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August 4, 2017

REDBLACKS Fall Late to Bombers

Photo | Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography/Ottawa REDBLACKS

Carlos Verde | @Carlos77Verde

The Ottawa REDBLACKS dropped a 33-30 decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday night at TD Place – a CFL record 7th straight game decided by five points of less to start the season.

Justin Medlock hit the winning, walk-off field goal for the Bombers, who reversed a seven-point REDBLACKS lead late in the fourth quarter.

Trevor Harris completed 27 of 39 passes for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the defeat for Ottawa (1-5-1), while Matt Nichols went 25-for-38 for 319 yards and a touchdown in the win for Winnipeg (4-2).

Ottawa opened the scoring on the first possession of Friday’s contest, as Harris polished off a methodical 12-play drive with a touchdown pass to Josh Stangby. William Powell’s two-yard run on the convert made it 8-0 REDBLACKS early.

The Bombers found the end zone on their first possession, as Matt Nichols connected with Ryan Lankford for a 79-yard touchdown connection. Andrew Harris was denied on an inside-run attempt on the two-point convert, and Ottawa retained an 8-6 lead.

A Justin Medlock single on the following kickoff made it 8-7.

Brett Maher pushed the lead to 11-7 with a 37-yard field goal, but Medlock responded with a 52-yard bomb to cut the lead to one.

The visitors took a second-quarter lead on a Taylor Loffler fumble-recovery touchdown; REDBLACKS running back William Powell was stripped, and the Winnipeg safety (Loffler) motored in for the major. Medlock’s convert made it 17-11 Bombers.

A Maher punt single sent the teams to the locker room at half time with Winnipeg in front 17-12.

Ottawa regained the lead early in the second half, as William Powell ripped off a 52-yard touchdown run; Harris found Brad Sinopoli in the end zone on the two-point convert to make it 20-17.

Maher and Medlock traded field goals later in the quarter, and Ottawa held a 23-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

Medlock then split the uprights from 21 yards out to draw the visitors level.

The REDBLACKS retook the lead on a beautiful 20-yard pass from Harris to Greg Ellingson. Maher’s convert gave Ottawa a 30-23 lead.


Winnipeg cut its deficit to four with a 35-yard Medlock field goal; the veteran kicker then followed it up with a kick-off single to get the Bombers within a field goal.

Medlock proceeded to tie the game with 61 seconds left on a 40-yard kick, then walked off the REDBLACKS with a 38-yard field goal at the death.

Ottawa will look to break its two-game skid next Thursday (August 10) against the Edmonton Eskimos (5-0). Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at TD Place.

What They’re Saying

“Yeah it’s tough. I get tired of rationalizing or explaining things. We’ve got to find a way to make plays in the fourth quarter, period — that’s it. I still believe in these guys. We’ve dug ourselves quite a hole, but obviously we’re able to play with anybody. We have to find ways, whatever it is, to get on the right side of the score.” — HC Rick Campbell


“When adversity comes, some teams break and some break records. I still believe in this team. As a quarterback, there’s always play you want to run again — whether you lose by 30 or win by three — it’s frustrating as a whole.” — QB Trevor Harris

Game Notes

Sherrod Baltimore led Ottawa with six tackles in his second professional game…Seven REDBLACKS players caught multiple passes in Friday’s defeat…The newest REDBLACK Quincy McDuffie collected 145 yards of net offence in his debut – highlighted by a 50-yard missed field goal return…Ottawa’s seven-straight games decided by five points or less to start a season is a CFL record.


Scoring Summary

 First Quarter
OTT — TD Harris to Stangby (Powell 2-pt conv.) — 9:03
WPG — TD Nichols to Lankford (stopped on 2-pt conv) — 8:24
WPG — Medlock single — 7:40
OTT — FG Maher — 3:42
WPG — FG Medlock — 0:15

Second Quarter
WPG — TD Fum Rec Randle (Medlock conv.) — 8:14
OTT — Maher single — 3:04

Third Quarter
OTT — TD Powell (Harris to Sinopoli 2-pt conv.) — 14:12
OTT — FG Maher — 8:03
WPG — FG Medlock — 4:32

Fourth Quarter
OTT — TD Harris to Ellingson (Maher conv.) — 6:02
WPG — FG Medlock — 2:55
WPG — Medlock single — 2:43
WPG — FG Medlock — 1:01
WPG — FG Medlock — 0:00