Lincoln Victor #85 May 30, 2025 PHOTO: Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography
The Ottawa REDBLACKS suffered a reversal of fortunes, last night, after a preseason-opening win in Montreal.
Following a dominant 23-7 win at Percival Molson Stadium to open their exhibition schedule a week ago, the REDBLACKS saw a late comeback effort staved off by the Alouettes, falling 24-16 at TD Place.
With both teams resting their projected Week 1 starters, Montreal got the jump on Ottawa early thanks to a REDBLACKS turnover, with a Joshua Hutley field goal and 12-yard touchdown run by Caleb Evans giving them a 10-0 lead just over nine minutes into the contest. Matt Shiltz put together a clean drive on the ensuing possession, however, getting the REDBLACKS into scoring range with a big 31-yard completion to Andre Miller. Hard running between the tackles by Daniel Adeboboye set up a one-yard Shiltz rushing score, and Lewis Ward’s PAT made this a three-point game.
Evans responded in kind for Montreal, however, with a sequence of short passes setting up a 24-yard catch by by Tyjon Lindsey, and subsequent 12-yard touchdown grab by Lindsey, bringing the score to 17-7 Als after the convert.
With neither team able to score before the half, Dustin Crum turned Ottawa’s second possession into a march from their own seven-yard line to the Montreal 11, highlighted by a 38-yard catch-and-run by Elijah Collins, setting up a Ward field goal that cut Montreal’s lead to seven.
Montreal again had an answer, however, with James Morgan finding Jordan Veasy in the endzone for a 15-yard score, following a pair of big passing plays.
The scoreboard now reading 24-10, a 42-yard punt return by Lincoln Victor put Ottawa in business, and Tyrie Adams engineered a seven-play drive that ended in him scoring a nine-yard rushing touchdown. The REDBLACKS weren’t able to convert on the PAT though, and the Als held on to an eight-point lead.
With a chance to tie the game in the final minute, Ottawa was denied by the Montreal defence, who held on for the win.
The REDBLACKS will look ahead to their 2025 season opener, when they visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday, June 5 at 9:00pm ET to kick off the 2025 CFL season.
