On a rainy Saturday night at TD Place, the BC Lions defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 24-12 to improve to 2-2 on the season. For the Redblacks, this is their second straight loss.
BC Lions kicker Jimmy Camacho put the Lions on top 3-0 with a 49-yard field goal with 9:53 left in the first quarter. Then, Redblacks kicker Lewis Ward tied the game 3-3 with 3:21 left in the first quarter. The game remained tied 3-3 at the end of the first quarter. Neither offense did much in the first quarter.
With 12:16 left in the second quarter, BC Lions kicker Jimmy Camacho made his second field goal of the game for 17 yards that put the Lions back up 6-3. The Lions’ offense got going late in the second quarter behind quarterback Mike Reilly and Chris Rainey.
With 2:43 left in the second quarter from the Redblacks’ one-yard line, quarterback Mike Reilly scored with a quarterback sneak. A missed extra point kept the game 12-3 Lions.
Just before halftime, with 1:11 left in the second quarter, Redblacks kicker Lewis Ward made his second field goal of the game that went 48-yards to trail the Lions 12-6 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Lions kicker Jimmy Camacho made his third field goal of the night with a chip shot field goal that extended the Lions lead 15-6. With 6:43 left in the third quarter, Redblacks kicker Lewis Ward kicked a 47-yard field goal that cut the Lions lead 15-9.
Just before the third quarter ended, Lewis made his fourth field goal of the game for 38-yards to make it a three-point game 15-12 with 1:23 left in the third quarter. The Lions had the ball to start the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, quarterback Mike Reilly completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Jevon Cottoy to go up 22-12 with 11:48 left in the game. With 2:58 left, Lions punter Stefan Flintoft punted the ball that went into the Redblacks endzone before going out of bounds for a single point 23-12.
On the next drive for the Redblacks, quarterback Matt Nichols completed a pass to Ryan Davis. However, Davis would fumble the ball after Lions linebacker Boseko Lokombo knocked it out of his hands, and the Lions recovered the ball.
After going two-and-out, the Lions punted the ball back into the Redblacks’ endzone. Devonte Dedmon picked up the ball in the endzone but took a knee giving the Lions another single point 24-12 with 1:53 left in the game.
The Redblacks made one last attempt to score a touchdown but were unable to, and the Lions went into a victory formation to win the game 24-12.
BC Lions quarterback Mike Reilly finished the night 23/32 for 301-yards, one touchdown, and one rushing touchdown. Shaquille Cooper led the team in rushing with 14 carries for 71-yards. Jevon Cottoy led the team in receiving with five receptions for 93-yards and one touchdown. The Lions’ defense recorded two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
For the Ottawa Redblacks, quarterback Matt Nichols finished the night 23/37 for 206-yards and one interception. Running back Justin Davis led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 43-yards. Ryan Davis led the team in receiving yards with eight receptions for 70-yards. The Redblacks’ defense finished the night with two sacks.
The Ottawa Redblacks will host the Montreal Alouettes next Friday, September 3rd, at 7:30 pm. The BC Lions are on a bye next week.