REDBLACKS come up short against Argos
The Ottawa REDBLACKS comeback attempt fell short and they lost to the Toronto Argonauts by a 28-21 score at BMO Field on Friday night.
In his first CFL start, Will Arndt completed 67 percent of his passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns, while also tossing three interceptions. Dominique Rhymes had five catches for 70 yards, reaching 1,000 receiving yards on the season.
Kevin Brown forced two turnovers for the REDBLACKS – a fumble and an interception. Randall Evans led the team with eight tackles.
Arndt worked through some opening drive jitters to navigate the REDBLACKS into field goal range. Lewis Ward banked in a 47-yard attempt to give Ottawa an early lead. Toronto responded with a three-pointer of their own and the score was tied after the first quarter.
The Argos took the lead midway through the second quarter, with James Franklin scampering in from the goal line and Armanti Edwards hauling in a touchdown pass before the first half was up. Toronto led 17-3 at the break.
On the first drive of the second half, Arndt completed four passes to get Ottawa into the red zone. Arndt then threw his first career touchdown pass, with R.J. Harris lunging for the pylon, making it a one-possession game.
The double blue responded immediately with a touchdown of their own, as Edwards earned his second major of the evening.
With time winding down, the REDBLACKS showed life. Arndt dropped a dime in the end zone for Rhymes, making the score 28-18. Ottawa recovered the on-side kick and Ward drilled a 50-yard field goal.
The REDBLACKS got one last chance for a late deep ball, but the pass was picked off and Toronto sealed a 28-21 victory.
The REDBLACKS (now 3-12) are on the road for the next two games, including a matchup with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (12-3) next week on Saturday, October 19. Ottawa returns home for the final game of the regular season against the Montreal Alouettes (8-6) on Friday, November 1. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. at TD Place.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I appreciate these guys’ attitude. I know that’s not the name of the game, but I’ve said there’s a bunch of good kids in this locker room that want to do well. We’re just missing a couple of things where we don’t come up with the plays we need at the times we need them. That’s what good teams do – they find a way to make those plays in key moments and we’re missing those four or five plays to get us on the right side of the scoreboard.” – HC Rick Campbell
“First and foremost, I’m bummed for the guys in the locker room. We weren’t able to finish that off there. I’ve got to be better on a personal level as far as controlling the ball and not turning it over. It was good to be out there. I know that moving forward, if I’m given the opportunity, I’ll learn and I’ve got some valuable experience under my belt.” – QB Will Arndt
GAME NOTES
With Rhymes eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards on the year, at least one REDBLACK has reached the mark each season since 2015… In addition to Arndt, running back Brendan Gillanders made his first start of the season… The REDBLACKS pulled off a successful onside kick to start the second half… S.J. Green surpassed 10,000 receiving yards in his career with a 19-yard reception late in the second quarter. He becomes the 18th player to reach the mark.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
GAME GALLERY
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
OTT – FG Ward – 10:47
TOR – FG Crapigna – 2:20
Second Quarter
TOR – TD Franklin (Crapigna conv.) – 4:14
TOR – TD Bethel-Thompson to Edwards (Crapigna conv.) – 0:18
Third Quarter
OTT – TD Arndt to Harris (Ward conv.) – 11:55
TOR – TD Bethel-Thompson to Edwards (Crapigna conv.) – 8:20
TOR – FG Crapigna – 2:13
Fourth Quarter
OTT – SI Ward – 6:43
TOR – SI Pfeffer – 4:24
OTT – TD Arndt to Rhymes (Ward conv.) – 2:43
OTT – FG Ward – 1:51
Attendance
10,368
