Toronto Argonauts vs Ottawa REDBLACKS September 23, 2016 PHOTO: Greg Kolz/Freestyle Photography
Week 14 | REDBLACKS vs Argonauts – Friday, September 23
The REDBLACKS returned to winning ways Friday night as they triumphed over East Division rivals Toronto Argonauts, 29-12. The victory was a gritty performance played out in front of a REDBLACKS record 25,000 plus crowd at TD Place. The win not only gives the REDBLACKS the outright lead atop the East, but scores them the season series win over the Argos.
“It’s a big win. It’s a hard fought win. They have been a very good team the last couple weeks. They’ve been scoring a lot of points and to hold them down like that – I am very proud of our effort. We know there is stuff to work on…but it’s a huge win tonight,” said REDBLACKS Head Coach Rick Campbell following the win that return his team to top spot in the East (6-5-1).
The highlight of the night came midway through the second quarter when punt returner Jamill Smith scored an extraordinary 110–yard touchdown on a missed field goal return – the first in franchise history.
REDBLACKS QB Trevor Harris threw for 308 yards over 26 completed passes in an efficient display. Harris linked up with Brad Sinopli early and often, finding the receiver nine times for a total of 116 yards.
Running back Mossis Madu Jr. – who made his REDBLACKS debut on Friday – put in an impressive display making 16 carries for a total of 82 yards while teammate Jamill Smith returned the football for a total of 165 yards – including that franchise first 110–yard missed field goal return.
In addition to scoring big on the field, the REDBLACKS and RNation scored big off the field too raising the equivalent of 43,754 pounds of food for the Ottawa Food Bank as part of Purolator Tackle Hunger weekend at TD Place.
The REDBLACKS head back on the road with a date against the BC Lions next Saturday before returning home October 7 to take on the Green Riders.
Final Score
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
|
|
Ottawa |
6 |
10 |
3 |
10 |
29 |
|
Toronto |
0 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
12 |
First Half Summary
Ottawa opened the scoring with kicker Chris Milo hitting a 19-yard field goal to finish off a solid offensive drive by the home team. Milo added another short field goal late in the first quarter to bring the score to 6-0. Harris completed seven of his nine first quarter pass attempts for a total of 103 yards.
A long second quarter combative drive by the Argo’s, in which both team’s received multiple penalties, finished in a monster Jamill Smith 110-yard missed field goal touchdown return – a first for the REDBLACKS franchise.
The punt returner picked up Toronto kicker Hajrullahu’s 52-yard field goal attempt right on the end zone line, sprinted to the right side of the field where he cut a line through the swarm, before putting on the burners and running free for the endzone. Kicker Chris Milo converted, 13-0 for the home side.
The REDBLACKS followed up Smith’s heroics with a strong eight play drive that ended in a Chris Milo 41-yard field goal. Determined to not be shutout in the first half, Toronto put together a late, gritty drive that ended in a short field goal by Hajrullahu. The score at the break: 16-3.
Second Half Summary
Milo followed up his three first half field goals with an early 44-yarder, padding the home team’s lead, 19-3.
Quarterback Drew Willy subbed in for Lefevour in the third quarter for the visitors. Willy led the team down the field on a late drive that kicker Hajrullahu finished off with a 27-yard field goal.
Milo kicked another field goal – his fifth of the evening – around the twelve minute mark of the fourth quarter to put the home team up 22-6.
That field goal concession seemed to spark the visitor’s into action, who put together a quick two play, 54-yard drive that was capped off with a TD pass from Willy to receiver Kevin Elliott. Desperate for points, the Argo’s attempted a 2-point conversion but were unsuccessful.
A late Argo’s push was put to bed by a late REDBLACKS touchdown, courtesy of a 1-yard rush by QB Trevor Harris to bring the final score to 29-12.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
OTT – FG Milo – 7:51
OTT – FG Milo – 0:22
Second Quarter
OTT – TD J. Smith (Milo converts) – 11:03
OTT – FG Milo – 5:35
TOR – FG Hajrullahu – 0:58
Third Quarter
OTT – FG Milo – 12:26
TOR – FG Hajrullahu – 1:00
Fourth Quarter
OTT – FG Milo – 11:47
TOR – TD Elliott, pass from Willy – 7:52
OTT – TD Harris (Milo converts) – 1:53
Attendance: 25,088
