630 CHED Sports
10/28/2012
A furious comeback by the Edmonton Eskimos came up just short, as the Montreal Alouettes hung on for a 27-25 win at Molson Stadium.
The Esks, who would have clinched a playoff spot with a win, were sluggish in the first half and trailed 19-1 at the break.
The Eskimos defence was stingier in the second half, but they still trailed 20-4 when Matt Nichols replaced Kerry Joseph at quarterback in the fourth quarter. With his first pass, Nichols found Fred Stamps for a 95-yard touchdown. The two-point convert was successful.
Nichols was intercepted later in the quarter. Montreal then drove in for a touchdown to go up 27-12.
Nichols responded by driving the Eskimos for another major, hooking up with Shawawd Chambers for the score.
With no time left, Nichols connected with Stamps for a 13-yard touchdown. However, the two-point convert was no good.
Nichols finished 9/15 for 230 yards.
Alouettes QB Anthony Calvillo completed 25 passes for 321 yards and two touchdown passes, surpassing the 5,000-yard passing mark for the seventh time in his 19-year career.
The Esks (7-10) will host Calgary on Friday. Edmonton clinches a playoff spot with a win, or with a Hamilton loss in Toronto on Thursday. (jrw)
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