Game 7: REDBLACKS vs Eskimos
Saturday August 6 – 7:00 PM
Final Score:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
| Ottawa | 3 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 23 |
| Edmonton | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 20 |
Recap Video:
Game Summary:
A gritty, defensive game of football exploded with drama late in the second half, with a late Jermaine Robinson interception and an ensuing Chris Milo 25-yard field goal handing the Ottawa REDBLACKS a well-deserved 23-20 home win over the visiting the Edmonton Eskimos.
The home-victory, in front of another rowdy sold out TD Place, saw the REDBLACKS sweep the season series against last year’s Grey Cup champions.
“It’s a win and it’s a big win. A hard fought game, we did a lot of good things,” said REDBLACKS Head Coach Rick Campbell following the win that puts Ottawa back on top of the East Division. “I think as a football team we did a lot of the heavy lifting. There were some plays left out there on the field but we got it done.”
Robinson’s game-defining interception was a reversal of fortune for a home-team that was nearly undone by a 47-yard Edmonton interception touchdown return midway through the fourth quarter. REDBLACKS QB Henry Burris had attempted to pick out Chris Williams, only for the ball to skip up off the receiver’s foot and into the hands of Edmonton’s JC Sherritt, who returned the interception for the lead-changing score.
The REDBLACKS remained unfazed by the bad fortune and Burris led the game-tying charge up the field, picking out Chris Williams for a seven yard touchdown. It was part of an passionate performance by Burris, who completed 26 of 39 passes, for 341 yards and two touchdowns.
Campbell also highlighted the REDBLACKS defensive unit that managed to limit two of the league’s top three receivers – Derel Walker and Adarius Bowman – to just 122 combined yards, 13 receptions and zero touchdowns. Ottawa’s defensive back John Boyett made seven tackles, while David Hinds and Imoan Clairborne made five apiece.
On offense, wide-receiver Greg Ellingson put in yet another strong performance, making six receptions for 121 yards. Chris Williams also had a good showing, making seven receptions for 62 yards and a game-tying touchdown.
The REDBLACKS will now enjoy a well-deserved and perhaps well-timed bye week before returning to action at TD Place against Montreal Alouettes on August 19 – a game that should be another sellout with less than 300 tickets remaining.
First Half Summary:
The first half was a low scoring affair at TD Place, with only 16 total points put up on the board. The REDBLACKS put the first points up after a long series was finished off by a short-range Christopher Milo FG. A late defensive shutdown by Edmonton forced the home team to concede a safety, drawing the visitors within one point. The REDBLACKS struck first in the second quarter with QB Henry Burris picking out receiver Ernest Jackson for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Edmonton kicker Grant Shaw put up a single before Sean Whyte struck a late 33-yard field goal to claw the visitors back within four points of Ottawa.
Second Half Summary:
The two teams traded field goals in the third quarter with Edmonton kicker Sean Whyte hitting a 52-yarder and Ottawa’s Chris Milo answering with a 25-yard FG as the quarter ended. Whyte hit another field goal early in the fourth quarter. The visitors were rewarded minutes later with a bit of good fortune when Burris’ attempted pass to Chris Williams skipped up off the receiver’s foot and into the hands of the Eskimos JC Sherritt, who returned the interception for a 47-yard TD. QB Mike Reilly picked out receiver Chris Getzlaf for a 2-point conversion, putting the visitors up 20-13 late in the second half.
The REDBLACKS refused to be beaten down by the bad fortune with Burris leading an offensive charge up the field that ended with the QB picking out Chris Williams for a 7-yard touchdown – the receiver’s first in three games. Not content with the level score, REDBLACKS free safety Jermaine Robinson intercepted Reilly’s long pass attempt, returning the football to the Edmonton 24-yard line and allowing kicker Chris Milo to hit the late game-winning field goal.
Scoring Summary:
First Quarter – Premier Quart
OTT – FG Milo – 10:11
EDM – Safety – 0:00
Second Quarter – Deuxieme Quart
OTT – TD E. Jackson, pass from Burris (Milo converts) – 10:01
EDM – Single Shaw – 5:52
EDM – FG Whyte – 0:57
Third Quarter – Troisieme Quart
EDM – FG Whyte – 4:39
OTT – FG Milo – 0:00
Fourth Quarter – Quatrieme Quart
EDM – FG Whyte – 12:08
EDM – TD Sherritt, (Getzlaf converts, 2 pts) – 4:52
OTT – TD Williams, pass from Burris (Milo converts) – 2:28
OTT – FG Milo – 1:31
Attendance: 24,560
