Redblacks just can’t get it right
Defending Grey Cup champions still looking for first win after falling to Argonauts
The Ottawa Redblacks will have a big case of the “what ifs” after a 26-25 loss to the Toronto Argos at TD Place stadium on Saturday night.
Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell often talks about being able to finish off an opponent. Don’t make mistakes and play with a killer instinct.
That’s where the “what ifs” come in.
“There is no one play that wins or loses the game,” said Campbell. “But we had multiple opportunities to win. I want to play to win the game, I send that message to the players. We’re going to play to win games, not to try not to lose them.”
“We all made our mistakes tonight. There’s no way you can point the finger at one person or one thing,” said Redblacks quarterback Trevor Harris, who completed 30 of 43 passes for 370 yards, but also was intercepted and fumbled in a key momentum turnaround play for the Argos.
A play deep out of Ottawa’s bag of tricks also proved costly. On second-and-long deep in their own end, Ottawa receiver Brad Sinopoli caught a pass well behind the line of scrimmage. He quick-kicked it, punting the ball about four yards ahead, but couldn’t pounce on it before an Argos defender did. To make matters worse, Ottawa was penalized for no yards. Toronto settled for a field goal. It’s a play the Redblacks work on during practice ... and it always seems to work.
“The onside punt thing, if you get it, it’s an automatic first down regardless of the yardage on it,” said Campbell. “We have a check in when the defence is playing that far off.”
“It was a bad kick,” said Sinopoli. “I’m just trying to pooch it over the line and recover it myself. No one’s expecting it.”
The Redblacks had a great chance to tie the game. Ottawa marched downfield and got within one point on a terrific touchdown grab by Greg Ellingson with a defender all over him, but the snap on the convert was fumbled by holder Drew Tate.
The Redblacks (0-2-1) got the ball back on their own 36-yard line. A desperation dive forward by Harris came up just short at the Toronto 51-yard line on third down, and the Redblacks turned the ball over again.
Ottawa did get it back at their own 29 with 16 seconds left and drove just past midfield. But with two seconds left, Brett Maher missed a 59-yard field goal attempt.
The Redblacks were in control of the game when they gave up six bad points with 9:33 left in the third quarter. Harris couldn’t handle the shotgun snap and the ball bounced to the turf, where the Ottawa quarterback couldn’t corral it. Toronto’s Cassius Vaughn grabbed the ball but he also fumbled it. Ottawa’s Dominique Rhymes had a shot at it in the end zone, but again, it squirted loose before, finally, Rico Murray fell on it for the Argos. That made it 12-7 for Ottawa after Toronto’s two-point convert failed.
The Argos (2-0-1) struck again when Redblacks defender AJ Jefferson got tripped up and SJ Green, who had 210 yards in receptions, caught a Ricky Ray pass and travelled 55 yards into the end-zone for a TD. With a missed two-pointer, Toronto led 13-12.
Another 38-yard completion to Green gave Toronto great field position and the Argos got a 25-yard field goal from Lirim Hajrullahu to make it 16-12.
The Redblacks bounced back, with catches of 13 and 17 yards by Ellingson putting them in good field position. Then Diontae Spencer, with an explosive 25-yard catch and run, pushed them to the 15. Murray was flagged for pass interference while trying to cover Ellingson in the end zone. On the next play, Ryan Lindley snuck over the goal-line and, with the convert, Ottawa had a threepoint edge.
DeVier Posey scored for Toronto and, with the convert, the Argos led 23-19. It was Ray’s 300th career CFL touchdown pass.
Taking penalties into account, the Argos had minus-47 yards of offence in the first quarter.
The Redblacks took an 8-0 lead with 6:45 left in the first quarter when Mossis Madu Jr. caught a Harris pass and ran it in, then scored the two-point convert.
Ottawa made it 11-0 on a 36-yard field goal by Maher and that was the score at the end of the first quarter.