Sinopoli gives credit to Harris for helping him top CFL record for most passes caught

Peterborough native Brad Sinopoli gives full credit to Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Trevor Harris after Sinopoli surpassed the CFL record for most catches in a season by a Canadian on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Crestwood Secondary School graduate had seven receptions for 56 yards to break Ben Cahoon’s record for most catches in a season by a Canadian (112 in ’03) during a 30-13 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

Sinopoli needed four receptions to eclipse Cahoon’s mark but now has 116 catches for 1,376 yards.

The two-time Grey Cup champion is the seventh Canadian to reach the 100-catch plateau.

“I’m just very thankful for that,” said Sinopoli, a former Hec Crighton Trophy-winning quarterback at the University of Ottawa. “Trevor puts the ball in a spot that makes it very easy in weather like this to catch and he does a very good job of it.

“I’m thankful for the opportunities, it means a lot.”

Harris said Sinopoli’s accomplishment kind of sets the record straight.

“We finally have a real Canadian with the record,” he said. “Brad is born and raised, he’s a true Canadian.

“From what I heard, Ben was one of those guys who wasn’t born and raised. I’m glad we have Brad with the record now, that will stand for a long time.”

Cahoon was born in Utah but qualified as a Canadian in the CFL because his parents were from Canada and he spent time growing up in Alberta.

A three-time Grey Cup winner and twice the league’s top Canadian, Cahoon was a 2014 inductee into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Sinopoli now has 1,376 receiving yards on the season, third in the league, and his 116 catches is the highest among receivers this season.

He is also tops in the league with 154 times as a receiving target and has four touchdowns on the year.

It’s the fourth season in a row that Sinopoli has had more than 1,000 receiving yards.

The win was the fifth in a row for Ottawa and advanced the Redblacks to the East Division final with home field advantage on Nov. 18.

SCOTT GARDNER THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR Ottawa Redblacks Greg Ellingson (left) celebrates with teammate Brad Sinopoli after Ellingson’s touchdown in the second quarter of CFL action at Tim Horton Field Saturday afternoon. The Redblacks defeated the Ticats, 30-13 to claim first place in East Division.