630 CHED Sports
8/11/2012
Joe Burnett returned a fumble 44 yards for a third-quarter touchdown Friday as the Edmonton Eskimos returned from a bye week with a 28-20 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Chris Thompson popped the ball from Riders receiver Weston Dressler, and Joe Burnett scooped it up and ran 44 yards for the touchdown that sent the Eskimos on their way.
"I just hit him as hard as I could and something good happened so I'm happy with it," said Thompson.
"Good play by them. I've got to do a better job of securing the football," said Dressler. "Ultimately it really ended up costing us the football game."
Quarterback Steven Jyles says the defense was the main reason they took control of the field.
"Man they're tough," said Jyles in awe of the defense. "They've been that way since the beginning of the season. I told the guys if we put up a touchdown a quarter our defense will win the ball game for us. That's what we did we put up 28 points and the defense came through. Even though they scored one, we won the ball game."
Riders QB Darian Durant say the turnout of game came down to missed opportunities.
"All of those things are important. We could have been first place tied with the show down next week, could have won the series with them of course, and the little things that happen each and every week especially with every ones record being as close as it is, all of these games are very important so we just have to learn from it, forget about it as quickly as possible and keep moving."
Eskimos defensive back Ronnie Prude left the game by ambulance after suffering what appeared to be a neck injury.
The Eskimos improve to 4-2 with the win and move into a first-place tie with the B.C. Lions in the CFL's West Division.
The Roughriders lost their third straight game to drop to 3-3 and a share of third in the West with Calgary.(dm/sj)
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