback Billy Vessels is named the first winner of the Schenley Award as the league’s Most Outstanding Player, leading the team to a 12-4 record for first in the CFL’s Western Interprovincial Football Union. Vessels rushed for 926 yards and Rollie Miles had 657 yards receiving. They would go on to lose in the West Final to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Darrell Royal coached Edmonton for only one season before returning to Mississippi State.

1953 (5th season)
Record: 12-4 (1st WIFU)
Home: 6-2 | Away: 6-2
Playoffs: 1-2 | Lost West Finals
Head coach: Darrell Royal (1st season)
All-Stars: Frank Anderson, Claude Arnold, Eagle Keys, Normie Kwong, Leon Manley, Rollie Miles, Jim Quandamatteo, Billy Vessels, Ray Wisley.
Major award winners: Billy Vessels is named the first winner of the Schenley Award (Most Outstanding Player)

 

Date Opponent Result (record)
August 29 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 6-7 (0-1-0)
August 31 at Saskatchewan Roughriders W 19-17 (1-1-0)
September 5 at Calgary Stampeders W 18-6 (2-1-0)
September 7 vs. Calgary Stampeders W 5-19 (3-1-0)
September 12 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders W 1-13 (4-1-0)
September 14 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 7-9 (5-1-0)
September 19 at Saskatchewan Roughriders W 12-6 (6-1-0)
September 26 vs. Calgary Stampeders W 6-15 (7-1-0)
September 28 at Calgary Stampeders W 21-12 (8-1-0)
October 3 at Saskatchewan Roughriders L 13-19 (8-2-0)
October 5 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 16-6 (9-2-0
October 10 at Calgary Stampeders W 34-13 (10-2-0)
October 12 vs. Calgary Stampeders W 6-22 (11-2-0)
October 17 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 9-32 (12-2-0)
October 19 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders L 20-19 (12-3-0)
October 24 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 17-8 (12-4-0)
November 7 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 25-7 West Final
November 11 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 21-17 West Final
November 14 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 30-24 West Final