PHOTO: Greg Kolz/Freestyle Photography
Brennan MacDonald
The Ottawa REDBLACKS are heading back to the Grey Cup, following a 35-23 victory over reigning CFL champions, the Edmonton Eskimos. The home-side were backed by a raucous sellout crowd at TD Place – their 12th consecutive packed house – who braved the blustery, snowy conditions to power their side to next week’s final in Toronto.
“It is emotional because it’s a big deal. I have been in this league long enough and anybody that works in this league for a long time – players, coaches, GM’s – whoever it is, it’s a big deal to go to the Grey Cup,” said REDBLACKS Head Coach Rick Campbell.
“I am so happy for our fans too. They’ve been first rate all year and there is no place I’d rather be than at home, trying to win a game and fortunately we were able to pull it off,” added Campbell.
In a game where both teams had to battle the elements as well as each other, one young player stood above the rest. Running back Kienan Lafrance had a career-game for the REDBLACKS – making 25 carries for a staggering total of 157 yards.
QB Henry Burris turned to his young teammate on the big occasions, including the final-minute, 20-yard touchdown rush that put the win beyond any doubt.
“Kienan stepped in and said, ‘guys give me the hole, this is why I’m here. I’m here to get us to the cup and win the cup.’ And man, the kid responded,” said Burris. “For him to put up over 150 yards rushing…man, I am pretty sure a lot of fantasy football owners are upset they didn’t pick Kienan Lafrance this week, because he did a heck of a job.”
Burris himself had a big game too, throwing for a total of 246 yards and two touchdowns, despite the heavy snow turning the football into what he called a “slippery noodle.”
The REDBLACKS will meet the winner of the Western Final – either the Calgary Stampeders or the B.C. Lions – in the 104th Grey Cup Final next Sunday in Toronto.
First Half Summary
The REDBLACKS struck on their opening possession of the game, putting together a seven play, 43-yard series capped off by a 35-yard Ray Early field goal, 3-0.
Following Ottawa’s early score, both team’s struggled to cope with the snow, trading possession of the football a few times, but with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter, the home-side struck again. Burris led his team on four play, 58-yard drive capped off with a 26-yard TD pass to Greg Ellingson. The receiver’s celebration was fitting – stretching out to make a snow angel in behind the visitor’s end zone.
Ottawa struck again early in the second quarter. Burris capped off a seven play, 93-yard drive, with a 21-yard TD pass to Khalil Paden. The veteran QB relied heavily on Kienan Lafrance in the lead up to the touchdown, handing off to the running back five times for a total of 57 yards. Opting for a two point convert, Burris once again handed the football to Lafrance who employed brute force over finesse, powering his way into the end zone, 17-0.
The visitors clawed back three points on their next possession, with kicker Sean Whyte hitting a 33-yard field goal. Heading into the halftime break, Ottawa led Edmonton by a score of 17-3.
Second Half Summary
The game nearly flat-lined in the third quarter, with both teams struggling to overcome the cold conditions and fast accumulating snow. But with under four minutes in the quarter, Ottawa’s T. Jackson boosted the game back to life in stunning fashion.
He picked up a long Edmonton punt at the 35-yard line, turned on the jets and slalomed his way through the pack before out sprinting two pursuing Edmonton players to return the ball for a dizzying 75-yard TD. Looking to put the game to bed, Burris found teammate Patrick Lavoie for the easy two point convert, 25-3.
With the game slipping from their grasp, Edmonton needed some inspiration. It came through QB Mike Reilly, who took to the field with resolve and strung together a five-play, 94-yard drive capped off by a six yard touchdown pass from Mike Reilly to slotback Adarius Bowman, 25-10.
Early in the fourth quarter, Edmonton struck again. This time, the visitor’s turned a REDBLACKS fumble in the midfield into a four play, 33-yard drive capped off by a 18-yard pass from QB Reilly to receiver Chris Getzlaf, 25-17.
With the lead slipping away, Ottawa stemmed the bleeding with just under five minutes to go in the game. Kicker Ray Early hit a 23-yard field goal to push his side’s lead to 11 points.
Unfazed, QB Mike Reilly clawed his team back to within five points, linking up with receiver Adarius Bowman for a 57-yard touchdown, 28-23.
With 45 seconds left to play, Lafrance sealed the win – and cemented his impact on the game – by taking Burris’ hand off and rushing it into the end zone for a 20-yard TD.
Final Score | 35-23
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
OTT – FG Early – 11:01
OTT – TD Ellingson, pass from Burris – 4:13
Second Quarter
OTT – TD Paden, pass from Burris (2 pt convert by Lafrance) – 11:18
EDM – FG Whyte – 8:24
Third Quarter
OTT – TD T. Jackson (2 pt convert by Lavoie) – 3:10
EDM – TD Bowman, pass from Reilly (Whyte converts) – 0:13
Fourth Quarter
EDM – TD Getzlaf, pass from Reilly (Whyte converts) – 11:49
OTT – FG Early – 4:37
EDM – TD Bowman, pass from Reilly – 2:57
OTT – TD Lafrance (Early converts) – 0:45
Attendance: 24,248
