Eskimos spoil Lions' opener

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Edmonton Eskimos' Shamawd Chambers, right, and Calvin McCarty celebrate Chambers' touchdown against the B.C. Lions during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver on Saturday, June 28, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

It took a while, and some trick plays, but Mike Reilly finally earned a win against his former CFL team Saturday.

Reilly completed three touchdown passes as the Edmonton Eskimos came back to beat the B.C. Lions 27-20 in the first game of the CFL season for both teams.

The last time the Eskimos won in Vancouver, on July 21, 2012, Reilly was still a Lions backup. The Lions suffered only their third loss at B.C. Place Stadium since it received a new retractable roof in 2011.

"It's a fresh start, it's a new season, and this is a tough place to win in," said Reilly after beginning his second season with the Eskimos following a January 2013 trade from B.C. "Records aside, or who's playing in the black and orange, they've made this place loud, and they've done well since they've come back from Empire (Field, the Lions temporary home during renovations).

"I know that first-hand. It's something that we haven't done in a long time, to win in Vancouver. That's a good feeling."

Reilly completed 22 of 35 passes for 229 yards as the Eskimos overcame an early 14-0 deficit. It was only his fifth win as Edmonton's starter. He helped new coach Chris Jones earn a win in his first CFL game as a head coach after making defensive co-ordinator stints with three other clubs.

Calvin McCarty, Fred Stamps and Adarius Bowman caught Reilly's touchdown passes. McCarty also enabled the Eskimos to complete a fake field goal in the third quarter, leading to the touchdown that put them ahead to stay. The Eskimos also pulled off a successful onside kick early in the fourth quarter that kept their offence on the field longer.

Grant Shaw provided their other points in the form of three converts and a pair of field goals.

"Everybody chipped in," said Reilly. "Special teams got us a few extra possessions. Defence got the ball a lot, created a lot of turnovers, and offensively we were able to get some points. So (it was an) all-around team effort, but we know we've got to get better to reach our goal."

The Lions' first TD, a 55-yard pass-and-run play, came 1:58 into the game. Shortly after catching a pass near the Edmonton 40-yard line, Harris easily shook off rookie linebacker Dexter McCoil's tackle attempt, eluded a couple of other Eskimos and ran the ball along the sidelines into the end zone. It was only Glenn's third pass of the regular season.