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October 28, 2017

Historic nights for Spencer, Powell lead REDBLACKS past Ticats

Photo | Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography/Ottawa REDBLACKS

The Ottawa REDBLACKS closed out the 2017 CFL regular season in historic style, as Diontae Spencer entered the league record books and William Powell eclipsed the 1,000-yard season rushing mark en route to a 41-36 win over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Spencer’s 496 all-purpose yards broke a single-game CFL record and gave the REDBLACKS (8-9-1) a chance to claw back into — and subsequently win — Friday’s game against Hamilton (5-12).

Photo | Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography/Ottawa REDBLACKS

The REDBLACKS struggled out of the gate, falling behind 16-0 on a safety and pair of Jeremiah Masoli pass touchdowns, but battled back to enter the locker room at halftime trailing just 19-14.

After quarterback Trevor Harris and Masoli traded pass touchdowns in the third quarter, a Masoli touchdown toss to Luke Tasker appeared to put the game to bed early in the fourth quarter. With nine minutes left, the REDBLACKS trailed 33-22.

Then, the madness began.

Powell sprinted in for a touchdown from eight yards out, only to have his two-point convert stuffed: 33-28 Hamilton.

Harris then found Juron Criner for a 12-yard touchdown connection; the convert failed, and Ottawa led 34-33.

A 43-yard Kenny Allen field goal restored the visitors’ lead with 91 seconds left, but that was more than enough time for the REDBLACKS.

Two Harris completions and a Ryan Lindley sneak later, Powell put the icing on the cake with a ridiculous 43-yard rush touchdown: Maher convert included, Ottawa had taken a shock 41-36 lead.

The defence held firm, and Ottawa finished its regular-season schedule with a win against the surging Ticats.


Friday’s REDBLACKS victory puts the pressure on Toronto, which now requires a win in its Week-20 finale in BC to avoid losing the East Division crown to Ottawa.

What They’re Saying

“It feels amazing. I’m speechless. I can’t explain it. I guess when I get home, it’ll sink in. My teammates, man, they were tremendous for me. Blocking and making those runs possible. We just got the win, that’s what’s important. It’s a huge accomplishment. I just want to be that guy, I take it upon myself to want the ball and make some things happen.” — REC Diontae Spencer

“It’s big. It puts the ball back in (Toronto’s) court. Now they’ve got to go out there with all their guys and get a win on the West Coast. The bad news is it (wasn’t) pretty, the good news is they’re a good football team, and we turned the ball over too much and took some penalties but still managed to beat them. We’re happy with the win, but know we still have work to do.” — HC Rick Campbell

Game Notes

With Friday’s win, the REDBLACKS finished 8-9-1 for the second-straight season…Greg Ellingson set an Ottawa football record for receptions in a season with 96…Linebacker Antoine Pruneau recorded a game-high eight tackles … 14 of the REDBLACKS’ 18 games this season were decided by 7-points or less.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
HAM — Conceded Team Safety — 9:16
HAM — TD Masoli to Saunders (Allen conv.) — 5:03
HAM — TD Masoli to Banks (Allen conv.) — 1:28

Second Quarter
OTT — FG Maher — 10:54
HAM — FG Allen — 8:33
OTT — FG Maher — 6:46
OTT — TD Tate to Criner (Powell 2-pt conv.) — 3:03

Third Quarter
OTT — TD Harris to Ellingson (Powell 2-pt conv.) — 9:55
HAM — TD Masoli to Banks (Allen conv.) — 6:39

Fourth Quarter
HAM — TD Masoli to Tasker (Allen conv.) — 9:11
OTT — TD Powell (Powell 2-pt. conv. failed) — 6:12
OTT — TD Harris to Criner (2-pt. conv. failed) — 4:03
HAM — FG Allen — 1:31
OTT — TD Powell (Maher conv.) — 0:38

Attendance
24,781 (sellout)