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August 8, 2021

Defence dominates as REDBLACKS take down Elks

The Ottawa REDBLACKS went big game hunting on Saturday night and came away with two points as the visitors, 645 days since their last CFL game, downed the Edmonton Elks 16-12.
The game was a defensive battle from the start and special teams made the difference early as Ottawa’s Lewis Ward and Edmonton’s Shawn Whyte traded field goals throughout the game.
Matt Nichols, in his first game under centre for the REDBLACKS, picked up the win despite a stingy Elks defence, while running back Timothy Flanders ran for 39 yards.
But the lone touchdown of the night went to a familiar face as DB Abdul Kanneh, he of the 2016 Grey Cup shoestring tackle, picked off Edmonton QB Trevor Harris and ran it back 102 yards for a touchdown. The major at the 5:03 mark of the fourth quarter stood as the winner as Ottawa’s defence frustrated the Elks again and again.
Middle linebacker Avery Williams led the way with 14 tackles, while Kanneh added six tackles to his two interceptions on the night. Veteran DB Sherrod Baltimore also had an effective night with eight tackles, while Avery Williams, Micah Awe and Avery Ellis all recorded a sack.
The REDBLACKS are off on a bye for Week 2 and return to action August 21 when Ottawa travels to Saskatchewan to take on the Roughriders.
GAME NOTES
The REDBLACKS defence showed early that they will be a troublesome unit for opposing teams this year as they stopped the Elks in the red zone on their first drive of the game, forcing an Edmonton field goal
Linebacker Micah Awe recorded Ottawa’s first sack of 2021, taking Edmonton QB Trevor Harris to the turf midway through the first quarter.
The time away from football appeared to have little impact on Lewis Ward’s field goal game as the all-time record-holder for consecutive FGs in pro football got off to a great start, hitting both 3-pointers in the first half.
Rookie REDBLACKS WR Ryan Davis caught five of six passes for 32 yards in the first half.
REDBLACKS LB Adam Auclair, drafted by Ottawa in the first round (sixth overall) in 2020, made his CFL debut Saturday night.
Ryan Davis, Jordan Smallwood and Timothy Flanders all had their first receptions in REDBLACKS uniforms and Punter Richie Leone had an excellent night, with an average 48 yards per punt as Ottawa repeatedly gave the Elks a long field to work with…DeVonte Dedmon returned eight punts for 93 yards.