It's official, Ticats will host Eastern Semi-Final with loss to Redblacks
As a result, the REDBLACKS will receive the first round bye when playoffs roll around, while the Tiger-Cats will play host to the West Divison crossover team in the Eastern Semi-Final game.
Ottawa’s quarterback Trevor Harris finished the game throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 23 of his 30 pass attempts despite the wet conditions that spanned across the duration of the game.
Prior to the game, it was announced that the REDBLACKS would be without the league’s rusher leader in William Powell as he was listed as a healthy scratch, opting to go with former Ticat Mossis Madu.
The Tiger-Cats also announced prior to the start of the game that defensive back Delvin Breaux had been placed on their one-game injury list, activating Mariel Cooper from their practice roster.
Feeding off of good field position that their special teams unit was providing their offence, Trevor Harris and the REDBLACKS offence slowly but surely moved their way deep into the Ticats end of the field, eventually putting up the game’s first points with a Harris to Greg Ellingson connection, followed by a successful two-point conversion to give Ottawa the 8-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the opening quarter.
Special teams proved its worth for either team as the two teams combined for nearly 200 yards on kick returns alone. A much better stat line than the 97 yards of total offence that Ottawa and Hamilton combined for.
Sticking to the ground game, Alex Green broke loose for a 36 yard gain towards the end of the first quarter as the Tiger-Cats started to march their way downfield, doubling their total offensive output at that point with the rush. The following play then went for 12 yards with a pass completion to Marquay McDaniel. Despite the positive movement, the REDBLACKS would dig in their heels and force the Tabbies to settle for a 14-yard field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu in the early-going of the second quarter.
On the ensuing drive for the REDBLACKS, Rick Campbell reached into his bag of tricks as he sent in Dominique Davison a third down play, catching the Ticats off guard as they anticipated a sneak from Davis, who’s typically reserved for short-yardage situations. Instead, Davis rolled out and found a wide-open Greg Ellingson for a 75-yard touchdown to boost the REDBLACKS ahead to a 15-4 lead.
A few minutes later, kicking into the aggressive wind, Lirim Hajrullahu‘s punt travelled a mere 32 yards, putting the REDBLACKS already into field goal position. Four plays later, Harris connected with Diontae Spencer for Ottawa’s third touchdown pass of the game, extending the REDBLACKS lead to 21-4 after Lewis Ward missed the conversion attempt.
The Tiger-Cats offence continued to be able to move the ball no problem but continued to find themselves getting stopped in the red zone, settling for another field goal by Hajrullahu, narrowing the REDBLACKS lead to a two-touchdown advantage at 21-7 with under two minutes to play in the first half. Hajrullahu had luck on his side despite kicking into the wind as time expired on the half, having his 43-yard field goal bounce off the crossbar and through the uprights to bring the halftime score to 21-10.
Hajrullahu pulled the Tiger-Cats within a score early on in the third quarter with his fourth field goal of the game, having the wind at Tim Hortons Field helping to carry the 41-yard field goal attempt.
Brad Sinopoli set a record in the third quarter, surpassing Ben Cahoon for most receptions by a Canadian in a single season, making his 113th catch of the year.
Harris, on a night where he passed 5,000 yards in a season for the first time in his career, kept the success flying for the REDBLACKS, connecting with Diontae Spencer for a 79-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. The score marked Spencer’s seventh touchdown of the season, a career-high for the Ottawa receiver.
Spencer finished the game making four receptions for 116 yards.
In the fourth quarter, a week after setting the professional football’s record for most consecutive field goals made, Lewis Ward further extended his mark to 46 after notching a 33-yard kick, further extending the REDBLACKS lead to 30-13.
Any chance fo the Ticats making a late comeback was silenced as Jeremiah Masoli was picked off in the end zone by Ottawa’s Sherrod Baltimore.
As time continued to tick away, Masoli followed the interception with another on the Tiger-Cats next offensive drive, adding another nail to Hamilton’s coffin for the day. Jean-Philippe Bolduc was at the receiving end of the Masoli throw, earning Bolduc his first-career interception.
The win gives Ottawa the guaranteed No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs for the East Division. They will face the Toronto Argonauts in their final regular season game at TD Place Stadium in the nation’s capital. As for the Tiger-Cats, they will welcome the Montreal Alouettes to Tim Hortons Field on Saturday before hosting the Eastern Semi-Final the following week.