The Ottawa REDBLACKS battled hard after once again losing star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to injury in heartbreaking fashion, but their late rally was stopped just two yards short, falling 21-13 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Horton’s Field.
After Masoli went down with a non-contact lower body injury in the second quarter, Dustin Crum stepped in to throw for 149 yards, and scored a touchdown with his legs as part of a 91-yard rushing performance. It was another stellar night for the Ottawa defence; surrendering just one touchdown, while racking up a pair of sacks courtesy of Cleyon Laing and Lorenzo Mauldin, an interception by Ty Cranston, and a forced fumble/recovery by Brandin Dandridge.
The Ti-Cats got on the board first, via an early field goal, before adding two more to take a 9-0 lead early in the second quarter. The REDBLACKS were moving methodically down the field, but it was then that Masoli was forced to leave the game, and Lewis Ward knocked through a field goal of his own to get Ottawa on the board.
With time winding down in the half, Crum drove the REDBLACKS down the field, before scampering into the end zone with a 15-yard run. Ward made good on the PAT, and Ottawa headed into the second half with a 10-9 lead.
They came close to pulling away, but Hamilton was the side that took advantage, on a 64-yard touchdown catch and run by Tyreik McAllister from quarterback Matt Shiltz, and two more field goals from Marc Liegghio. Another from Ward ensured that it was a one-possession game when the REDBLACKS took possession with a minute to go.
The drive came oh so close, but Crum was stopped on a run at the edge of the one-yard line, and Hamilton held on to deal the REDBLACKS a 21-13 defeat.
Ottawa is back in action in one week’s time, hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at TD Place for a 4:00pm kickoff on July 15.
