THRILLER AT LANSDOWNE
Bombers stall Redblacks playoff push
The Ottawa Redblacks nearly pulled off a little magic Friday night at TD Place.
Instead, they wound up with a little heartbreak in a 40-32 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
For the first 56-plus minutes, the Redblacks were outworked and outplayed.
Trailing by 15 points with 3½ minutes left, the Redblacks turned up the heat and tied the game 32-32 with 12 seconds remaining. Greg Ellingson hauled in a touchdown pass, then caught the two-pointer. The drive was set up when a Corey Tindal sack forced the Bombers to punt and the Redblacks got the ball with 1:43 left.
Winnipeg scored a touchdown to take a 40-32 lead in overtime when Weston Dressler snared a touchdown pass and Darvin Adams caught the two-pointer.
The Redblacks took a costly unnecessary roughness penalty in overtime that wiped out a first down. It didn’t look much like a penalty, though. There was some diving involved. The game ended on an Ottawa fumble on the four-yard line.
Meanwhile, Redblacks kicker Lewis Ward booted three field goals to give him 40 straight, breaking a league record set by Rene Paredes.
The Bombers started their first offensive series on their eight-yard line after Rashaun Simonise bobbled the opening kickoff and had to fall on the ball. But a roughing the passer call on A.C. Leonard helped Winnipeg escape trouble. The Bombers methodically pushed the ball downfield, eating up nearly half of the first quarter. A 38-yard Justin Medlock field goal made it 3-0.
The Redblacks didn’t waste much time responding — less than two minutes, in fact. It took just four plays for them to score a touchdown. It went like this: An eight-yard pass to Ellingson, a 48-yard run around the left end by William Powell in a second-and-two situation, an 11-yard reception by Diontae Spencer and an eight-yard catch by Powell for the score. The twopoint convert was successful when QB Trevor Harris found Brad Sinopoli.
The Bombers got good field position — their own 45-yard line — when Richie Leone’s kickoff bounced out of bounds. Another long drive resulted in a touchdown when Adams caught a Matt Nichols pass at the Ottawa seven-yard line and shed a couple of tacklers on his way into the end zone. The Medlock convert made it 10-8 for the visitors.
The Redblacks worked their way into Bombers territory, but the drive stalled when the Bombers stuffed Sinopoli after he grabbed a shovel pass from Harris, who was sacked on the next play. Ward, with his 38th straight field goal, booted a 27-yarder to give Ottawa an 11-10 lead 2:16 into the second quarter.
The Bombers got a pair of field goals, including one on the final play of the first half, to lead 19-11.
Winnipeg got a big play on its first drive of the second half. A handoff to Andrew Harris turned into a flea flicker when he pitched it back to Nichols, who slung it 18 yards to Drew Wolitarsky. The Bombers marched down to the Ottawa five, but the defence stiffened. Medlock booted a 12-yard field goal and it was 22-11.
A 47-yard kickoff return by Spencer took it to the Winnipeg 49. But that momentum was lost when Harris was sacked at midfield.
The Redblacks got a couple of field goals by Ward from 42 and 40 yards respectively. The second one, set up by a Leonard fumble recovery, broke Paredes’ CFL record of 39 straight. It was 22-17 for the Bombers going into the fourth quarter.
The Bombers took advantage of a couple of major penalties to the Redblacks (roughing the passer and unnecessary roughness) along with a nice catch and run of 21 yards by running back Harris and finished off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown catch by Dressler. The convert made it 29-17.
A Winnipeg field goal with 4:36 left made it 32-17.
With 3½ minutes left, the Redblacks struck for a touchdown when Julian Feoli- Gudino caught a 33-yard Harris pass after a Winnipeg defender fell down. The convert made it 32-24.
SECOND AND LONG: Still not sure about the trick play the Redblacks tried while trailing 16-11. Ward was lined up to boot a 47-yard field goal. He switched sides and it looked like he was going to kick left-footed. Then Leone took the snap and tried to run ahead for a first down. It didn’t work and the Bombers took over on their 35-yard line ... Fans didn’t like a pass interference call on Ottawa cornerback Randall Evans late in the second quarter. It looked like Adams maybe embellished it a bit. Redblacks coach Rick Campbell decided not to challenge the play ... Not so sure the Bombers didn’t get shafted in their challenge of what was ruled an incomplete pass to Adams. Sure looked like he got his mitts under it ... Ottawa’s Powell says he watches other running backs, including Bombers star Harris. Said Powell: “When I’m watching film, I look at the other running backs. I like admiring what they do. (Harris) is a great running back, I like to watch him play. He’s versatile, he can do everything.” ... San Jose Sharks centre Joe Thornton shaved his legendary beard earlier this week. When he was asked if he would consider trimming his beard, Redblacks offensive lineman Jon Gott laughed and said there’s no chance it’s coming off until he retires.
THE END AROUND: On the opening drive of the third quarter, Ellingson did some fancy footwork to stay in bounds on a 14-yard pass down the right sideline. The officials ruled neither foot landed in bounds. Campbell threw his challenge flag and the CFL Command Centre ruled the catch was good ... A terrific addition at the stadium for foodies — a tent featuring awesome food from Bonita’s Cantina (a Mexican food truck in front of the Rona at 6001 Hazeldean Rd. in Stittsville). They’re located not far from the Bank Street main entrance to TD Place. The homemade chili, burritos, tacos and anything else on the menu are terrific. Bonita’s is owned by Ryan, the son of legendary Montreal Gazette sports writer Herb Zurkowsky ... Always gives me goosebumps — Greta Van Fleet’s Highway Tune was blasting from the TD Place sound system midway through the second quarter. For anybody who hasn’t heard the young Michigan rockers, they are so Led Zepp-esque.