Quarterback Kerry Joseph leads Eskimos to rout of Ti-Cats

Edmonton, AB, Canada (4E Sports) – The Eskimos are back into a playoff race thanks to the effort by Edmonton quarterback Kerry Joseph, who threw three TD passes in a 35-20 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Commonwealth Stadium Friday night.

It put Edmonton back on track and gave the Esks the lead in the East Division crossover race with just four games left.

Joseph, who got the vote of confidence from head coach Kavis Reed following a surprising coaching shuffle, delivered and finished with 359 yards on 24-39 passing.

Reed, who in his effort to stir his team’s hapless offense took over the offensive coordinator chores from Marcus Crandell and made himself the team’s offensive play-caller, opted for the more experienced Joseph even though the 39-year-old veteran had thrown more interceptions (six) than TDs (five) prior to Friday’s tilt.

Joseph, recognized with the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2007 while leading Saskatchewan to victory in the 95th Grey Cup, became the third quarterback to start for the Eskimos after Matt Nichols made his CFL debut last week in Calgary and Steven Jyles started two weeks ago vs. B.C.

Joseph had not played for the last two weeks because of a lower body injury.

The Eskimos entered the fourth stanza trailing 20-17, but tallied the final 18 points of the game.

Joseph hooked up with Matt Carter on a 7-yard TD strike on Edmonton’s first touch in the fourth. Grant Shaw then added a 17-yard field goal to push the Eskimos to 27-20.

Fred Stamps also stepped up, registering his first 100-plus yard receiving game of the season. Stamps caught nine passes for 204 yards and a TD for Eskimos (6-8), who ended a five-game losing streak.

Carter had 50 receiving yards and caught a TD for the victors.

Henry Burris, who guided the ‘Cats to a 41-28 home win last week against division-leading Montreal, completed 20-of-35 passes for 274 yards, two TDs and three interceptions in the loss.

Andrew Fantuz tallied four catches for 63 yards and a TD for the Tiger-Cats (5-9), who dropped to 1-6 on the road this year.

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