Edmonton Eskimos vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats Box Score on Jul 07, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Jul 7, 2013

Eskimos 30, Tiger-Cats 20: Running back Hugh Charles recorded 146 combined yards and scored two touchdowns as visiting Edmonton made themselves at home in rainy Guelph, Ontario.

Charles ran for 119 yards and a score and added a touchdown reception from quarterback Mike Reilly, who finished 14-for-22 for 136 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another to earn his first win with the Eskimos (1-1). Defensive end Odell Willis sacked Hamilton quarterback Henry Burris twice on one drive early in the game to set the tone for Edmonton’s defence.

Burris was 18-for-35 passing for 229 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Tiger-Cats (0-2), who are playing their home games at the University of Guelph while their new stadium is under construction. Wide receiver Ed Gant, who joined Hamilton this week after being released by Edmonton, caught a 40-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but that was all the offence the Tiger-Cats could generate in the second half.

Eskimos veteran linebacker T.J. Hill intercepted a Burris pass deep in Hamilton territory in the third quarter and Charles scored his second touchdown of the game on a 13-yard reception to give Edmonton a 23-13 lead. Reilly dived into the end zone after a strong drive in the fourth to extend the advantage to 30-13.

After Charles’ 70-yard touchdown run helped Edmonton take a 16-0 lead early in the first quarter, heavy rain slowed the game’s pace to a crawl as Hamilton trimmed the deficit to 16-13 by halftime. The rain was especially troublesome for Tiger-Cats kick returner Lindsey Lamar, who bobbled several return attempts, causing a turnover early in the second half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Edmonton LB J.C. Sherritt led all players with nine tackles. … Lamar, who recorded a kick-return touchdown in both preseason games as well as Week 1, had a 68-yard kickoff return early in the game that led to Hamilton’s first touchdown. … Edmonton SB Fred Stamps caught one touchdown pass, but finished with just 25 receiving yards after recording 125 in Week 1.