The 2020 Dream Season kicked off with blockbuster start to the year as two titans clashed south of the border at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. While both teams exhibited some sloppy play on both sides of the ball, the offenses and defenses of the two juggernauts were on full display in a rain-delayed game that had the fans scurrying for cover.
The defenses tested each other out for the first 25 minutes, as the 1981 Eskimos were limited to two Dave Cutler field goals to give Edmonton a 6-0 lead after the first quarter. Edmonton quarterback Warren Moon was sacked hard twice in the last five minutes of the opening frame by the Stallions' All Star defensive tackle Jearld Baylis and linebacker Tracy Gravely, and to add injury to insult, Esks' fullback Neil Lumsden was knocked out of the game with a lower body injury, and did not return. Moon finally got on track on the final drive of the quarter, spreading the ball around to march 70 yards to the Baltimore 21 where Cutler hit his second 3-pointer of the day.
Edmonton's defense proved they were no pushovers either, holding Stallions All Star running back Mike Pringle to runs of -1 and 2 yards to force an early Turnover on Downs to kick off the second quarter, before the teams traded two-and-outs. Edmonton settled for a 3rd Field Goal, and the score stood Dave Cutler 9, Baltimore 0 after the Green and Gold kicker's 51-yard attempt was good. That score seemed to ignite the sluggish Baltimore offense as the Stallions marched methodically down the field, spreading the ball out between passes to receivers Chris Armstrong and Robert Clark before Pringle got on track with 4 consecutive runs to cap the drive with a 1-yard plunge to put Baltimore's first points on the board. Coach Don Matthews showed he doesn't care if it was the first game or the championship game, going for a 2-point convert to bring Edmonton's lead to a single point. Moon, no slouch himself in aerial displays, treated the fans to an aerial display of his own, spreading the ball out between receivers Tommy Scott, Waddell Smith, and Brian Kelly to match the major score, and Cutler's successful convert brought the Green and Gold lead up to to 16-8 with 30 seconds left in the opening half. Edmonton's defense reminded Tracy Ham to keep his head on a swivel as defensive end James "Quick" Parker blew past Baltimore tackle Shar Pourdanesh to sack the Stallions pivot to end the half.
After a lengthy rain delay, Joe Hollimon's 82-yard kick return opened the second half, but the home town defense stiffened and kept Edmonton to another 3-pointer, but on the first Baltimore play of the half, Ham hit rookie receiver Mike Cook with a 75-yard catch-and-run before the fans had all gotten back to their seats with their hot dogs and beer. Moon resumed his air show, with 49- and 29-yard strikes to Waddell Smith, before running back Jim Germany mopped up on a 1-yard plunge to maintain their lead. The 3rd quarter was full of offensive gaffes as well, as the ball seemed to be greased up like a pig at a county fair. First, kicker Carlos Huerta missed a 47-yard field goal, then Stallions' cornerback Irvin Smith intercepted a sure touchdown pass from Moon to Scott. Esks' own corner Larry Highbaugh returned the favour 4 plays later, picking off Ham, as Edmonton headed back toward the goal line, when again the Baltimore front 7 stiffened and forced another turnover on downs on their 7 yard line. A two-and-out from the hometown squad looked like they might concede a 2-point safety, when a mishandled snap by punter Josh Miller had the teams all scrambling for the loose ball, before All-Canadian Defensive Tackle Dave "Dr. Death" Fennell corralled the loose ball to score another touchdown in the final minute of the quarter to padd the visitor's lead 33-15.
After yet another weather delay, Baltimore convinced their fans that this team was made of stern stuff in the final frame as a pair of major scores, aided by a fumble recovery on a kickoff by linebacker O.J. Brigance brought the team within 5 halfway through the fourth quarter. Moon hit with a pair of strikes to Kelly and Smith to bring the Esks within Cutler range, and the score read 36-28, but hanging heavier on their mind was an injury to Defensive lineman Baylis, and Baltimore seemed to run out of gas after their defensive captain was forced out of the game. Without Baylis' strong presence up front, Edmonton managed to control the ball - and the clock - the last 2 minutes of the game, to hold on and seal the victory.
If this is what these teams look like in week 1, we can't wait to see them knock heads again in week 6, when Baltimore heads north to Edmonton to try and disappoint the fans of the Green and Gold. Next up for the Edmonton squad are Rocket Ismail and Pinball Clemons as they host the 1991 Toronto Argonauts, while Baltimore travels to IG Field to take on the 2019 Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
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