THE CANADIAN PRESS

REGINA -- Edmonton Eskimos head coach Richie Hall walked on the field at Regina's Mosaic Stadium to a standing ovation prior to Saturday's game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The crowd's response was far less friendly at the final buzzer.

The Eskimos recovered from a 22-0 second-quarter deficit to defeat Saskatchewan 38-33, spoiling the Roughriders' celebration honouring their 1989 Grey Cup championship team.

"I thought the fans would be happy and I was happy to see them because I spent a lot of years here so it was tough ... but this win wasn't for me, it was for the team," said Hall, a member of the '89 Riders.

Hall, who later served as the team's defensive co-ordinator from 2000-2008, repeatedly downplayed any personal significance the game held for him, but he retreated to the Eskimos' dressing room in tears shortly after speaking with reporters.

The game was the first regular-season trip to Regina for Hall, as well as Eskimos defenders Maurice Lloyd and Kitwana Jones, since leaving the Roughriders following the 2008 season.

Hall was hired as Edmonton's head coach in December, Jones was traded to Edmonton in May after four seasons as a Rider, and Lloyd was a CFL all-star in 2008 - his third season in Saskatchewan - before signing with Edmonton in February.

"It was very emotional man, especially when the other guys jump ahead by two or three scores because we know we're a better team than that," said Jones, who finished the day with two tackles and a sack.

Edmonton's comeback was spearheaded by a pair of touchdown runs from Calvin McCarty and a 75-yard punt return for another TD by Tristan Jackson.

Arkee Whitlock's 18-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter capped the comeback, even though Edmonton failed on its two-point convert attempt.

McCarty's second touchdown, a three-yard run late in the third quarter, put the Eskimos up 30-25 for their first lead of the game.

"We're finally coming together as a team, man," said Jones. "The love is in the room."

McCarty led all rushers in the game with 76 yards on nine attempts.

"Good teams bounce back. Good teams overcome adversity. And that's what we did today," said Hall.

Saskatchewan's hopes of a fourth-quarter comeback were dashed first when Steven Jyles was stopped short on a third-and-one attempt at the Eskimos' 25-yard line, and again when starting quarterback Darian Durant's pass to Weston Dressler was ruled incomplete on a third-and-four effort in the final minute of play.

Unable to throw a challenge flag, the Riders could only watch as Edmonton ran out the clock.

The Roughriders had scored three points in the previous 18 minutes entering the final stanza. Chris Szarka's one-yard touchdown run in the fourth put Saskatchewan ahead 33-30 but Edmonton was not to be denied.

"We make games too long for our defence, but there are times when our defence needs to go two and out as well, and we didn't do that very well in the middle stretch of that game," Roughriders head coach Ken Miller said.

Miller denied his team became too comfortable with its lead.

"I don't think it was a matter of us not trying," he said.

Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray finished the game 23-for-32 for 247 yards with one interception. Durant was 20-for-36 with one touchdown pass, a four-yard toss to Wes Cates that opened the scoring, and scored another on an 18-yard run.

Edmonton's next game is Thursday when it hosts the Montreal Alouettes. The Riders are back in action Aug. 1 when they travel to Calgary to face the Stampeders.

NOTES: Members of the 1989 Roughriders were available for an autograph session before the game. The team was also recognized with a number of video packages and a halftime tribute on the field ... Saskatchewan was 2-1 against the Eskimos in 2008 and had won four straight games against them at Mosaic Stadium ... Saskatchewan linebacker Carlos Armour left the game late in the third quarter with a broken left leg ... Riders defensive end John Chick also left the game with a suspected separated shoulder ... The Roughriders recorded their second consecutive sell-out, playing before 30,945 spectators.