Finding themselves down 22-1 at the end of the first quarter, it certainly didn’t look like Saturday was going to yield a road win for the Ottawa REDBLACKS in their visit to BMO Field.
Just when it seemed as if they were on the verge of being blown out, however, Dru Brown and the REDBLACKS offence exploded for a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter, culminating in a thrilling last-minute 46-42 victory over the Toronto Argonauts.
Brown delivered a career high five touchdown passes, finishing 26-of-31 for 373 yards, and no interceptions. With just 41 seconds left in the game, down by three, he connected with Justin Hardy on an 11-yard strike to cap a 72-yard, nine-play drive that put Ottawa ahead for good. Former Argo Robert Priester then intercepted Nick Arbuckle’s pass with under 40 seconds remaining, sealing the win.
Ottawa fell behind early, after Arbuckle connected for touchdown passes on the game’s two opening drives, and Argos defensive lineman Jordan Williams returned an Ottawa fumble 77 yards to the house.
Momentum shifted when Kalil Pimpleton’s early-second quarter 57-yard punt return set up a six-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Geno Lewis, his first of two on the day. A Lewis Ward field goal on the ensuing drive gave way to more three-minute magic from Brown, who hit Bralon Addison for a 42-yard touchdown pass over the top, before connecting with him for a two-point conversion. Lirim Hajrullahu added a field goal for the Double Blue at the end of the half, allowing them to maintain a comparatively narrow six-point lead.
To open the third quarter, former Argo Daniel Adeboboye electrified the crowd with a 72-yard kickoff return that led to another Lewis touchdown, and his first multi-touchdown game as a REDBLACK. Arbuckle would answer by capping off his next drive with a one-yard touchdown run, but not to be outdone, Brown completed another prolific passing drive with a touchdown over the middle to Hardy. Neither team was successful on their respective two-point conversion attempts, and Hajrullahu missed on a field goal attempt at the end of quarter, with Ottawa holding a slim 32-31 lead.
Toronto found eight points early in the fourth, by way of an Arbuckle touchdown completion to DaVaris Daniels, but Brown and Pimpleton would subsequently torch the Toronto defence to the tune of a 39-yard catch and run into Argo territory. Hard running by Adeboboye and William Stanback set the table for Dustin Crum to sneak into the end zone, and a PAT by Ward tying things at 39-all.
Though Hajrullahu gave Toronto the lead with a field goal, Brown and the REDBLACKS offence put together a nine-play drive after the three-minute warning, completed by Hardy in the end zone with just 43 seconds remaining, and going ahead 46-42.
Needing a touchdown, Arbuckle attempted to push the ball down the field, but was intercepted by former teammate Robert Priester, icing the game in favour of Ottawa.
Looking for their third straight win, the REDBLACKS will head to Winnipeg this week, for a Thursday tilt with the Blue Bombers at 8:30pm ET.
