EDMONTON – It was a season of destiny that became a season of overcoming adversity.
The 2015 season for Edmonton was always meant to be one of great promise. General Manager and 2000’s All-Decade Team player Ed Hervey had spent the last two seasons rebuilding the Double E’s roster into something special.
In two years, he had turned the franchise’s fortunes on their head — going from a four-win team in 2013 to a 12-win team in 2014. Entering training camp in year three, the expectations were as high as they come and the belief was that there was truly something special cooking in Edmonton.
“We were not a good team in 2013, but we had a lot of good competition,” QB Michael Reilly said. “We knew that even though our record was crap, we knew that we were building something that was going to be pretty cool to be a part of.”
The start of the year was a bizarre one for the Esks. They were a team without a home due to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup setting up shop in Commonwealth, forcing the team to host their training camp in Spruce Grove. The team spent their time getting closer together at Grant Fuhr Sports park, building the chemistry that would hold them together through the adversity they were about to experience.
“I think during training camp, we all knew it, right?” Reilly said. “We knew when we were getting ready for that season, we were like, ‘this is something pretty special. We need to take advantage of it.’”
In the first game of the season, disaster struck. Reilly went down with a significant injury in a game played in Fort McMurray against the Toronto Argonauts. Losing your starting QB so early in a year, in a division where you’re competing against an in-his-prime Bo Levi Mitchell and the rival Stampeders made the path to the Grey Cup look significantly more rocky. Despite the setback, it did not change the will of the locker room.
Michael Reilly sits on the trainers table following his knee injury in Fort McMurray
“I got hurt in Fort McMurray, and I remember talking to Matt (Nichols) and talking to the rest of the team and saying this is not going to change our ultimate outcome,” Reilly said. “These opportunities don’t come around very often. We need to take advantage of it. We’ll be just fine.”
“It was going to be a challenge, of course.”
Reilly would miss most of the next 10 weeks of the season, not returning until late in the Labour Day Classic against Calgary. Edmonton had experienced spurts of success in his absence, more than treading water without the future CFL’s Most Outstanding Player. The combination of veteran pivot Matt Nichols and rookie James Franklin, alongside the CFL’s top defence, was enough to give Edmonton a 6-3 record entering the Labour Day clash with the Stampeders. However, the offence sputtered throughout the game against the West Division rivals and Reilly made his re-debut late in the fourth quarter of the 16-7 defeat. As much as the loss hurt, Reilly gained the confidence needed to spark a second half of the season surge.
“I remember coming back in the Labor Day game and being put in the fourth quarter and thinking like, I don’t know if my knee’s ready for this, but we’re going to find out,” he said. “Although we didn’t win the game, I think there was some drives that gave me a lot of confidence. I completed a couple good passes, took off on a couple of scrambles, took some hits, and didn’t get hurt.”
“It was the next week, in the Labor Day Rematch where I was really like, ‘yeah, we’re gonna win this thing.’”
Odell Willis tackles Bo Levi Mitchell in the 2015 Labour Day Rematch
Win was all the Esks did after that game. The Green and Gold dominated in the Labour Day rematch with a 27-16 win at Commonwealth Stadium in front of over 37,000 rowdy fans. They would not lose another game all regular season, finishing the year with a 14-4 record and winning the West. Another win over Calgary in the West Final set up a showdown against the Ottawa RedBlacks in Winnipeg.
The Green and Gold were playoff hardy, having had to overcome so much in the season. As much as Reilly’s injury was the main story, their resilience was the other. Over Edmonton’s nine-game win streak they found themselves trailing in the majority of their games but won every single one — outscoring their opposition 107-22 in the fourth quarter over the run. As the Grey Cup began to unfold, it was apparent the Esks needed to experience a little more adversity.
“We kickoff and Henry Burris goes on this long drive, and they go down and score. You’re like, ‘okay, no big deal, whatever.’” Reilly said. “Then they kick off and we fumble the kick return, and they go back out on the field. They drive down, score again.”
“At that point, it was like, ‘now I really can’t feel my hands, we haven’t touched a football, and we’re already down two scores.’ Well, I guess we wouldn’t have it any other way, right?”
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“It was the coolest experience I ever had in football,” Reilly said. “That’s the ultimate, is winning the championship trophy. Winning a trophy that’s over 100-years-old, hoisting it up, hoping that you don’t break a handle off it, but knowing that if you do you’re not the first one to do it.”
