It’s probably safe to call the Ottawa REDBLACKS the cardiac kids after their 31-29 win over the Calgary Stampeders.
This game got off the ground at break-neck pace, with Lorenzo Mauldin forcing a fumble on the first play from scrimmage, before Frankie Griffin dove on it, giving the REDBLACKS prime field position. Unfortunately for them, however, they were forced to settle for a field goal, and Lewis Ward gave Ottawa an early 3-0 lead.
Six plays later, the Stamps capitalized on a pair of REDBLACKS’ penalties, and Tommy Stevens dove for the endzone for the first of two touchdowns in the first half. After trading two-and-outs, the REDBLACKS hit the board next, with a two-play drive, which Ryquell Armstead finished with a 25-yard scamper.
Just like last time Ottawa took the lead, though, the Stamps made quick work of a scoring drive, extending their lead to 14-10, but the REDBLACKS responded with another field goal on the final play of the first quarter, bringing the explosive frame to a close with a 14-13 scoreline.
The Stamps scored a pair of singles, and the REDBLACKS scored one, giving Calgary a two-point lead which stood until late in the half. Then, Jeremiah Masoli, who completed 12 of his 15 passes in the first half for 116 yards, flipped a touchdown pass to DeVonte Dedmon, the first receiving touchdown of his illustrious career and giving Ottawa a 21-16 lead at the break.
Ottawa started the second half where they left off, scoring another touchdown on a Dustin Crum quarterback sneak into the endzone, pushing their lead to 28-16, but the Stamps pulled their way back into the game piece by piece.
Calgary scored 13 unanswered points, melting the REDBLACKS’ lead away. With the football back in their hands with under two minutes to play, Masoli’s third-down pass hit the ground, turning the ball over, but the defence was there to bail the offence out.
They’d get one more crack at it, thankfully, this time starting inside of their 30-yard line, with under a minute to play. Masoli and the offence chipped away with a big completion to Jaelon Acklin, and then Bralon Addison, getting up to Calgary’s 44, where they allowed Ward an opportunity to win the game.
From 51 yards away, the snap, the hold, and the kick were perfect, as Ward split the uprights for his third walk-off field goal of the season, improving Ottawa’s 2024 record to 6-2-1.
The REDBLACKS are next on the field for their All-Decade Game on Saturday, August 24th at 7 p.m., from TD Place.
