Redblacks and Ticats know stakes are high

Taylor Reed has talked to Hamilton Tiger-Cats all-star linebacker Simoni Lawrence.

They agree that Friday night’s showdown between the Ottawa Redblacks and Ticats is huge.

“Both teams should be going in as if this is a must-win game,” said Reed, a Redblacks linebacker. “I’ve talked to Simoni. They’re taking it as a must-win. They’re going into a bye week. We’re not about to give it to them. We need the win, too.”

The tone of Redblacks practice this week has been more high-octane than in past weeks. There’s no slumping of the shoulders, even with a 1-6-1 start to the CFL season.

“It’s almost like a training camp practice,” Reed said. “We’ve been having a great week, guys have been competing their arses off. The competition level has gone up.

“Guys are taking it as we have to do better. Everybody has to step up. However you’ve been playing, it’s not good enough. That’s from me as a starting linebacker to Trevor (Harris) as the starting quarterback ... all the way down to the guys on scout team. Everybody has to be better in order for us to win football games.”

Staying together through tough times is something that’s been pushed by the team’s leadership core.

“I’d be lying if I said guys weren’t frustrated,” Reed said. “The leaders have been doing a great job of keeping everybody together. We know we need to be together in this, there’s no way we’re going to win ball games unless we stay together.”