REDBLACKS host Ticats in regular season finale

Ottawa REDBLACKS

The REDBLACKS will wrap up their 2017 season on Friday night, when they will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at TD Place.

The REDBLACKS (7-9-1) are two full weeks removed from their last action — an unforgettable 33-32 come-from-behind win in Regina — and with a win on Friday could put serious pressure on Toronto in their Week-20 finale.

Ottawa could vault Toronto for first place in the East Division, setting up a wait-and-see situation entering the final game of the regular season: Toronto at BC, Nov. 4 at 10 p.m. ET.

Of course, June Jones’s resurgent Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-11) may have something to say about that.

STORYLINES

Bye Week Shine — It’s no secret the REDBLACKS were in desperate need of a bye, having played 17 consecutive weeks of football, and Rick Campbell’s team took some much-needed time off. Players returned home — some visited their alma mater — to recuperate and recharge their batteries for the playoff grind ahead.

Career Years — Despite his injury, quarterback Trevor Harris has already set a career high in pass yards (4,366) and needs just 11 completions to break his career high of 382. Running back William Powell needs 107 rush yards — a mark he’s hit three times this year — to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Defensively, linebacker Taylor Reed has recorded a career-high 93 tackles.

Milestones — Friday marks Ottawa fullback Pat Lavoie’s 100th CFL game, while centre-turned-guard Jon Gott will suit up for his 130th career contest against Hamilton. At the opposite end of the spectrum, rookie Jake Ceresna slots in on the line at defensive tackle while rookies Sherrod Baltimore and Corey Tindal will continue to hold down one side of the secondary.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

The REDBLACKS have seen both sides of the 2017 Hamilton Tiger-Cats, having crushed them 37-18 on Aug. 18 — the defeat which spelled an end to Kent Austin’s tenure — only to drop a 26-22 decision to June Jones’s team on Sep. 9.

Former Oregon Duck and Ole Miss Rebel Jeremiah Masoli has provided a bit more stability under centre since taking over from Zach Collaros in Week 11; Masoli has thrown eight touchdowns to just one interception over his last five starts.

Though it’s given up the second-most points in the CFL, the Ticat defence has also forced more fumbles (16) than any other unit in the league.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“It’s huge urgency: We win this game, we’re back in first place and make Toronto have to win a game. First place is a huge thing in the CFL — one home game to get to the Grey Cup. Somebody told me, I think 13 of our 17 games have come down to the last possession, which is crazy. The different for us between winning and losing is making a key play at the end of the game.” — HC Rick Campbell

“It’s important that everybody has a good #2 QB, and developing a third quarterback. Same with offensive linemen and receiving core. The GM does a great job of bringing in talent. The ball’s jumping out of my hand a little better. (The bye) was big to get off our legs, go back, some people got to go home. We can’t rely on other teams to do the work for us; we’re 7-9, if we don’t get the bye, fine, we don’t deserve the bye. It is what it is, but we’re going to take care of our business and let the chips fall where they may.” — QB Trevor Harris

GAME INFO

Ottawa REDBLACKS vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Week 19 — October 27, 2017
Kickoff — 7 p.m. ET | TD Place

BROADCAST INFO

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