Redblacks, Argos start with wins

OTTAWA Ray Early kicked a 37-yard field goal with 68 seconds left to play to give the Ottawa Redblacks a 30-29 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Thursday.

Both teams combined to use seven quarterbacks as they opened the pre-season portion of their CFL season.

The Tiger-Cats used Jeremiah Masoli, Everett Golson, Matt Johnson and Cody Keith while the Redblacks countered with Trevor Harris, Drew Tate and Ryan Lindley.

Ottawa used all three of its available quarterbacks in the first half and in keeping with the theme of getting everyone involved, 11 different receivers caught passes in the first half alone.

Harris started and didn’t disappoint completing 12-of-15 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Meanwhile in Toronto, Awkasi Owusu-Ansah and Aaron Berry returned first-half interceptions for touchdowns as the Argonauts beat the Montreal Alouettes 24-20 on Thursday night in the first CFL exhibition game for both teams.

Neither squad was especially sharp offensively before a sparse BMO Field gathering estimated at about 2,000 spectators. Then again, both teams didn’t dress a number of their starters.

The contest was Marc Trestman’s first as Toronto head coach. Trestman spent five years on Montreal’s sideline (2008-12), winning two Grey Cups before becoming the Chicago Bears’ head coach.

Trestman was fired last season as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive co-ordinator. He returned to the CFL with Toronto, joining GM Jim Popp, who had hired Trestman in Montreal.

Montreal will host the Grey Cup champion Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday night in the final exhibition game for both teams. Toronto visits the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Friday night.