Week 17 | REDBLACKS at Tiger–Cats – Friday, October 14 – 7 PM
Game Summary
Henry Burris and the Ottawa REDBLACKS scored a clutch win Friday night over the Hamilton Tiger Cats 30-29 in a late-season classic that could a have big impact on the playoff picture in the East.
With the win, a Montreal or Toronto loss will clinch Ottawa a home playoff date and a win next Friday night at TD Place in the back half of this home-and-home with the Ticats would see the REDBLACKS celebrate their second straight finish atop the East Division and a bye into the East Final.
“It’s a huge opportunity. We are going to enjoy this for a few hours but then we’ll get back to Ottawa and get back to work. Every week is a new week and we want to play good football,” said REDBLACKS head coach Rick Campbell.
Ottawa ultimately secured their victory through a missed Hamilton field goal attempt and a smart possession holding, clock-killing drive spearheaded by the outstanding Burris.
“Football is a game of momentum swings and it comes down to people that make plays in the fourth quarter to win the game. We had a good demeanour tonight. A very workmen like attitude where we were just playing the next play and finding a way to get it done and we did,” said Campbell.
Burris had a huge night back at the helm for the REDBLACKS, throwing for 393 yards, one touchdown pass while also running the ball in for two touchdowns. The veteran pivot also put up 37 yards on eight rushes.
With Ottawa’s leading receiver Chris Williams out with a season-ending ACL tear, wide receiver Juron Criner assumed a more central role in the REDBLACKS receiving core. He didn’t disappoint, putting up 85 receiving yards in the first half, including a big 41-yard catch and rush play.
Wide-receiver Ernest Jackson had an outstanding night too, receiving for a 106 yards on five receptions – the biggest of which was a clutch 62-yard catch-and-run touchdown late in the third quarter. Jackson joins Williams and Greg Ellingson in the 1000-yard club for the second straight year. Brad Sinpoli, who also has another solid night is just 72-yards shy of seeing the same four received nab 1000 yards in back-to-back years.
Less than 1000 tickets remain for Friday’s return tilt as the rivalry shifts to TD Place as the REDBLACKS not only look to play in front of their 10th straight sellout, but look to clinch top spot in the East Division.
First Half Summary
The first quarter finished with the Tiger–Cats leading 7-4. The home side struck first when quarterback Jeremiah Masoli linked up with receiver Terrence Toliver for a 33–yard touchdown. Ottawa responded through kicker Chris Milo, who hit a 31-yard field goal to claw the visitor’s to within four points of Hamilton.
It was all Ottawa in the second quarter. The REDBLACKS took the lead early, capitalizing on the good field position they captured on the last play of the first quarter. Running back Madu was able to turn a short Henry Burris pass into a critical run, rushing the ball 15 yards to the Hamilton 1 yard line. Burris ran the ball in for the one yard score putting Ottawa up 10-7.
Hamilton was unable to answer on their next series, surrendering possession back to the visitors. Burris, seeing an opportunity to extend his side’s lead, made no mistake as he marched his team down the field with a string of key passes. On the final play of the series, Burris received the snap, faked a pass to the right before exploiting the opening in front of him, running the ball in five yards for his second TD of the game.
As the second quarter drew to a close, both teams took turns turning the ball over, but with their last possession of the first half, Milo hit a 27-yard field goal to extend the visitor’s lead to 13 points. The score at half: 20-7.
Second Half Summary
Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli finished off his team’s early second half series with a clutch 5-yard TD pass to a wide-open John Chiles at the back of the end zone, 20-14.
Burris and the REDBLACKS were unable to find any success on their next drive, surrendering the ball to the Tiger–Cats at half. Masoli – with a renewed second half confidence – took to the field and led his team on a lead-changing charge. The Tiger–Cats pivot completed four passes, highlighted by a fade-away 23-yard pass to receiver Chiles. The last play set up Gable for a short six yard TD rush that handed his team the lead, 21-20.
The REDBLACKS struck like lightning on the next drive, with Burris launching up a bomb to Jackson, who received the tipped pass with a bobble before wrestling it under control and running the ball down field for a 62 yard TD. The REDBLACKS finished the third quarter leading the Tiger Cats 27-21.
Masoli stole the lead back for his team around the 9-minute mark of the fourth quarter, hitting Junior Collins at the very back of the end zone with a 20-yard TD pass. The young receiver made a great run to open up the space for Masoli to find him with the pass.
Unable to find the end zone on the ensuing drive, kicker Milo hit a 35-yard field goal to reverse the lead back in Ottawa’s favour, 30-28.
Ottawa would concede a late single off a Maher field goal miss, but that was as close as the Tiger Cats would come. Burris and the REDBLACKS killed the clock with their final possession of the game. Final score: 30-29.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
HAM – TD Toliver, pass from Masoli (Maher converts) – 11:46
OTT – FG Milo – 6:43
Second Quarter
OTT – TD Burris (Milo converts) – 13:11
OTT – TD Burris (Milo converts) – 7:59
OTT – FG Milo – 0:16
Third Quarter
HAM – TD Chiles, pass from Masoli (Maher converts) – 10:43
HAM – TD Gable (Maher converts) – 4:55
OTT – TD E. Jackson, pass from Burris (Milo converts) – 3:16
Fourth Quarter
HAM – TD Collins, pass from Masoli (Maher converts) 9:21
OTT – FG Milo – 5:52
HAM – Single Maher – 2:23
