By:Sarah Zintel
Photo: The Canadian Press
OTTAWA- The Ottawa REDBLACKS lost 28-36 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Thursday night at Investors Group Field.
Blue Bombers’ Nic Gigsby fooled the defence and stole the lead from the REDBLACKS when he scored his third touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter.
The REDBLACKS came out strong, up 7-0 less than five minutes into their CFL regular-season debut. Running back Chevon Walker got the franchise’s first ever regular-season touchdown with a three-yard run into the end-zone.
Veteran quarterback Henry Burris found wide receiver Dobson Collins around two minutes later for 26-yards and another REDBLACKS touchdown.
Without a moment to spare, Walker collected his second touchdown of the night putting the REDBLACKS ahead 21-7 at the start of the second quarter.
The Blue Bombers gained control of the REDBLACKS offence and held them at the 60-yard line for the majority of the second quarter.
Just over nine minutes in, Winnipeg went for a 98-yard touchdown drive as Grigsby collected his second touchdown of the game and put them behind by only seven. In the final seconds of the half, Blue Bombers’ kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 47-yard field goal to bring the Bombers within only four.
The Blue Bombers came out of the dressing room for the second half with a new momentum.
Hajrullahu, brought Winnipeg within one early in the second half. The Blue Bombers momentum continued when Burris was sacked less than a minute and a half later.
REDBLACKS’ Jerrell Gavins intercepted quarterback Drew Willy, giving Maher the opportunity to score another field goal to put the REDBLACKS ahead 25-20 at the end of the third.
Early in the fourth quarter Maher collected another two points for the REDBLACKS. But Winnipeg’s Demond Washington responded quickly making the 96-yard punt return for a touchdown bringing the score to 28-26.
Despite a historic performance by Burris and Walker the REDBLACKS offence did not have enough in the dying minutes of the games to come back from Gigsby’s third touchdown.
The REDBLACKS will travel next to Edmonton on July 11th to face the Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium at 10:00pmET.
Your REDBLACKS ticket gets you free transit on game day. Find out more HERE
