Week 4 in the CFL begins with the “Battle of Ontario” as the Ottawa REDBLACKS take on the Toronto Argonauts on Wednesday night as the league’s only unbeaten team looks to win it’s third-straight on the road.
Ottawa comes into the game after recording a rare tie against Calgary in front of a sold out crowd at TD Place, while the Argos have strung together two big wins away from home after dropping their home opener to Hamilton in Week 1.
Quaterback Trevor Harris will lead his team into enemy territory as the first-year REDBLACK continues his torrid start to the season in relief of the injured Henry Burris. The former Argo has already thrown for 1,096 yards through three games, completing 76 of 95 passes for nine touchdowns in the process. Wideout Chris Williams has been on the receiving end of much of that offence with 493 yards and six touchdowns on 25 catches, but the New Mexico native is hardly the only threat in what has already proven to be a very dangerous Ottawa offence that currently leads the CFL scoring with 99 points through three games.
While the opposition has tried mightily to contain the dynamic Williams that has opened up space for the likes of Greg Ellingson, Brad Sinopoli and Ernest Jackson, all of whom can make an opponent pay for their mistakes at any moment.
“It’s a reflection on the guys, they’ve done a great job in their preparation and in their study,” said offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo. “We’re going to hit our bumps, but right now our focus is on ourselves and just improving.”
But despite the wealth of storylines heading into Wednesday’s game at BMO Field – Harris returning to Toronto, where he excelled last season, and Ottawa’s hot start to the season – the players are only concerned about picking up the win and putting some distance between themselves and Toronto.
Mostly, they want to improve coming off a rare 26-26 tie last weekend against Calgary. Williams, who was named a CFL Top Performer for a third straight week on Tuesday, knows he and his teammates can be even better and knows how dangerous the group can be when things are clicking.
“We’re not going to give you any free plays off,” he said. “We do a good job of spacing the field and attacking. We have the weapons to make teams pay.”
Nic Grigsby, who impressed in his REDBLACKS debut last Friday night should also play a key role in Ottawa’s offence Wednesday night.
Following the midweek fixture in Toronto, the REDBLACKS will ready themselves for their fourth road trip in five games to start the season as they’ll head to Saskatchewan for a date with the Green Riders next Friday before returning home for the second meeting of the month against the Argos on July 31 at TD Place on a night that will honour the 1976 Grey Cup winning Ottawa Rough Riders alumni.
Tickets to the July 31 game against the Toronto Argonauts and all REDBLACKS home games are available at by clicking here, calling 1.877.489.2849 or by visiting the TD Place Box Office.
