Brennan MacDonald
Week 10: REDBLACKS vs Lions | Thursday, August 25
Final Score
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
|
|
Ottawa |
3 |
10 |
7 |
3 |
23 |
|
BC |
3 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
29 |
Game Summary
A late second half Travis Lulay touchdown and two point convert by Manny Arceneaux helped power the BC Lions past a stellar offensive outing for Trevor Harris in his return to the line-up. The visiting BC Lions downed the Ottawa REDBLACKS 29-23 in front of another spirited sellout crowd at TD Place.
Head coach Rick Campbell said he was disappointed with the loss, but was happy with this week’s improved performance. Campbell picked out penalties as a key area for improvement.
“The games and the teams are too close talent-level-wise to overcome that stuff. So we are going to keep working at it and if we keep choosing to work at it and have the attitude we had this week, we will win our fair share of games, but we are going to have to eliminate the negative stuff.”
REDBLACKS QB Trevor Harris made his return to the starting lineup following a three game injury hiatus and put in an impressive performance, completing 23 of 30 passes for a total of 352 yards and one touchdown pass. The mercurial quarterback linked up well with wide-receivers Greg Ellingson and Chris Williams, who made five receptions each for a combined 258 yards.
The home team’s defensive line also did well, combining for a total of six sacks on the evening.
Ottawa will travel to Montreal for a crucial Week 11 clash with the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night to open the month of September. Thursday’s contest will decide the season-series that has seen the visiting team claim the victories in the first two meetings. The REDBLACKS won’t return to TD Place until September 23 when the host the Toronto Argonauts. Limited tickets are available for this affair that will also decide the season series.
First Half Summary
The kickers for both teams struck field goals in the first quarter with BC’s Richie Leone drawing first blood and Ottawa’s Chris Milo answering with one of his own. The score at the end of the first quarter was 3-3.
In the second quarter, Lions QB Travis Lulay scored a short 1–yard touchdown to give the visitors the lead, 9-3.
REDBLACKS QB Trevor Harris answered Jennings on the very next series, leading his teammates on a determined drive down the field, completing 5 of 5 passes for 65 yards, including an inch-perfect 30–yard touchdown pass to receiver Ernest Jackson who made a spectacular diving catch between two defenders.
The REDBLACKS conceded a single in the final minute of play, but the home team was not content with the level score and Chris Milo restored Ottawa’s lead before half-time with a 43-yard field goal on the very last play of the first half.
Harris was near flawless in the first half, completing 15 of 16 passes for a total of 187 yards.
Second Half Summary
The visitors clawed back the lead early in the third quarter, scoring a single, a touchdown and completing a 2-point conversion by the halfway point of the third quarter to bring the score 19-13 in favour of the visitors.
The REDBLACKS struggled to find an immediate answer but with just two minutes remaining in the quarter, Harris hit receiver Greg Ellingson with a long 52–yard pass that allowed running back Travon Van to run the ball in for a touchdown on the very next play. The score heading into the fourth quarter was 20-19 for the REDBLACKS.
Ottawa conceded a safety early in the fourth quarter to hand the visitors the 1 point lead. Chris Milo kicked a long 46–yard field goal to restore the home-side’s advantage, but the REDBLACKS were ultimately undone by another Travis Lulay 1–yard touchdown rush and follow up 2-point conversion from Manny Arceneaux.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter – Premier Quart
BC – FG Leone – 5:52
OTT – FG Milo – 3:39
Second Quarter – Deuxieme Quart
BC – TD Lulay – 5:09
OTT – TD E. Jackson, pass from Harris (Milo converts) – 2:45
BC – Single Leone – 0:19
OTT – FG Milo – 0:00
Third Quarter – Troisieme Quart
BC – Single Leone – 10:36
BC – TD Rainey, pass from Jennings (2 pt convert, Allen) – 7:41
OTT – TD Van (Milo converts) – 2:07
Fourth Quarter – Quatrieme Quart
OTT – Safety – 10:38
OTT – FG Milo – 3:46
BC – TD Lulay (2 pt convert, Arceneaux) – 1:34
Attendance: 24,677
