‘We wanted it, we were hungry’
Ball hawks on Redblacks defence create five turnovers in big win over Alouettes
Defensive back Jerrell Gavins was more than a bit excited in the Ottawa Redblacks lockerroom in the moments following his team’s first victory of the CFL season, a 24-19 triumph over the Montreal Alouettes.
Wednesday night, with under two minutes left in the game, it looked like same old, same old for the Redblacks, who had led 17-6 at halftime. The Als had marched to Ottawa’s eight-yard line and needed less than a yard on third down to extend the drive.
Montreal quarterback Vernon Adams took the snap and was promptly tackled by Ottawa’s Steve Miller. Replays showed the Redblacks may have gotten a break on the spot of the ball, as it looked like Adams had surged ahead further.
But with all the marbles on the line, the Redblacks had made a key stop. For the first time this year, they had finished off an opponent — just like coach Rick Campbell had talked about.
“I was looking at (safety Adam) Berger, it was third and 30 inches or something like that,” Gavins said. “I was like, ‘Damn, they’re about to score.’ They’re not going to go for a field goal, they’re going to go for a touchdown. I said, ‘What the hell are we going to do?’ (Berger) said: ‘We have to stop them, there’s no other option.’ And we stopped them.
“It was the same thing. We got up, we let them come back. It looked like the same bull--- again. But we got it done, the offence supported us and we supported the offence. We wanted it, we were hungry. We never panicked.”
Said linebacker Taylor Reed, who had six tackles, a forced fumble and a quarterback sack: “The turnover differential has not been in our favour, so the defence took it upon themselves to create turnovers this game. I feel like that was the big turnaround for us.”
Campbell said he was “was proud of our guys, the way we stepped up and made plays at the end of the game to win it.
“That’s kind of the brokenrecord speech I use. A lot of games are going to be close, it’s whatever team steps up and makes plays in the fourth quarter. Our defence has been solid in long stretches, but we were lacking that momentum-changing play. But five turnovers, when you do that, it’s a big lift for the football team.”
The coach had asked his players for big plays. And they supplied plenty of those, with five turnovers — two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and the turnover on downs.
On offence, receiver Greg Ellingson dashed down the middle and quarterback Trevor Harris found him for an 80-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter.
Ottawa had played well enough to win in each of its previous four outings — a tie and three losses. Now, all of a sudden, Ottawa has a chance to move into first place with a win in Toronto on Monday in what will be the team’s third game in 11 days.
“It’s going to be tough to go on the road, but if we can find a way to pull it off and be done with the first third of the season, we could end up in first place,” Campbell said. “Our guys have been good. They’re a pleasure to coach. They don’t point fingers, they’re not whiners. You find out a lot more about people when times are tough than when times are good. Sometimes going through tough times can make you stronger.”