Week 15 | REDBLACKS vs Lions – Saturday, October 1 – 10PM
Game Summary
The BC Lions edged the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS 40-33 in a Saturday night shootout between two high-octane offences. BC’s two fourth quarter touchdowns proved to be the deciding factor in a game that saw both team’s combine for a total of 50 first half points – a record this CFL season.
“We squandered one. I will give them credit but this one was there for the taking all the way till the end and good teams find a way to win these games. We didn’t get it done tonight,” said REDBLACKS Head Coach Rick Campbell.
Campbell added: “We are going to have to continue to work at it over these last five games and if we can get to a place where we can function on all cylinders we will be able to compete with anybody in this league. But we have got to find a way to make a couple more plays.
REDBLACKS quarterback Trevor Harris led the way for the visitors, throwing for 485 yards and two touchdowns, while his counterpart Jonathon Jennings posted 348 yards and three touchdown passes for the home side. Ottawa’s receiving core of Chris Williams, Brad Sinopli, Ernest Jackson and Greg Ellingson had a big night, combining for a total of 406 receiving yards.
BC Lions running back Anthony Allen harried Ottawa’s D-line all evening, making a total of 12 carries for a total of 85 rushing yards, while linebacker Solomon Elimimian put in a powerhouse performance, posting 13 tackles.
First Half Summary
The first half was shootout between the Lions and the REDBLACKS with the visitors opening the scoring on they’re for first drive of the game. Harris marched his team down the field and into the red zone, where he finished a strong 7 for 7 passing series with a short 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brad Sinopoli.
The Lions wasted little time, answering with their own touchdown off a two-play drive from QB Jonathon Jennings. The BC quarterback followed up his monster 49-yard completion to Emmanuel Arceneaux with an equally impressive 30-yard touchdown pass to Chris Rainey, who made outstanding catch while tangled with REDBLACKS linebacker Taylor Reed. The Lions failed in their two-point convert attempt, 7-6.
The REDBLACKS’ next drive ended in a short 18-yard field goal from kicker Chris Milo, lifting the visitors into double digits on the scoreboard, 10-6.BC kicker Richie Leone opened the second quarter with a 30-yard field goal, bringing the Lions to within one point of the REDBLACKS. Leone followed that score up with a 39-yard field goal at the eleven-minute mark to hand his team the lead.
Ottawa kicker Chris Milo answered with a 43-yard field goal of his own late in the second quarter. Jennings followed that up with a six play, 80 yard touchdown drive that was finished of by a short TD rush by backup QB Travis Lulay and a 2 point convert to extend the home team’s lead with just over two minutes left in the first half.
Unfazed, Harris took to the field and immediately picked out wide receiver Chris Williams with a long 68-yard touchdown pass. The speedy receiver burned down the left side of the field, opening up acres of space for Harris to pick him out before running the ball into the Lion’s end zone.
Jennings answered with another big four play drive, passing his team down into the red zone before finding receiver Arceneaux just outside of the end zone. The receiver picked up the short pass and ran the ball, unfettered, in for a late touchdown.Harris, determined to rescue some points before the break, picked out Ellingson deep in the BC half with just 12 seconds to play, allowing teammate Milo good field position to kick a 34-yard field goal. Heading into the halftime, Ottawa trailed BC 27-23.
The late Milo field goal capped of a first half scoring bonanza with both teams combining for a total of 50 points – a season record for the CFL. REDBLACKS QB Trevor Harris completed 21 of 26 passes for a total of 302 yards and two touchdowns, while Lions QB Jonathon Jennings hit 11 of 14 passes for a total of 217 yards and two touchdowns.
Second Half Summary
The third quarter was a much quieter affair as both teams’ defensive lines shut down that rampant first half offence. However, the REDBLACKS struck late, with running back Mossis Madu capping off a nine-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown rush – his first TD as a member of the franchise. Ottawa finished the third quarter leading BC by a score of 30-27.
REDBLACKS receiver Chris Williams came up with another big 68-yard pass reception to get the visitors into a good scoring position but Harris was unable to capitalize. Kicker Chris Milo hit a short 14 yard field goal to claw Ottawa back to within 1 point of the Lions with just over five minutes remaining in the game.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
OTT – TD Sinopli, pass from Harris (Milo converts) – 8:30
BC – TD Rainey, pass from Jennings – 6:57
OTT – FG Milo – 2:40
Second Quarter
BC – FG Leone – 14:17BC – FG Leone – 11:15
OTT – FG Milo – 6:28BC – TD Lulay (Allen 2 PT convert) – 3:02
OTT – TD Williams, pass from Harris (Milo converts) – 2:07BC – TD Arceneaux, pass from Jennings (Leone converts) – 0:55OTT – FG Milo – 0:00
Third Quarter
OTT – TD Madu Jr. (Milo converts) – 0:00
Fourth Quarter
BC – TD Sinkfield, pass from Jennings – 12:49
BC – Single Leone – 7:49
OTT – FG Milo – 5:56
BC – TD Gaitor – 0:03
