REDBLACKS GET WIN NO. 2
Maher’s six field goals spark Ottawa to needed win over winless Hamilton
Ottawa victory prolongs agony for Ticats
The Ottawa Redblacks had been looking for something, anything, to get them kick-started.
On Friday night, they found that something: Brett Maher’s right foot.
Maher, whose six field goals gave the Redblacks their firstever win (18-17 at home against the Toronto Argos in July 2014), did it again at Tim Hortons Field on Friday night.
This time, it was a 37-18 victory over the Tiger-Cats, the Redblacks’ second win of the Canadian Football League season, against six losses and a tie, and their first positive result in a month. Hamilton is winless in eight tries.
“This is big,” said Redblacks coach Rick Campbell. “It’s hard to lose, especially when you lose multiple games in the fashion we were. It’s good for the psyche of the team.
“The thing I like in the lockerroom is that the guys are happy, but it’s not an overly big celebration. They’ll enjoy it tonight, then we’ll be on to the next one.”
The CFL record for field goals in a game — eight — is shared by three kickers: Dave Ridgway in 1984 and 1988, and Mark McLoughlin and Paul Osbaldiston, both in 1996.
Terry Baker (1994) and Dean Dorsey (1989) each had seven in a game playing for the former Ottawa Rough Riders franchise.
“It was big for us. We needed to come away with points on all those drives,” said Maher. “The offence was moving the ball really well. I didn’t feel like I did anything out of the ordinary or extra special. It’s just my number was called on and I was able to come through.”
Ottawa QB Trevor Harris completed 36 of 48 passes for 394 yards. Greg Ellingson caught 10 passes for 155 yards.
After a quick Hamilton twoand-out to start the game, the Redblacks got a 41-yard punt return by Diontae Spencer. On the next play, Harris connected for Ellingson on a 39-yard catch and run, but the receiver stumbled and fell at the Ticats’ fouryard line. After a three-yard run by William Powell, centre Jon Gott was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, so the Redblacks settled for a 10-yard Maher field goal.
The Ticats responded quickly. Brandon Banks returned the kickoff 44 yards. Then QB Zach Collaros hit Luke Tasker, in behind Nick Taylor, for a 45-yard touchdown. The convert made it 7-3 for Hamilton.
Ottawa made it 7-6, settling for a 15-yard Maher field goal after Powell was swarmed and stopped for a loss on a second-and-two.
Former Redblacks kicker Sergio Castillo made it 10-6 with a 44-yard field goal with 1:20 remaining in the first quarter, but Maher got those three points back with a 42-yard field goal a bit less than four minutes into the second quarter.
The Redblacks caught a break midway through the second quarter when Gott jumped on a football that had been fumbled by Harris after a sack by Hamilton’s Larry Dean.
On the Redblacks’ next possession, Maher booted a 53-yard field goal, an attempt that was lengthened when Harris was dropped for a nine-yard loss by former Ottawa defensive end Justin Capicciotti.
Spencer returned a punt 29 yards to give Ottawa good field position at its own 49-yard line with 1:51 to go in the first half, but the Redblacks had to punt away. Ottawa had one last opportunity, though, getting the ball on the Ticats’ 53 with 19 seconds left. Maher booted a 48-yard field goal on the final play of the half for a 15-10 lead.
A 30-yard Maher field goal at 7:32 of the third quarter gave Ottawa an eight-point edge at 18-10.
Then another break for the visiting Redblacks. On second down and a yard to go, Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli tossed a long pass to Banks, but the speedy receiver/returner dropped what would have been a sure touchdown pass. The Ticats were flagged for illegal procedure on the next play and had to punt.
Harris found a wide-open Ellingson for a 35-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter. With the convert, Ottawa led 25-10.
On the next series, a fumbled handoff was picked up by Redblacks defensive lineman Avery Ellis, and he rumbled 29 yards into the end zone. Maher’s convert was blocked by Jay Langa, and Hamilton’s Courtney Stephen returned it all the way to the other end zone for two points.
Masoli replaced Collaros after that, and the Ticats drove for a touchdown when Banks took a handoff and fought his way into the end zone from the one-yard line. A failed two-point convert was successfully challenged for defensive pass interference, but CJ Gable was stopped short on the repeat attempt.
Harris found a wide open Jake Harty in the end zone for a Redblacks touchdown with 2:38 left. It was Harty’s first CFL touchdown.
The convert was missed, leaving the score at 37-18.
The Redblacks shifted defensive back Jonathan Rose from boundary corner to field (wide side) corner for Friday’s game, with Corey Tindal on the other side. While Rose recently was taken out of the lineup, Ottawa defensive co-ordinator Mark Nelson said he remained a fan: Said Nelson: “In this game, especially at DB, you have to have a short memory. You’re going to beat in practice, you’re going to get beat in a game. That’s life, that’s how it is. Jonathan’s worked hard, he’s done a great job for us, he’s had some excellent games and done a lot of good things for us. Jonathan’s a pro. Players get sat down.”
It looked as if Redblacks receiver Kenny Shaw took a serious shot to the head in the second quarter. He came out of the game, but returned on his team’s next possession. Shaw wound up with five catches for 45 yards. … A chorus of boos rained on the Ticats after their early fourth-quarter fumble. Those quickly turned to cheers when the convert was blocked and returned for two points. The cheers continued as Banks returned the kickoff to Ottawa’s 48-yard line.
The guys are happy, but it’s not an overly big celebration. They’ll enjoy it tonight, then we’ll be on to the next one.
Bodog, a betting site, has put odds on the Redblacks winning the Grey Cup at 12/1. Hamilton and Saskatchewan are both at 16/1. Calgary is the favourite at 5/2 … While scrambling out of the pocket early in the second quarter, Collaros turned his back and was drilled as he fell awkwardly to the turf. It drew a large gasp from the crowd, but the QB was OK … Attendance was announced at 23,524, but there were plenty of empty seats by the end of the third quarter.