“So doing that with my teammates and having my parents and Emily on the field afterwards and just being like, this is what it’s all about. Then walking into the locker room afterwards in having Shamawd (Chambers) dump a beer over my head, that was pretty fun too.”
Michael Reilly heads up the final All-Decade Team celebrated during the EE’s 75th season. Next week, it will be up to the fans to vote on the best-of-the-best and the Green and Gold’s All-Time Team to be announced on Oct. 25th during the Elks season finale against Toronto. Here is the rest of the 2010s All-Decade Team:
COACH
Head Coach – Chris Jones
A two-time Head Coach with the Double E, Jones guided the Green and Gold to a 26-10 record from 2014 to 2015, culminating in the club’s 14th Grey Cup Championship.
OFFENCE
Quarterback – Michael Reilly
The Elks first CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 30 years, Reilly was the on-field leader of the Double E’s 2010s renaissance. One of only three players to throw for 5,000 yards in three consecutive seasons (Doug Flutie and Anthony Calvillo were the others), Reilly was the 2015 Grey Cup MOP.
Running Back – CJ Gable
Gable quietly came in and had some of the most successful seasons in the Green and Gold’s backfield in years. The USC standout recorded back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons from 2018-19, becoming the first EE rusher to eclipse that mark since Jerome Messam in 2011.
Fullback – Calvin McCarty
The longest serving player of the decade, McCarty suited up for 13 seasons in the Double E from 2007 to 2019. He was well known for his one-handed catches and his time spent in the community. McCarty recorded 29 total touchdowns as a member of the Green and Gold.
Wide Receiver – D’haquille ‘Duke’ Williams
Duke Williams wasn’t in Edmonton for long, but he certainly made a mark. In 31 games for the Green and Gold, Williams caught 15 touchdowns – leading the CFL in receiving yards in 2018 with 1,579. His performance in Edmonton saw Williams join the NFL’s Buffalo Bills for parts of three seasons before returning to the CFL in 2021.
Slotback – Fred Stamps
Over eight seasons in Edmonton, Stamps certainly made his mark. Having to wear the same number as franchise legend Gizmo Williams, Stamps made the #2 in Green and Gold even more iconic. The slotback racked up 7,932 receiving yards and 49 touchdowns with the Esks, including five straight 1,000 yard seasons.
Slotback – Brandon Zylstra
Much like Duke Williams, Zylstra was another case of a short but sweet time with the Double E. In 22 games, Zylstra recorded 2,195 receiving yards with a league leading 1,687 yards in 2017. He would go on to spend four seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vioking and Carolina Panthers.
Slotback – Adarius Bowman
A three-time CFL All-Star, Bowman was a pillar of the Esks receiving core for seven seasons. The lanky wide receiver recorded four 1,000-yard seasons in Edmonton, including a dominant 2016 where he caught 120 passes for 1,761 yards and nine touchdowns.
Wide Receiver – Derel Walker
The Texas product made a massive splash when he was promoted to the active roster in 2015, recording 89 catches for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns in only 12 games. His sophomore season was just as impressive with 109 catches for 1,589 yards and 10 scores. Over the course of his six seasons in Green and Gold, the physical pass catcher recorded 5,613 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns.
Offensive Tackle – Tony Washington
The long-time CFL offensive lineman is a two-time Grey Cup Champion and suited up for 138 CFL games in his career. At 6-foot-7 and 310 lbs, Washington was an imposing obstacle for pass rushers and one of the best CFL offensive linemen over his time in the league.
Offensive Guard – Simeon Rottier
The former first-overall pick in the 2009 CFL Draft, Rottier was an Alberta product who spent six seasons on the Double E’s O-line. He was a 2014 CFL All-Star and a 2015 Grey Cup Champion.
Centre – Justin Sorensen
Another member of the Esks massive Grey Cup winning offensive line, Sorensen called the shots in the middle of the group for five seasons in Edmonton before making the city his home.
Offensive Guard – Matt O’Donnell
The biggest member of the Elks offensive line at 6-foot-11, O’Donnell actually tried out for the NBA with both the Raptors and Celtics before settling in to his football career. It worked out in his favour as he spent a few seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals before joining the Double E. He spent his entire career CFL career in Edmonton, winning a Grey Cup and being named a two-time West Division All-Star.
Offensive Tackle – D’Anthony Batiste
D’Anthony Batiste began his pro career with the Double E back in 2006. After his preseason release, he went onto have a nine-year NFL career, before returning to Edmonton in 2014. Batiste played four more professional seasons with the Green and Gold, winning the Grey Cup in 2015 while being named a West Division All-Star that same year.
