The Ottawa Redblacks closed out the regular season in stunning fashion, scoring fifteen unanswered points to beat the Montreal Alouettes 19-18 Friday night in Montreal.
The win gave the Hamilton Tiger-Cats home field for next week’s Eastern Semifinal game against the Alouettes.
Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Caleb Evans went 18/29 for 173-yards, ten carries for 56-yards, and two touchdowns. Evans’ touchdowns happened in the second half. After the Redblacks’ defense forced a turnover, Evans led the drive that capped off with a one-yard rushing touchdown plus the two-point conversion to trail Montreal 18-11.
Then, in the fourth quarter, Evans rushed for another one-yard touchdown run, trailing the Alouettes 18-17. The Redblacks went for a two-point conversion and got it to take a 19-18 lead with eleven seconds left.
Running back, Timothy Flanders led both in rushing and receiving with ten carries for 62-yards, and four catches for 67-yards. Wide receiver Kenny Stafford had three catches for 26-yards, kicker Lewis Ward made one field goal for 44-yards, and the defense recorded three sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Trevor Harris was 20/26 for 259-yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for seven yards. His two touchdown passes came in the second quarter, both to Jake Wieneke. With 6:04 left, Harris, off a play-action, threw a 14-yard touchdown to Wieneke as he bounced off of Justin Howell, then sprinted towards the endzone.
The two connected again with under a minute left, this time for 21-yards into traffic for an 18-3 lead. Jake Wieneke led the receivers with five catches for 79-yards and two touchdowns. The Alouettes led 18-3 at halftime.
Running back, Jeshrun Antwi led the rushing with 13 carries for 69 yards, kicker David Cote made two field goals with his longest for 47 yards, and the defense recorded four sacks.
In an interesting stat, the Redblacks beat Trevor Harris in Week 1 when Harris was with Edmonton and again Friday night to close out the season.
The Redblacks finish with a record of 3-11. Meanwhile, the Alouettes finish at 7-7. The Alouettes head to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats next Sunday, November 28th, in the Eastern Semi-Final at 1 pm on ESPN2.
