The Ottawa REDBLACKS will look to pick up their first home win of the young CFL season on Saturday night when they play host to the Edmonton Eskimos.
Saturday’s contest will be the second meeting between the teams this season after Ottawa opened its 2016 CFL campaign by downing the Eskimos 45-37 in overtime. In that one, Chris Milo hit a 55-yard field goal on the final play of the fourth quarter to force overtime before Trevor Harris – who came into the game to replace an injured Henry Burris – connected with Brad Sinopoli for the game-winning touchdown in the extra frame.
This time around, the REDBLACKS will have a bit of a new look when they host Edmonton, with Burris once again healthy and Harris now on the injured list. Coming off a loss to the Toronto Argonauts last weekend at TD Place, the REDBLACKS are determined to get back in the win column before heading into the club’s first bye week of the season next week.
To do that, they will have to overcome a couple key injuries, notably to two of Ottawa’s best defensive backs in Abdul Kanneh and Jerrell Gavins, both of whom will be sidelined this week. Fortunately for the REDBLACKS, the roster boasts plenty of depth at the position and everyone’s confident the guys stepping in can get the job done.
“We’re going to have a few new guys in there,” said head coach Rick Campbell. “We had talked a few weeks ago that we thought we had good DB depth and we’re glad that we do.”
The REDBLACKS will, however, get at least one weapon back for Saturday’s game as receiver/kick returner Jamill Smith will return from injury. Sitting on the sidelines has been frustrating for the Indiana native and he’s ready to get back into the action.
“I’m big with helping out my team and doing whatever I can by being a positive influence, but I came here to ball,” Smith said. “I didn’t come here to sit and watch. I’m ready to get out there and play.”
Injuries or not, the REDBLACKS know how important the last game before the bye week is, with a chance to leapfrog over Toronto and back into first place in the East Division. In Edmonton, they will be facing the West’s third-place team. The Eskimos are coming off a 30-23 loss against Winnipeg.
Ottawa will look to recapture some of the offensive magic that allowed them to jump out to a 3-0-1 record to open the season after struggling in most categories against Toronto last weekend. For the first time this season, Ottawa didn’t have a receiver with more than 100 yards on the night, with Brad Sinopoli’s 69 yards on four catches leading the way. Kicker Chris Milo had a strong game despite the loss, hitting both field goals he attempted, including one from 55 yards out.
The REDBLACKS will also be facing one of the CFL’s Top Performers of the month in Eskimos’ quarterback Mike Reilly, who has completed 147 of 207 passes for 1,926 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this year. The game will also mark Ottawa’s second time going up against former offensive coordinator Jason Maas, now head coach in Edmonton. Fittingly, the two other top performers of the month were Ottawa players as Harris and receiver Chris Williams also got the nod from the league.
“They’re a fantastic team and it went right down to the wire last time,” said Ottawa defensive lineman Connor Williams. “We’ve got to do everything we can because they’re going to bring it. It’s always a game with those guys and we’re expecting the best out of them.”
Following Saturday’s game, the REDBLACKS will get a full week off before returning to TD Place to host the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 19.
