Good teams make plays when they need to, and that’s what the Saskatchewan Roughriders did on Saturday afternoon in Edmonton.


The Riders improved 7-1 with a 30-27 win over the Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium in a hard fought, close game against a team that played much better than their, now, 1-7 record.


As the game went back and forth during the second half, it was two big plays by the Riders’ defence that solidified the win for the Green & White.


After running back Kory Sheets scored his second touchdown of the game to put the Riders up 29-27, Edmonton was driving and threatening to retake the lead, but Dwight Anderson picked off Mike Reilly in the end zone to end the drive and get the Riders back the ball.


The defence would make another big play on Edmonton’s next drive to put the game away.  Linebacker Weldon Brown teed off on Reilly and forced him to fumble, which Ricky Foley scooped up to essentially end the game.  Four Sheets runs later and the Riders had another win.


The game was a defensive battle through the first half with a 33-yard connection between Reilly and Fred Stamps being the only touchdown of the half.  The Riders had a 12-10 lead though thanks to four field goals by Chris Milo.


While the first half was all about the defence, both offences got going in the second half, especially during a punch for punch third quarter.


The Riders extended their lead to 15-10 with a 36-yard field goal by Milo, who is now 21-for-21 on the season after his five-for-five day on Saturday.


Edmonton went in front on the next drive though as Reilly led the Eskimos on a seven-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by a 21-yard touchdown pass to Stamps.


The Riders answered right back with a six-play, 74-yard drive of their own on the ensuing possession.  Sheets finished it off with a ten-yard touchdown run and a 22-17 lead for the Riders.


That lead didn’t last long as Edmonton went right back down field and Reilly found Cary Koch in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown, his third TD pass of the game, and a 24-22 advantage.


A 42-yard field goal by Hugh O’Neill extend Edmonton’s lead to 27-22 with 10:43 to go, but it was all Saskatchewan from there.


Darian Durant led the Riders on five-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with Sheets running in from 18 yards out for his second touchdown of the day.


The Anderson interception and forced fumble by Brown made sure that Edmonton couldn’t close the gap for a 30-27 win.


Durant was outstanding for the Riders in the win as he went 24-for-30 with 334 yards passing.  Also for the sixth straight game he went without an interception and has now gone 201 attempts this year without an INT.


Sheets became the fastest player to 1,000 yards with his 24 carry, 139-yard performance in the win.  He has 1,055 yards through eight games and is on pace for 2,374 this season.


Chris Getzlaf and Weston Dressler both had strong games with five catches each, and 90 and 89 yards respectively.  Taj Smith added six catches for 80 yards as Durant spread the ball around.


Defensively, Rey Williams led the team with eight defensive tackles, while Brown filled the stat line with four tackles, a sack and forced fumble.  Jermaine McElveen and Keith Shologan had the Riders’ other two sacks.


Reilly continues to get better and better for Edmonton at quarterback as he completed 19-of-29 passes for 303 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.  He also ran eight times for 76 yards.  Stamps added to his CFL-leading receiving yards total with eight catches and 111 yards.


The Riders will now get ready for the Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.  They return to the field on Wednesday.