DEFENCE
Defensive End – Marcus Howard
The Georgia Bulldogs star came to Edmonton with an amazing pedigree. Howard was the 2008 Sugar Bowl MVP, before being drafted into the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts. He would go on to play six seasons in Edmonton from 2011 to 2016, recording 35 sacks in his injury shortened career.
Defensive Tackle – Eddie Steele
A massive presence in the middle of the EE’s defensive line, Steele was a solid defender and run stopper over his nine-year career. He would go on to add 19-career sacks to his resume, with his career high of six coming with Edmonton in 2014.
Defensive Tackle – Almondo Sewell
A long-time fan favourite and two-time Grey Cup champion, Sewell was a unicorn for his ability to dominate as an interior defender as well as a pass rusher. He recorded 68 career sacks over the course of his 11-year career and now presides as the Elks defensive line coach.
Defensive End – Odell Willis
The ‘Mayor of Commonwealth’ was as quick on the pass rush as he was with his mouth. Willis was a notorious trash talker who was just as effective getting to the quarterback as he was getting under opponents skin. Willis finished his CFL career with 101 sacks, including seasons of 11, 13, 13, and 11 quarterback takedowns.
Weakside Linebacker – Dexter McCoil
McCoil was signed out of the LA Kiss of the Arena Football League before putting together one of the more impressive rookie seasons of the decade. The linebacker was named the 2014 CFL Most Outstanding Rookie with 67 tackles, four sacks, and a league leading six interceptions. Another great season in 2015 where the Double E’s defence dominated their way to a Grey Cup, and McCoil would land back in the National Football League for three seasons.
Middle Linebacker – J.C. Sherritt
The heart of the EE’s defence for eight seasons, Sherritt was a leader on and off the field for the Green and Gold. The linebacker set a CFL record for tackles in 2012 with 130 despite missing a game to injury — earning him the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award.
Strongside Linebacker – T.J. Hill
Hill was a versatile defender over his five seasons in Edmonton. He finished his CFL career with 595 total tackles, 14 sacks, 13 interceptions and was also named the team’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2009.
Cornerback – Joe Burnett
Burnett spent four seasons in Green and Gold, leading the team with six interceptions in his first season. The Florida native set the club record for longest interception return for a touchdown at 108 yards in 2012, and was named a CFL All-Star for his efforts.
Defensive Halfback – Chris Thompson
Thompson was a ball hawk in his time in Edmonton, intercepting 19 passes over the course of his four seasons in the 2010s. He wrapped up his career as a two-time CFL All-Star, earning one of those nods in 2010 with the Double E.
Safety – Donovan Alexander
A Manitoba native, Alexander started 51 games at safety for the Esks over his three seasons. He notched 126-total tackles as the last line of defence and picked off seven passes for the Green and Gold.
Defensive Halfback – Aaron Grymes
A long-time fan favourite and current Elks community ambassador and coach, Grymes is a former Grey Cup champion and CFL West All-Star. He would spend a season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016 before returning the Edmonton where he spent eight of his 12 professional seasons.
Cornerback – Pat Watkins
Watkins was an outstanding NFLer and special teamer before joining the CFL in 2012 with the Argonauts. He would finish his CFL career as a two-time Grey Cup champion and a three-time CFL All-Star.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker – Sean Whyte
A long time CFLer and one of the league’s most accurate kickers of all-time, Whyte played six years in Edmonton while winning the Grey Cup in 2015. He has amassed over 1,900 points in his 18-year career.
Punter – Grant Shaw
An Edmonton product, Shaw spent five seasons in Edmonton serving as both a punter and place kicker. The former second-round pick in the 2010 CFL Draft was a member of the Double E’s 2015 Grey Cup squad.
Long snapper – Ryan King
You wont find many long snapppers more popular than Ryan King. The Edmonton product spent nine years as a member of the Green and gold, winning the 2015 Grey Cup and the Tom Pate Memorial award in 2018 for his commitment to the community.
Returner – Kendial Lawrence
The speedy Lawrence returned one punt and two-kickoffs for touchdowns from 2014 to 2015 in Edmonton, with a long of 107 yards in 2014. The Dallas native racked up 4,342 all-purpose yards in his time in the Green and Gold.
Special Teams – Mike Miller
The league’s all-time leader in special teams tackles, Miller was well regarded for his ability on kick-off and punt coverage. In 14 games with the Esks from 2011-2016, he notched 116 special teams tackles.
