Hamilton Ticats vs Ottawa REDBLACKS September 22, 2021 PHOTO: Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography
Amid a torrential downpour at TD Place, the Ottawa REDBLACKS fell to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats by a score of 24-7.
Hamilton got on the board early, with kicker Taylor Bertolet missing a 47-yard field goal, but put it through the back of the endzone for a rouge, and a 1-0 Ti-Cats lead. Bertolet would connect from 40 yards to make it a 4-0 game.
Ti-Cats quarterback David Watford connected with Steven Dunbar Jr. a little over four and a half minutes into the second quarter for an 11-yard touchdown play, and Bertolet made good on the extra point.
The REDBLACKS stood tall defensively to keep the score close, highlighted by a Micah Awe tackle in the Hamilton backfield, handing the Ti-Cats an eight-yard loss. The stand was critical, sending the REDBLACKS into the second half, trailing 14-0.
Hamilton got back on the board early in the third quarter, with defensive back Jumal Rolle returning an interception 87 yards for a touchdown, and extending his team’s lead to 21-0.
After a quiet third quarter for both teams, REDBLACKS kick returner Devonte Dedmon brought the rain-soaked crowd at TD Place to their feet with an electric 63-yard punt return touchdown. Lewis Ward was perfect on the extra point attempt, cutting the Ti-Cats lead to 21-7.
Bertolet added another field goal with time winding down, handing the REDBLACKS a 24-7 defeat, all told.
GAME NOTES
- Both REDBLACKS quarterbacks, Dominique Davis and Matt Nichols, suffered injuries in the second half. Receiver Nate Behar finished the game as the team’s emergency quarterback.
- Devonte Dedmon was, again, electric in the return game, racking up 208 net yards and a touchdown.
- Punter Richie Leone tallied 475 punt yards throughout the night, flipping the field for the REDBLACKS on multiple occasions.
- Linebacker Avery Williams notched another 11 tackles, propelling him back into second place among CFL leaders, with a game in hand on most of his competitors.
- Linebacker Micah Awe was all over the field, logging six tackles of his own, while defensive back Randall Evans also recorded six tackles and a sack.
