Music: {allcanada} ESKIMOS SCORE 17 UNANSWERED POINTS TO UPEND ROUGHRIDERS

EDMONTON - The Edmonton Eskimos were looking for a fresh start to their season Saturday.

It didn't look promising early, but that's just what they got.

The Eskimos scored 17 unanswered points, including two late field goals from Noel Prefontaine, to beat the 'Riders 17-14 for just their second win of 2010.

With Saskatchewan leading 14-11 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, T.J Hill picked off Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant at midfield, leading to a huge 52-yard field goal by Prefontaine to even the score.

Edmonton got the ball back and Prefontaine nailed a 37-yarder with just 37 seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a much-needed victory in front of a crowd of 47,829 at Commonwealth Stadium.

"That's my job," Prefontaine said of his kicks. "That's what they pay me to do. Fortunately enough I did it tonight and it was able to give us the victory.

"It was a crazy game. The wind was a factor. But the bottom line is that we needed the win and we were able to get it today. There are a lot of guys in our room very happy right now. We needed this."

Edmonton (2-6) snapped a two-game losing skid to move into sole possession of third in the CFL's West Division.

The game featured 10 turnovers including six forced by the Edmonton defence.

"You really have to credit our defence for their effort tonight," said Edmonton running back Arkee Whitlock, who scored his team's lone touchdown. "I think that's the biggest defensive effort we have had since I have been here. Saskatchewan has a high-powered offence but our defence went out and gave us tons of opportunities.

Saskatchewan remains comfortably in second at 5-3.

"Edmonton played great defence in the game," Roughriders head coach Ken Miller said. "Actually we played pretty good defence as well. Except for a blocked punt, our special teams were pretty good as well, but it was a good team effort by Edmonton.

"Both defences were playing well and it was tough to get continuity in that kind of situation. We didn't have any continuity, particularly in the second half."

The Roughriders started the game with a workmanlike drive but were stopped short of scoring when Durant was intercepted by Eskimos linebacker Maurice Lloyd on the Edmonton 29.

But an interception going the other way six minutes into the game would provide the game's first points. Edmonton QB Ricky Ray was cleanly picked off by James Patrick and he took it back 35 yards for a 7-0 'Riders lead.

Saskatchewan made it 14-0 with late in the first quarter as Wes Cates scored his league-leading ninth touchdown of the season, running 10 yards untouched.

Edmonton got a big play early in the second when Corbin Sharun blocked a punt and Jason Barnes picked it up and ran it 31 yards to the Saskatchewan eight. Jared Zabransky came in at quarterback and delivered a shovel a pass to Whitlock on the next play to make it 14-7.

Zabransky stayed in the game but was intercepted in the end zone by Patrick, his second of the game.

Edmonton got the ball right back, however, when Kai Ellis rocked Durant and Dario Romero scooped it up and took it to the Saskatchewan seven. But once again, Edmonton wasted a glorious chance, blowing a third down gamble with just 39 seconds left, turning the ball over again to keep the 'Riders in the lead at the half.

The Eskimos offence got another great chance to start the third as a ball bounced off of 'Riders receiver Prechae Rodriguez and into the hands of Jason Goss at midfield. But Edmonton gave it right back as Zabransky was intercepted by Patrick -- his third of the night -- at the Saskatchewan 26.

Edmonton got back into scoring position late in the third after a 40-yard pass to Andre Talbot but once again couldn't convert and settled for Prefontaine field goal to cut the lead to 14-10.

The Eskimos added a punt single to start the fourth.

The 'Riders return to the field Sept. 5 when they host Winnipeg. Edmonton visits Calgary for the Labour Day Classic on Sept 6.

Notes: Despite suffering a rib/sternum injury against the Stampeders on Aug. 15th, Ray got the start against the Roughriders, but was replaced in the second quarter. He would return late in the fourth. ... Omarr Morgan started at corner for the 'Riders after missing a pair of practices earlier in the week with a stomach virus. ... In their first seven games this season the Eskimos passed for seven touchdowns, threw seven interceptions, intercepted seven passes and lost seven fumbles. ... The Roughriders came into the game winners of seven of the last 10 against Edmonton but with a 6-25 record in Commonwealth Stadium since 1989. ... DB Lance Frazier was playing in his 50th CFL game, all with the 'Riders. ... Edmonton came into the contest having been outscored 51-14 in first quarters and 98-24 in the fourth. ... Thirty-year veteran referee and Edmonton native Bud Steen worked his 500th CFL game.