Ticats take on misfiring Redblacks

OTTAWA— It’s hard to score points when you don’t have the ball, and lately for the Ottawa Redblacks, it’s hard to score points even when they do.

The Redblacks (3-5) look to get their sputtering offence going Saturday when they host the East Division-leading Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-2).

Ottawa is last in the CFL in time of possession — 25:32 per game — and its net offence of 304.4 yards per game and 5.3 yards per play are the worst in the league. The Redblacks have struggled to sustain any kind of momentum with a leagueworst 51 two-and-outs.

“It’s mainly on my shoulders. We just have to finish drives and take care of the ball and execute the plays as coach calls them,” said Ottawa quarterback Dominique Davis, who has thrown a league-most 15 interceptions.

“I’m always hard on myself if we win or if we lose,” he added. “I just look at it as a learning experience and try to correct the mistakes from the week before.”

Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell says everyone’s attention to detail needs to be better.

“Everybody on offence knows exactly what we’re doing and they can do it with speed and tempo and confidence and then you start building momentum that way,” Campbell said.

Veteran Ottawa receiver Brad Sinopoli, who posted four consecutive 1,000-plus yard seasons, has just 311 yards on 31 catches so far this season.

“There’s a lot of different factors that come into play. You have to ride the wave and make the play when the ball comes your way,” Sinopoli said.

Mossis Madu will start at running back as John Crockett, who had 89 yards against Edmonton last week, is still dealing with some minor ailments.

The Ticats are coming off a 35-34 comeback win against B.C. after they trailed by 12 points with fewer than four minutes remaining. It was quarterback Dane Evans’ first win as a starter.

Ottawa won all four meetings with Hamilton last season.