Road games, injuries, shorts weeks … nothing has managed to trip up the Ottawa REDBLACKS through the opening four weeks of their third CFL campaign and head into Week 5 in Saskatchewan as the league’s lone unbeaten team looking to grow their lead atop the East Division.
The REDBLACKS (3-0-1) have won all three of their games away from TD Place, led by the impressive play of quarterback Trevor Harris and a crop of dangerous receivers, who have combined to score Ottawa a league-leading 129 points through four games.
Harris was named one of the CFL’s top players on Tuesday after completing 28 of 31 passes in a 30-20 win over the Toronto Argonauts last week. It was the third time in four weeks Harris has received the honour, while speedy receiver Chris Williams and his 556 yards and six touchdowns in four games has also been named to the list three times this year.
The REDBLACKS QB leads the league’s most potent offence into Saskatchewan having thrown for 1475 yards and 9 touchdowns. Harris has thrown for over 390 yards in three straight games and will take aim and surpassing the 400 yard mark for the first time in his young career.
The Roughriders, meanwhile, are coming into Friday’s game winless in three games and tied for the second-fewest points scored with 80. While the REDBLACKS may be the favourites on paper, the coaches and players are keenly aware that struggling teams can often be the most dangerous.
“They’re hungry,” said defensive lineman Zack Evans. “They’ve got some guys that can make some plays and they’re just not quite there yet. But you can definitely see them coming along and you’ve got to be careful with guys like that.”
Friday’s tilt will see Campbell go head-to-head with Saskatchewan’s Chris Jones who defeated the REDBLACKS at the helm of the Eskimos in last year’s Grey Cup.
That storyline aside, head coach Rick Campbell said the team isn’t paying much attention to Saskatchewan’s record and statistics, his full focus is on his own team and what can still be improved just four games into the season.
“We just try to get ready to play as well as we can each week and we’re better when we don’t think too much about other things,” he said. “All we’re thinking about is going to Regina and trying to find a way to win the game.”
Defensive back Aston Whiteside agreed with his coach, saying as long as he and his teammates are prepared, who the opposition is makes little difference.
“I don’t think it’s about them, it’s about us,” said Whiteside. “We come out here and practice to compete against the best every day, so it’s not about what they give us, it’s about what we do. We’ll be coming out hard, we’re ready to hit.”
Following Friday’s game, the REDBLACKS finally return to the friendly confines of TD Place when they host the Toronto Argonauts on July 31 in the first of a four-game homestand. That game will feature a group of special guests as the 1976 Grey Cup-winning Ottawa Rough Riders team will be honoured. Get your tickets now for this memorable night by clicking here, calling 613-232-6767 x1, or in person at the TD Place Box Office.
