Eskimos quarterback Reilly captures CFL outstanding player honour

OTTAWA – Mike Reilly is the CFL’s outstanding player.

The Edmonton Eskimos quarterback received the honour Thursday night at the CFL’s annual awards banquet.

Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray was the award finalist.

Reilly, 32, started all 18 regular-season games and led Edmonton (12-6) to third spot in the West Division standings despite a plethora of injuries.

The six-foot-three, 230-pound Reilly led the CFL in passing (5,830 yards) and tied Ottawa’s Trevor Harris for the league lead in TD passes (30). He also ran for 12 TDs and had 39 completions of 30-plus yards, both league-best marks.

Under Reilly’s guidance, Edmonton led the CFL in net offence (406.8 yards), offensive points (27.2 per game), offensive touchdowns (52) while allowing a league-low 29 sacks.

Ray, 38, enjoyed a resurgence this year with Toronto, starting 17 regular-season games after appearing in just 12 the past two seasons due to various injuries.

Ray led the CFL in pass attempts (668) and completions (442) and finished tied with Reilly for most 300-yard games (12).

Ray finished second to Reilly in passing yards (5,546), his first 5,000-yard season since ’08 and fourth of his career. Ray joins Hall of Famers Anthony Calvillo and Doug Flutie as the only players to reach that plateau four or more times.