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September 23, 2017

REDBLACKS fall on rainy night in Winnipeg

Battling the elements, short rest and injuries at the quarterback positions, the Ottawa REDBLACKS fell 29-9 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Investors Group Field Friday night.

Starting in place of the injured Drew Tate — who was in for the injured Trevor HarrisRyan Lindley completed 16 of 36 passes for 151 yards and one interception in his first CFL start.

Running back William Powell had his second-straight 100-yard game for the REDBLACKS, racking up 107 rush yards and a touchdown on the ground in the loss.

The Bombers opened the scoring on their second possession of the night, when kicker Justin Medlock drilled a 27-yard field goal.

Brett Maher got the REDBLACKS on the board on the following drive with a monstrous 65-yard punt single.

Medlock extended the Winnipeg lead to 6-1 with a 36-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Maher then chalked up another punt single on a 70-yard kick; Medlock responded six plays later with a 25-yard chip shot of a field goal.

Following a fumble by REDBLACKS running back William Powell, the Bombers found the end zone on a darting 24-yard Andrew Harris run. The ensuing convert from Medlock gave the hosts a 16-2 lead they would take into the half.

Winnipeg pushed its lead to 20 midway through the third quarter, when quarterback Matt Nichols connected with Timothy Flanders for a four-yard major; the Bombers muffed the ensuing two-point convert attempt.

Maher tacked on a rouge on a missed 46-yard field goal to cut the lead to 22-3, but it was as close as the REDBLACKS would come on the night.

Nichols then connected with Darvin Adams for a 76-yard touchdown bomb, and Medlock’s convert pushed Winnipeg’s lead to 29-3.

Powell sprinted the REDBLACKS into the end zone late in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard run up the gut; Lindley completed a pass to Diontae Spencer on the two-point convert attempt, but Spencer was tackled short of the goal line.

The REDBLACKS (5-8-1) will look to bounce back on home turf next week against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, September 29th — tickets are available by clicking here.

What They’re Saying

“They just looked a step faster than us for whatever reason. I don’t question our guys’ effort, but (Winnipeg) just had it tonight. We had chances in the second half, but just never get momentum. (Trevor)’s getting close — it’s not next week but probably the one after that. We did have trouble with the ball; good teams bail each other out and make some plays, and we had the opportunity to make some catches (and) just didn’t get it done as a team tonight.” — HC Rick Campbell

LISTEN | Campbell: They had more spring in their step

Game Notes

LB Taylor Reed recorded a game-high 11 tackles in Friday’s loss…with his 3-for-3 performance, Winnipeg kicker Justin Medlock is now 83 per cent on field goals this season…Six different Bombers caught multiple passes…DE Jonathan Newsome’s interception on Friday was his third in six games since joining the REDBLACKS.

Scoring Summary


First Quarter
WPG — FG Medlock — 5:23
OTT — Maher punt single — 1:50

Second Quarter
WPG — FG Medlock — 12:42
OTT — Maher punt single
WPG — FG Medlock — 3:20
WPG — TD Harris (Medlock conv.) — 2:24

Third Quarter
WPG — TD Nichols to Flanders (Medlock missed conv.) — 8:48
OTT — Maher missed-FG single — 3:33

Fourth Quarter
WPG — TD Nichols to Adams (Medlock conv.) — 10:40
OTT — TD Powell — 5:16