Redblacks knock out Als and two QBs
CFL OPENER: Harding-hitting Ottawa rallies to win first regular-season game on the road
MONTREAL — It may not have been as big a party as these streets saw two nights before during the pre-St. Jean Baptiste Day drunkfest, but the Ottawa Redblacks still had plenty of reason to celebrate Thursday.
How about that, a 20-16 win for the Redblacks!
“We’re establishing a winning attitude here and to see us come back, it felt good,” Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris said.
This is a team that didn’t have much reason to celebrate in 2014, so getting a win in Week 1 in front of more than 21,000 fans at PercivalMolson Stadium was huge.
One more win and they’ve already equalled last year’s total of two.
And this was their first regular-season win on the road — ever.
“I was pressing so hard,” said Burris, who threw three first-half interceptions. “I looked very unsettled. I told myself, ‘Man, look at all these playmakers, the O-line’s giving me time. Just sit back there, go through your progression and if it’s not there, use your feet.’ There were a couple of situations where I tried to throw it on the run and underthrew passes.”
The offence had plenty of help from a relentless defence that pounded Montreal’s top two quarterbacks right out of the game.
One Burris pass hit Jeremiah Johnson’s hands and bounced right into the paws of Alan-Michael Cash. Another pass was picked off by Jonathan Hefney, leading to Montreal’s second touchdown, a four-yard Jonathan Crompton strike to Jean-Cristophe Beaulieu.
The Alouettes scored a touchdown on their opening drive, with big plays by S.J. Green and Tyrell Sutton. Boris Bede missed the convert.
The Redblacks drove downfield, but a 36-yard field-goal attempt by Delbert Alvarado was blocked. Alvarado made good on his next try.
After a knock-down by Kalonji Kashama and a sack by Justin Capicciotti, the Als gave up a safety and it was 6-5. The Als went into the half with a 13-5 lead.
The Redblacks drove 69 yards on 12 plays, ending with Ernest Jackson hauling in a 13-yard TD pass. The Redblacks tied the game when Burris tried to scramble in for the twopoint convert. As he dove forward, he fumbled and teammate Chevon Walker recovered in the end zone.
With Crompton and Dan LeFevour knocked out of the game on big hits by Redblacks defenders, third-stringer Brandon Bridge, a rarity because he’s a Canadian playing quarterback, led the Als downfield for a 36-yard field goal by Bede.
The Redblacks went into the fourth quarter down 16-13.
Jovon Johnson came through with a big interception with 13:39 left, giving Ottawa the ball at its own 46.
Led by the running of Walker, the Redblacks churned up yards and took a 20-16 lead after Jeremiah Johnson scored from six yards out.