Photo | Marc Bourget
Carlos Verde | @Carlos77Verde
TORONTO — The Ottawa REDBLACKS put in a remarkable effort on short rest, but dropped a 27-24 decision to the Toronto Argonauts on Monday night in a back-and-forth East Division contest.
The REDBLACKS (1-4-1) gamely battled back from 11-point and seven-point deficits, but ultimately succumbed to a walk-off field goal from Toronto (3-2) kicker Lirim Hajrullahu.
“I sure like our attitude and the way we fight, but that’s not the object of the game,” REDBLACKS head coach Rick Campbell told TSN 1200 post-game. “It was there for the taking and we didn’t get it done.”
The Argos opened the scoring on the first possession of the game on a 47-yard Hajrullahu field goal.
With Trevor Harris and the offence struggling to find their rhythm in the first quarter, the REDBLACK defence came up with a number of big stops to hold the Toronto lead to three through the end of the quarter.
The Argos began the second marching down the field, and Ray finished off a 100-yard drive with a three-yard swing pass touchdown to fullback Declan Cross. Hajrullahu’s convert made it 10-0.
Ottawa got on the board with a Brett Maher single midway through the second quarter.
Maher then conceded a safety on Ottawa’s next possession, and the Argos led 12-1.
The REDBLACKS swung momentum back on the cusp of halftime, as a 22-yard William Powell sprint set up a four-yard Harris-to-Brad Sinopoli touchdown pass. Harris found Sinopoli again on the two-point convert to cut the Toronto led to 12-9 entering the break.
A quick throw from @Trev_Harris to @BSinopoli and the @REDBLACKS are back in the game! #CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/LdOEuQctpA
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) July 25, 2017
Hajrullahu’s boot gave the Argos five points — two singles and a field goal — in the third quarter.
Ottawa fought back to tie the contest early in the fourth quarter, as Josh Stangby ripped off a 15-yard touchdown on a jet sweep. Mossis Madu Jr. then sprinted in the ensuing two-point convert to tie the ballgame.
Joshua Stangby showing off his speed on the outside and ties the game up for the @REDBLACKS 👀⚡️#CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/MY7UaQGsID
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) July 25, 2017
Toronto regained momentum four minutes later, when Harris was picked off by Argos linebacker Marcus Ball; a handful of slicing James Wilder Jr. runs later, Ray found Coombs in the end zone. Hajrullahu’s convert made it 24-17 for the hosts.
After a critical third-and-short stop from the REDBLACKS defence, Harris threaded a touchdown pass to a well-covered Greg Ellingson. Maher’s convert tied the ballgame at 24.
.@Gelliman82 catches a 31yd pass in the end zone to tie the game up late in the 4th quarter #CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/pyENyDwejb
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) July 25, 2017
Ray’s two-minute offence proved too much, and a series of quick hits by the veteran Argos pivot set up Hajrullahu’s walk-off field goal.
The REDBLACKS will now have 10 days off to rest and prepare for a crucial game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-2) on August 4 at TD Place.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“It’s frustrating to lose this many close games. We’ve got to find a way to make plays in the fourth quarter — we’ve only figured out how to do that once. Everybody in this league’s close. I told the guys — they’re gonna take a few days to catch their breath after this crazy stint — but you’ve got to come to work and it’s going to take all of us to get it done.” — HC Rick Campbell
“It’s a tough loss, we battled hard right to the end and just a few plays here and there kept us from getting the W. (The schedule) is definitely tough — we cut back our practices — but at the end of the day, when you look back at the season, the (schedule) isn’t in the stat column at all.” — D-lineman Jake Ceresna
GAME NOTES
Seven different players caught a pass in the defeat for Ottawa…Toronto lost defensive starters Bear Woods, Victor Butler and Cleyon Laing to injury in the first half…REDBLACKS LB Taylor Reed registered a game-high eight tackles.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
TOR — FG Hajrullahu — (13:18)
Second Quarter
TOR — TD Ray to Cross (Hajrullahu convert) — (11:51)
OTT — Maher single — (7:26)
TOR — Ottawa conceded safety — (3:21)
OTT — TD Harris to Sinopoli (Sinopoli 2-pt convert) — (0:50)
Third Quarter
TOR — Hajrullahu single — (12:27)
TOR — Hajrullahu single — (6:23)
TOR — FG Hajrullahu — (1:53)
Fourth Quarter
OTT — Stangby (Madu 2-pt convert) — (14:05)
TOR — TD Ray to Coombs (Hajrullahu convert) — (8:22)
OTT — TD Harris to Ellingson (Maher convert) — (2:17)
TOR — FG Hajrullahu — (0:05)
