The Ottawa REDBLACKS turned a dominant first half into a 25-18 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
With the Elks pressing late in the fourth quarter, the REDBLACKS forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back. While the Elks would get the ball again with just over a minute to play, the Ottawa defence stood tall and closed out the game.
A 219-yard performance by quarterback Nick Arbuckle, a standout game by Nate Behar and a pair of short-yardage runs by Caleb Evans pushed Ottawa to victory.
Receiver Darwin Adams chipped in with 53 yards, as did Jaelon Acklin with 39 yards. On the defensive and special teams sides of the ball, Avery Williams recorded his first interception of the year while Davon Coleman blocked an Elks field goal attempt to close out the first half.
Edmonton did its best to avoid kicking to star REDBLACKS returner/receiver DeVonte Dedmon throughout the game, though the speedster still threatened when he got opportunities, including a 42-yard punt return in the first half.
The REDBLACKS dominated early thanks to Arbuckle and fellow QB Caleb Evans, and a huge performance by Behar, who had 101 yards in the first 30 minutes for his first career 100-yard game.
Trailing 3-0 early, Ottawa got on the board late in the first quarter as Arbuckle stretched the field. The REDBLACKS pivot first found Behar with a 49-yard bomb, before a 24-yard catch by Darvin Adams got the ball down to the one-yard line. Arbuckle punched it in from there for his first touchdown as a REDBLACK.
Evans would get the next score for Ottawa as the quarterback took over short-yardage duties and found the endzone. He would do it again before halftime as passes to Jaelon Acklin, Behar (twice) and DeVonte Dedmon got the REDBLACKS into scoring position.
GAME NOTES:
- After a highlight 53-yard catch by Elks receiver Kenny Lawler, the REDBLACKS defence forced back-to-back incompletions and Edmonton had to settle for a field goal.
- Ottawa forced a turnover on downs for the first time of the game in the first quarter after Edmonton elected to go with a third-and-five gamble.
- Defensive lineman Davon Coleman blocked an Edmonton field goal at the end of the first half, Ottawa’s first field goal block of the year.
- Patrick Levels and Kene Onyeka each had a sack in the game.
UP NEXT: The REDBLACKS will visit the Alouettes in Montreal on Friday, September 2 at 7:30 PM.
