The win that got away
Team vows to learn from its mistakes following opening loss to Winnipeg
The Redblacks players who returned to Ottawa on Friday simmered with anger over not getting the job done against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Sure, Thursday marked the regular-season debut for the CFL’s newest franchise, but the Redblacks probably could have won were it not for a handful of errors and far too many penalties. A pair of 14-point first-quarter leads turned into a 36-28 loss at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field.
But Redblacks players and fans can still believe in their chances for success sooner rather than later. Need proof? “We are going to learn from our mistakes, and we are going to work our butts off to make sure we get better, and next time we step back on this field, put in a better effort and make sure we play a full 60-minute game and make sure we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot when the time matters most.” — Quarterback Henry Burris.
“It’s the CFL, and you have to put four quarters together and put teams away if you want to win in this league. We didn’t do a good job coming down the second half. Offensively we didn’t move the ball very well, and that’s on all of us as a group. It’s a long season, an 18-game season, and you’re not going to win them all. We just have to learn how to finish, and as a group that will take some time, but we’ll get better and we’ll rebound.” — Wide receiver Matt Carter.
“Honestly, we played a good game. We just didn’t finish. We have to come out next week and just finish the game, finish better and eliminate all the mental mistakes and errors. Overall we played well. We just have to come out next week and do it better for longer.” — Tailback Chevon Walker.
“We are going to iron out the wrinkles, watch film, get back to work and put the pedal back to the metal and just move forward. There’s no reason to dwell on the past, and we’ll see these (Blue Bombers) again.” — Defensive tackle Jonathan Williams.
The Blue Bombers fell behind early, but didn’t give up and might have won anyway, but the Redblacks made it easier for them.
Twice they forfeited offensive downs on delay-of-game penalties. Twice they were penalized for roughing Blue Bombers quarterback Drew Willy. Twice they were penalized for objectionable con- duct. None of those things should have happened.
On another occasion, on third down from Winnipeg’s 48-yard line in the second quarter, the Redblacks inserted backup quarterback and emergency kicker Thomas DeMarco in punt formation, but were penalized for illegal procedure.
Third-and-one became thirdand-six. Regular punter Brett Maher returned to the field, but his kick was tipped by a Blue Bombers player and travelled just 20 yards before the Redblacks were assessed a no-yards penalty.
All told, there were 16 infractions for 120 yards. In addition, the Redblacks gave up a kick-return touchdown to match the one they allowed the Saskatchewan Roughriders during pre-season play.
The game-changing, fourth-quarter score came courtesy of Winnipeg’s Demond Washington, who ran from the left side of the field to the right and turned the corner before racing 96 yards to the endzone. There were Redblacks players whose assignment was to ensure that Washington couldn’t turn that corner, but he did, and his touchdown trimmed an eight-point Ottawa lead to 28-26.
The Blue Bombers, 2-0 after consecutive victories for the first time in three years, took their first lead with less than three minutes remaining, when Nic Grigsby danced around the right side of the line of scrimmage and past Redblacks de- fensive back Brandyn Thompson on a four-yard run.
“(Redblacks players) knew before this game that we were a goodenough football team to come in and compete and win football games,” head coach Rick Campbell said. “The thing about this league is that, when you lose, you get down in the dumps, and, when you win, you think you’re the kings of the world, and we have to make sure we don’t get on a huge roller-coaster ride.
“We are disappointed, everybody is very disappointed that we lost the game, but we are going to rebound and get back to work and get ready for the next one.”
That next one comes next Friday at Edmonton against the Eskimos, and the Redblacks (0-1) can try to build on positives from their performance against the Blue Bombers. The defence produced five quarterback sacks, including two by Williams, who also forced a fumble that was recovered by Justin Capicciotti. Jerrell Gavins intercepted one Willy pass and knocked down another. Walker scored two touchdowns and rushed for 62 yards.
It just wasn’t enough. More will be required. “All that (stuff) about expansion. We are not an expansion team in this locker-room,” said Burris, who overall completed 17 of 30 passes for 241 yards, but was 5-for15 (42 yards) in the second half. “We go out there to win.”