In the second leg of their home-and-home series with the Edmonton Elks, the Ottawa REDBLACKS captured a 20-14 win, their second consecutive victory, and third in a row in front of the fans at TD Place.
The CFL has proven time and time again, that a back-to-back matchup between two teams seldom results in anything but close football, and on Friday night, we saw that once again.
While the first meeting between the REDBLACKS and Elks yielded an air show and explosive offence, the first half of the rematch was far more tame, with the defence finding a foothold for large portions of the opening two frames, except for the opening REDBLACKS drive.
Quarterback Dru Brown completed five consecutive passes, marching the REDBLACKS to the doorstep of the endzone, before Ryquell Armstead plunged in from three yards out, opening the scoring, and giving Ottawa a 7-0 lead early in the contest.
Both teams traded possessions before Edmonton trimmed the lead with a Borris Bede field goal from 34 yards out. On the ensuing drive, the REDBLACKS, Lewis Ward attempted a long field goal, which the wind took ahold of, and drove wide right, resulting in a single.
The Elks capitalized on an interception deep into Ottawa’s territory, but only scored another field goal, cutting the REDBLACKS’ lead to 8-6. Ottawa responded right back, however, with Ward atoning for his previous miss. Then, on virtually the exact same kick Ward missed, Bede too missed, and Tobias Harris brought the ball back to midfield.
Before the half, Ward converted on another spot kick, and Bebe beat the buzzer with three of his own, making the score 14-9 to open the third.
The Elks scored just a single in the third, while the REDBLACKS managed another field goal, setting up another exciting finish in the nation’s capital. Late in the fourth, Ward converted his fourth kick of the game, giving the REDBLACKS a two-possession lead, but the Elks fought back, kicking a field goal of their own.
The REDBLACKS punted the ball with under 20 seconds left on the clock, pinning Edmonton deep in their own territory, before the Elks attempted to lateral the ball for the whole length of the field. Their first pitch hit the ground, and Lorenzo Mauldin recovered, ending the game, and giving Ottawa a 20-14 victory, pushing their record to 4-2.
