REDBLACKS EYE WIN OVER STAMPS IN 2023 HOME OPENER
The Ottawa REDBLACKS are eyeing their first win of the season, Thursday night, under the lights at TD Place.
In their first home game of the 2023 CFL season, the REDBLACKS play host to the Calgary Stampeders, who also dropped their opening game, last week. It’s a 7:30pm ET kickoff at Lansdowne, for what’s sure to be a fun night of football and festivities at TD Place.
Ottawa’s defence turned in a gem of a performance, Saturday, but the REDBLACKS fell just short of a game-tying score, in a 19-12 road defeat at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes. Lewis Ward kicked a quartet of field goals, and on the defensive side, the REDBLACKS sacked quarterback Cody Fajardo a whopping six times, with linebacker Douglas Coleman notching a pair.
Nick Arbuckle will make his second straight start under centre, as Jeremiah Masoli continues in the final stages of his recovery from a leg injury sustained last season. Demontre Tuggle will make his first CFL start at running back, in place of the injured Devonte Williams.
Defensively, Ottawa will again start youngster Chizi Umunakwe at middle linebacker, with All-Star Jovan Santos-Knox remaining out due to a hamstring injury.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Calgary endured similar struggles in their season opener, last Thursday, as they fell 25-15 to the BC Lions, on home field. Quarterback Jake Maier went 20/36 for 154 yards, and a touchdown, also throwing an interception. The Stamps rushed for 91 yards on 13 carries but lost star tailback Kadeem Carey to a foot injury mid-game, which saw him land on the six-game injured list early in the week.
That’s not all on the injury front for the Stampeders, with offensive linemen Hugh Thornton, and Jamal Campbell being ruled out. Receiver Luther Hakunavanhu is a game-time decision.
On defence, Calgary will be led by the CFL’s current leading tackler — and former REDBLACK — Micah Awe at middle linebacker. Ottawa will also have to be mindful on special teams, as Calgary punter Cody Grace is currently tops in the league, and returner Peyton Logan is averaging 10.3 yards per return on punts (first), and 31.7 on kicks (second).
IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
Bob Dyce, Head Coach, on the REDBLACKS’ search for a long-awaited home win: “There’s a lot of leaders on this team, and I know they want to win more than anything and give these fans something to cheer about.”
Drew Desjarlais, offensive lineman, on the REDBLACKS giving up just one sack in the opener, and their approach as a unit going forward: “We’ve got a lot of young guys on the offensive line, so it’s good to see that low sack total. Obviously, there’s plenty of things to improve on, but as a first game, I think it was a pretty good showing.”
Lorenzo Mauldin IV, defensive lineman, on getting to the quarterback last week, and trying to do it again in Week 2: “It isn’t all about sacks, it’s all about interrupting the quarterback, the guy who has the football most of the time. You want to get in his face, get him to scramble out of the pocket, do whatever you can to make him do something other than what he’s supposed to do. The object is to win the game, by any means necessary.”
BROADCAST INFORMATION
7:30 PM ET | TV (ENG): TSN / TSN5 / RDS (French) / CBS SN / CFL+ | Radio: EN: TSN 1200, SiriusXM (ch. 167) | FR: 104,7 FM Outaouais
