CFL Semis

Thx to Rod Pederson for these stories.

ESKIMOS 33 STAMPEDERS 19

The Edmonton Eskimos are headed to the CFL West Division Final for the first time since 2003. The Eskimos won the most recent Battle of Alberta, bashing the Calgary Stampeders 33-19 in Sunday's Western Semifinal at Commonwealth Stadium.

Quarterback Ricky Ray piloted the Eskimos to the victory but the quarterback story belonged to Calgary. Drew Tate made his first playoff start for the Stamps but turned the ball over twice in the first half and was replaced by veteran Henry Burris for the second half. Burris, the 2010 CFL MVP, was unable to rally his troops to a comeback and their season ultimately ended in the Alberta capital. The Eskimos now visit BC in the 2011 WDF with a berth in the Grey Cup on the line.

TICATS 52 ALOUETTES 44

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats didn't dodge a bullet. They dodged a scud missile.

Hamilton upset the two-time defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes 52-44 in overtime Sunday at Olympic Stadium to earn a trip to the CFL East Final at Winnipeg. Ticats kicker Justin Medlock missed a 53-yard field goal with no time left, forcing overtime. It would have been a 43-yard field goal but the Ticats got called for a time count violation. In overtime, Quinton Porter scored on a touchdown run for the Ticats while Kevin Glenn tossed the two point convert to Chris Williams. On defense, Hamilton forced Anthony Calvillo and the Als to turn it over on downs in OT, and that ended the game. It was the highest-scoring game in CFL playoff history and it means there WILL be a new Grey Cup champion in 2011.