For the first time since June 30, the Ottawa REDBLACKS will face off with an East Division opponent, Saturday afternoon.
The Toronto Argonauts visit TD Place, today, with the REDBLACKS getting this season’s first crack against their Ontario rivals, in a critical matchup for both squads. It’s a 1:00pm kickoff, in Ottawa’s Family Game, promising an afternoon of family fun at the football field.
Ottawa saw their lengthy unbeaten streak come to an end, a week ago, dropping a 38-12 decision to the BC Lions in the inaugural Touchdown Pacific. Dominique Rhymes caught the lone touchdown pass for Ottawa, while defenders Frankie Griffin and Damon Webb each showed out; with 10 tackles, and a pick, respectively.
With Bryce Carter, and DeVonte Dedmon heading to the six-game injured list, Kene Onyeka starts at defensive end, and Khalan Laborn makes his REDBLACKS debut at running back. One below him on the depth chart is CFL veteran Jamal Morrow.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Toronto will be looking to bounce back, after a comeback win narrowly eluded them in Monday’s Labour Day Classic against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Chad Kelly threw for 322 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, with Kadeem Carey rumbling for 78 yards on the ground. Kelly also ran in a touchdown, on top of throwing one to DaVaris Daniels.
On defence, Quincy Mauger led the way with a team-high seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack, though the Argos failed to generate a turnover.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Bob Dyce, Head Coach, on the challenge posed by Chad Kelly: “Chad was the MOP, he’s obviously a dynamic player. He adds more of a vertical part to the game. But he also can be dynamic with his legs; he’s not afraid to take off and run. The more games he plays, the more you anticipate him to get better and better.”
Khalan Laborn, running back, on battling through adversity to get to this point: “It’s difficult, but you can’t put a chip on your shoulder. No one’s going to feel sorry for you. No one’s going to hold your hand. Stay ready, stay locked in mentally. You take it on the chin and just keep working every day to get better.”
Adarius Pickett, defensive back, on the importance of late-season games against the East: “It’s heating up. At this point in the season, we have to inhale the future and exhale the past. That just means whatever happened in the past 11 games has positioned us to be exactly where we want. But it doesn’t essentially matter. We have to come out to these next seven games and put it together, taking it one game at a time.”
BROADCAST INFORMATION
1:00 PM ET | TV (ENG): TSN 3 / TSN 4 / RDS2 | CFL+ | Radio: EN: TSN 1200, SiriusXM (ch. 167) | FR: 104,7 FM Outaouais
