Photo | Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography
Carlos Verde | @Carlos77Verde
The REDBLACKS broke into the win column in style on Wednesday night in front of a raucous sellout crowd at TD Place, where they beat the visiting Montreal Alouettes 24-19 in a thriller that went down to the wire.
Trevor Harris completed 29 of 41 passes and added a pair of touchdowns in the win for the REDBLACKS (1-3-1), while receiver Greg Ellingson hauled in a game-high 149 yards — including a few spectacular catches — and a touchdown.
“Being rewarded for playing good football is great,” said Ellingson. “We’ve had a couple mistakes that have lost us games by small margins, so we’re going to ride this momentum into Toronto next week — er, this week.”
The win certainly didn’t come easily — Darian Durant and the Alouettes racked up 517 yards of offence and a series of penalties hurt the REDBLACKS — but a gritty defensive effort in the final minutes of the fourth quarter secured the well-earned divisional victory.
“I’m proud of how our guys stepped up at the end — it’s whatever team steps up in the fourth quarter and makes plays that wins games,” said REDBLACKS head coach Rick Campbell. “Our defence had been solid in stretches, but lacked that big momentum play — tonight: five turnovers … and that’s a big lift for the football team.”
Kicker Brett Maher opened the scoring for the REDBLACKS midway through the first quarter with a 20-yard chip shot field goal, then doubled the lead just 92 seconds later with a 38-yard kick.
Montreal kicker Boris Bede responded late in the opening quarter with a field goal of his own from 42 yards.
A Maher single then pushed the lead to 7-3 at the end of a 10-play, 75-yard drive which could have been more if not for 20 yards in penalties.
Ottawa’s defence came up with an end-zone interception early in the second quarter, when linebacker Antoine Pruneau wrestled a ball away from Montreal receiver Tiquan Underwood. The play was originally called pass interference, but a sharp coach’s challenge from Campbell saw the call reversed to an interception.
The very next play brought the house down, as Harris connected with Greg Ellingson for a catch-and-run 80-yard touchdown. Maher’s convert then extended the Ottawa lead to 14-3.
Maher and Bede traded field goals in the closing stages of the first half, and the REDBLACKS took a 17-6 lead into the break.
Montreal’s offence came out gunning in the third quarter, with Durant finding Underwood on a 51-yard touchdown reception on the first possession of the half. The two-point convert bounced incomplete, and the REDBLACKS lead stood at 17-12.
Harris and the Ottawa offence responded by marching down the field quickly and, after an initial Ellingson touchdown reception was negated by a penalty, into the end zone on a three-yard Brad Sinopoli reception. Maher added the extra point and the REDBLACKS led 24-12.
The second-half shootout continued on the ensuing possession, as Durant found Nik Lewis on a four-yard pass into the flat for a major. Bede missed the convert and the REDBLACKS retained a six-point lead.
A Bede single midway through the fourth quarter cut the Alouettes’ deficit to 24-19.
Durant and the Als worked their way into the REDBLACKS red zone inside the two-minute mark, but a critical third-down stop by the Ottawa defence on their eight-yard line preserved the victory.
“Sometimes going through tough times can make you stronger,” reflected Campbell. “Our guys have been good — they’re a pleasure to coach.”
Defensive standouts for Ottawa included Taylor Reed and Jonathan Rose, who combined for 11 tackles and each registered a sack and forced a fumble in the win.
The REDBLACKS will continue their hectic 11-day, three-game stretch on Monday, when they’ll travel south to visit the Toronto Argonauts (2-2) on TSN Monday Night Football with a shot a first place in the East on the line.
GAME NOTES
Wednesday night was Greg Ellingson’s 12th 100-yard game as a member REDBLACKS.
Wednesday’s contest was Ottawa’s 16th-straight sellout and 29th overall.
Montreal receiver Nik Lewis broke the 1,000-reception mark on his career, becoming just the fourth player in league history to do so.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
OTT — FG Maher — 7:00
OTT — FG Maher — 5:28
MTL — FG Bede — 2:37
Second Quarter
OTT — Single Maher — 13:57
OTT — TD Harris to Ellingson (Maher convert) — 9:54
OTT — FG Maher — 1:12
MTL — FG Bede — 0:00
Third Quarter
MTL — TD Durant to Underwood (2-pt convert failed) — 12:40
OTT — TD Harris to Sinopoli (Maher convert) — 7:33
MTL — TD Durant to Lewis (Bede miss) — 3:45
Fourth Quarter
MTL — Single Bede — 8:39
ATTENDANCE
24,756 (16th-consecutive sellout)
