"It is a combination of him being a great athlete and me making mistakes," Peach continued. "I have to make that play and I didn't a couple of times. It hurt us. That's my job."

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I appreciate the fact the youngster took ownership and he will be better for the experience, once the sting abates.

Again, just so we're clear, I would not for a minute set this loss on the shoulders of a rookie defensive end who did not lose his war for lack of trying, only for a lack of experience and the guile of his opponent.

ON THE ROAD TO THE GREY CUP

- West Division Final-calgary Stampeders At Saskatchewan Roughriders, 2:30 P.m. Sunday

- East Division Final-b. C. Lions At Montreal Alouettes, 11 A.m. Sunday

Nor would Peach's teammates. It's just that everybody was talking about Calgary's mastery of that play and its affect on the outcome.

"You know, the Sally play killed us. The read play killed us," said Edmonton linebacker Maurice Lloyd. "(Burris) didn't kill us with his arm. He killed us with his legs. I knew the read play was coming. At the end of the game, I knew the read play was coming. At the same time, it's hard for a defensive end to read that. Henry is one of the best at it."

It's a play the Stamps can run with such smashing success because of Reynolds and the respect he must be paid. Even when he got nothing on Sunday, he still got five yards, often with the bodies of Eskimos defenders hanging off his trunk like so many tree ornaments. He averaged 7.1 yards for each of his 18 carries.

But the play worked so well because Burris was lethal, too. He ran seven times for 63 yards at the most crucial junctures, including second-and-long. The two of them combined for 10 rushing first downs and the last one stuck the dagger in and killed Edmonton's last hope of a fourth-quarter field goal that would have tied the game.

"That was key," said Burris, who got six yards on the second-and-four play with the clock winding down.

"We kept pounding Joffrey, the MOP, and when they bit on him, it allowed me to get off the edge and pick up that first down."

That one, and a couple more that didn't hurt quite as bad, only because they came earlier in the game when Edmonton still had a chance at the upset. And let's not forget, that's what it would have taken.

The Eskimos came in here on a tiny roll, having beaten the B.C. Lions in Vancouver. But they did not fare well in Calgary all year, to put it mildly. Playing this game at Commonwealth Stadium might have changed its complexion, but a 9-9 team makes its bed on the road in the post-season, and this is not an easy place to play.

"They didn't run us over like they did the last two games," said Lloyd. "To only give up two touchdowns against a wonderful and powerful offence, our defence played well. We didn't lay down."

As a team, they just didn't rise up.

dbarnes@thejournal.canwest.com