REDBLACKS shutter Eskimos at home

The Ottawa REDBLACKS bent but refused to break against one of the CFL’s most potent offences Saturday afternoon, defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 28-15 at TD Place.

Lewis Ward hit seven field goals and Greg Ellingson had a crucial touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Trevor Harris went 22-for-30, passing for over 300 yards in the process.

Anthony Cioffi paced the defence with six tackles and forced a fumble. Rico Murray came up clutch with a fourth quarter interception at the goal line.

The REDBLACKS found the end zone on their very first drive of the game, only to have the score called back because of a penalty. Lewis Ward knocked in a short field goal to give Ottawa their first points of the game.

Ottawa had another score brought back due to a penalty, after Diontae Spencer returned a punt to the house. The score could have been decisively in the REDBLACKS favour, but it was 3-0 after the first quarter.

After A.C. Leonard recovered a fumble, Harris guided the offence into field goal range and Ward converted his 32^nd straight field goal to double the REDBLACKS lead.

The defence was stifling the Eskimos offence, and Ottawa started winning the field position game. The REDBLACKS found the end zone, but it was again called back because of a penalty. Harris was then intercepted, and the drive was over.

There was plenty of scoring in the final two minutes of the first half. Ward kicked two field goals, including a 40-yarder in the dying moments. Mike Reilly also snuck into the end zone, making the score 12-7 for Ottawa at the half.

With his field goals at the end of the first half, Ward set the CFL single-season record for consecutive field goals at 34.

The REDBLACKS started the second half by again driving into the red zone, and again failing to find pay dirt. Ward kicked his 35th straight three-pointer, making the score 15-7.

Reilly immediately responded by finding D’haquille Williams for a touchdown. Reilly also fired a two-point convert to tie the game.

The back-and-forth action continued in the third quarter. Ward converted yet another field goal – his sixth of the game – to give Ottawa a three-point lead.

The Eskimos were driving with ten minutes to go in the fourth quarter, when Reilly’s pass was tipped-and-picked by Rico Murray at the goal line. The offence then rumbled down the field, and Harris connected with Greg Ellingson in the end zone for the score. Ward kicked the convert, giving Ottawa a ten-point lead.

With Edmonton in three-down range, Kyries Hebert sacked Reilly, allowing the REDBLACKS to take over deep in Eskimos territory with under three minutes to go. Ward kicked an insurance marker, making the score 28-15.

The field goal tied the REDBLACKS franchise record for field goals in a game, set by Ward earlier in the season.

Ottawa (8-5) maintain their lead atop the East Division heading into their second bye week of the year. Following their week off, the REDBLACKS will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at home on Friday, October 5. The Eskimos (7-6) are taking on the Bombers next week on Saturday, September 29.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“We were talking in the locker room about how awesome this city is, this region is, and these fans are for coming out today. It was a real rough day in Ottawa yesterday. To see people lose property is heartbreaking, but this city’s pretty awesome. It was great to see everybody show up today.

“You can see Mike Reilly can zing that ball around the field. We got some pressure on him and came up with some timely turnovers that were big. Good football teams have offence, defence and special teams making each other look good. That last sequence where we got the interception by the goal line and then moved the ball down the field was good to see.” – HC Rick Campbell

“It was a lot of fun being out here today. There were times that we wish we would have scored touchdowns instead of field goals, but our group did our part today and that’s what contributed.” – K Lewis Ward

GAME NOTES

William Powell surpassed 1,000 rushing yards on the season in the first quarter… Ward is now three successful field goals away from breaking the all-time CFL record for consecutive field goals. The record is 39 and held by Rene Parades of the Calgary Stampeders … Saturday was the first time the Eskimos have been held to under 20 points since Week 5… The REDBLACKS honoured those affected by the recent storm in the Ottawa region prior to kickoff.

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter
OTT – FG Ward – 12:00

Second Quarter
OTT – FG Ward – 11:23
OTT – FG Ward – 1:56
EDM – TD Rielly (Whyte conv.) – 0:38
OTT – FG Ward – 0:13

Third Quarter
OTT – FG Ward – 9:46
EDM – Reilly to Williams (Reilly to Mitchell 2 pt. conv.) – 4:59
OTT – FG Ward – 0:40

Fourth Quarter
OTT – Harris to Ellingson (Ward conv.) – 3:44
OTT – FG Ward – 1:55

Attendance – 24,800