Article content continued

Harris was 34 for 35 in pass completions when he threw an interception to Woody Barron. There was 11:24 to go and the crowd that had watched Adams bring this unlikely team back to win five games in the fourth quarter this year, looked like it might be about to do it again, especially when he deked his way through the Edmonton defence leaving three Eskimos sprawled on the ground like Connor McDavid had just taken up football to close the gap to 34-29.

But interceptions by Josh Johnson, his second and third of the game, resulted in a different ending for this Edmonton team than the defensive secondary usually supplied, coming apart at the seams again and again and again.

But this day it was triumph and Harris and Ellingson, who the day before had given an endorsement of Maas in the pre-game press conference, allowed their coach to live another day.

In the end Harris competed 36 of 39 for 421 yards including eight to Ellingson for 125. Harris completed passes to eight different Edmonton receivers including Ricky Collns (6), DaVaris Daniels (6) Calvin McCarty (5), Shaquille Cooper (5), CJ Gable (2), Natey Adjei (2) and Trevaun Smith (2). Collins yardage ended up at 117.

Harris completion percentage was 92 per cent and his quarterback efficiency rating ended up at 121.8.

The time of possession stat ended up at 36:13 to 23:47.

And, for Edmonton, the most undisciplined team in the league all season was a highly impressive three for 30 yards. Not one was for an after-the-whistle infraction.

And for the record, kicker Sean Whyte, who called them out on it in this column late in the season, was five-for-five making field goals.

“It’s all about the belief we have right now in our room,” said Almondo Sewell.

Oh, and if you are wondering, no, the Eskimos are not staying over in the East for next Sunday’s game.

The Eskimos had a two-game road trip last in October and spent the week in Hamilton after playing the first game in Ottawa and lost 42-12 to the Tiger-Cats the Eskimos.

Thus they decided they’d return to Edmonton and fly back to play 13-5 Hamilton in the East Final should they win this game.