Hall's Eskimos pummel Roughriders
Last Updated: Thursday, June 18, 2009 | 1:59 AM ET
The Canadian Press
Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant, right, fails to evade a tackle from Kitwana Jones in Wednesday's pre-season loss. (Jimmy Jeong/Canadian Press)Rookie Eskimos quarterback Jared Zabransky completed 10 of 14 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown as Edmonton beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-12 in their pre-season opener Wednesday.
It was the first game for Eskimos rookie head coach Richie Hall, who was hired in the off-season after serving for 15 years as a Saskatchewan assistant and defensive co-ordinator.
The Eskimos defence made life miserable for Roughriders starting quarterback Darian Durant in front of 34,793 fans at Commonwealth Stadium.
Durant, 26, is the man Saskatchewan is counting on to lead their inexperienced corps of signal callers.
The fourth-year import completed seven of 12 passes for 68 yards and one interception before he was replaced by Steven Jyles midway through the second quarter.
Most of Durant's completions were short swing passes and dump offs. He overthrew and underthrew receivers on many of the longer routes.
Durant killed a first-quarter drive in Eskimos territory by telegraphing a 20-yard sideline pass that defender Bobby Keyes picked off easily by stepping in front of receiver Chris Jones.
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