REGINA -- For the Edmonton Eskimos, today's showdown against the Roughriders is a 'Get Out Of Jail Free' card.
"When you're coming off two losses, you feel like you've dug a deep hole," said quarterback Ricky Ray.
"It's weird in the West. Calgary loses to Hamilton and all of a sudden we're right back in it."
For Saskatchewan, the stumble by the Stampeders in Hamilton on Friday night means the race is on and Rider Pride goes up the backstretch ...
Sorry about that, George Jones. But for a third time in three years the Riders find themselves in first place in September.
They haven't finished up there since 1976. And, sorry about that Ricky Ray. That's the lead story here.
It's been 32 years and counting since Saskatchewan finished first. And in a year when many people were counting the Riders down and out, a win here today against Edmonton might bring on a countdown to hosting the Western Final for the first time since Ron Lancaster was quarterback.
Two years ago, the Roughriders played host to their first home playoff game since 1988.
The Roughriders, after getting off to good starts the last two years, had bad back nines on the CFL's 18-game schedule.
With the Stampeders at 6-5 after Friday's loss in Hamilton, the Riders go into this one at 6-4 with a chance to come out alone in first place.
"It's a great opportunity. That's what I just told the team," said quarterback Darian Durant after the Riders held a huge huddle following yesterday's practice.
"There are guys who have played here 15 years and have never finished in first place."
Coach Ken Miller says you don't want to ride the roller-coaster with what other teams do but, it's hard not to realize you have a ticket on a thrill ride this season.
"It's a tremendous opportunity. We have an opportunity here to pull away," he said.
Few thought Saskatchewan would be in this position this year. But Miller says it's because of the kind of players he has on this team.
"We have great character and leadership in this locker- room," he said.
If the race is on for the Roughriders, it's also back on for the Eskimos.
After a week of deep depression brought on by back-to-back Labour Day series losses to the Stampeders, the Eskimos arrived here with their spirits suddenly lifted by the realization a win puts them back in a three-way tie for first with Calgary and Saskatchewan at 6-5.
A victory would also give Edmonton the season series against the Roughriders.
The Eskimos enjoyed watching the Stampeders get bucked off in Hamilton as much as the Roughriders did.
"That's the CFL for you," said Dario Romero. "It's a crazy year in the West. Somebody needs to step up and take over.
"We've just been presented with an opportunity to do that now. We need to stop talking and just do it."
Coach Richie Hall says the Calgary loss has given Edmonton back something they'd thrown away.
"The bottom line is you can control your own fate. But if we don't take care of business, it doesn't make any difference."
With the Riders holding the special status they do, there's a chance they'll draw one of the largest CFL regular season crowds of all time back in Edmonton for Saturday's rematch.
The Eskimos have already passed the 46,212 tickets they sold for Calgary last week and a decision will be made this week whether to remove the end-zone tarps and attempt to sell out the 60,000-seat stadium where there hasn't been a playoff game since 2004.
With an Eskimos win here today, the West will have never been wilder. The Riders, who won their only game against Calgary so far, have two to go with the Stamps. And the Eskimos, 1-2 against Calgary, have one remaining in Cowtown.
"I believed the West would be a dogfight from Week 1 and I think it will be a dogfight to Week 18," said Hall.
Today we find out if there's enough fight in the dog to keep his Eskimos in it.
If not, it's back to the dog- house.
TERRY.JONES@SUNMEDIA.CA
