On Friday night at TD Place, the Ottawa Redblacks hosted the Montreal Alouettes for the fourth and final time in the regular season. The Redblacks led the series 2-1 and were looking to get closer to Hamilton for third place. Meanwhile, Montreal needed a win to clinch a playoff spot. These teams have had close games all season long, and this game was no different.
Ottawa went with a trick play on their first possession of the game. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle threw the ball to Ryan Davis, who then threw a pass to Shaquille Johnson for 45 yards. Three plays later, Nick Arbuckle threw a 23-yard touchdown to Shaquille Johnson for a 7-0 lead with 12:06 left.
On Montreal’s first possession, they moved the ball toward Ottawa’s 44-yard line before punting it. However, Montreal caught a big break thanks to their defense. Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle started to run with the ball when Thomas Costigan knocked the ball out of Arbuckle’s hand, and Adarius Pickett scooped up the ball and scored a 16-yard touchdown, tying the game 7-7 with 7:53 left.
Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle threw three passes for 32 yards, and running back Jackson Bennett ran for six yards to reach Montreal’s 35-yard line. Then, Arbuckle dropped back from the pocket and threw a touchdown pass for 35 yards on the hands of Tevaun Smith, giving the Redblacks a 14-7 lead with 5:31 left.
Late in the first quarter, Montreal David Cote made a 23-yard field goal to cut Ottawa’s lead 14-10 with 3:49 left. However, Ottawa’s offense marched down toward the Alouettes’ one-yard line before the first quarter ended. Ottawa had 207 yards on offense, and Montreal’s offense had 52 yards.
In the second quarter, Ottawa backup quarterback Caleb Evans scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, extending their lead 21-10 with 14:47 left. It was Evans’s 13th rushing touchdown this year. Later in the second quarter, Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris threw a short pass to Walter Fletcher, who broke a couple of tackles to score a 40-yard touchdown, cutting Ottawa’s lead to 21-17 with 6:36 left.
Late in the second quarter, Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward made a 41-yard field goal to go up by one score, 24-17, with 32-seconds left. Montreal tried to get down to Ottawa territory before halftime but ran out of time. Ottawa led Montreal 24-17 at halftime.
Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle was 18/21 for 176 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for four yards, contributing to Ottawa’s 259 yards on offense. Meanwhile, Montreal’s offense had 160 yards as quarterback Trevor Harris was 11/16 for 172 yards and one touchdown.
In the third quarter, Montreal cut Ottawa’s lead back to four, 24-20, on a 45-yard field goal by David Cote, his second field goal of the game. After Ottawa went two-and-out, Montreal went to work to take the lead. Trevor Harris, Dominique Davis, and Walter Fletcher combined to gain 62 yards at the Redblacks’ three-yard line. Then, Montreal running back William Stanback rushed up the middle for the touchdown, giving Montreal its first lead of the game, 27-24, with 3:41 left.
Late in the third quarter, Ottawa got down to Montreal’s 37-yard line as time expired, facing third and two to begin the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Lewis Ward made a 44-yard field goal to tie the game 27-27 with 15-minutes left to put Ottawa back in front 30-27 on a ten-yard field goal with 9:52 left.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris and company went to work. Harris threw a pass to Tyson Philpot for six yards and ran for five yards toward Ottawa’s 12-yard line. Running back William Stanback and backup quarterback Dominique Davis helped the Alouettes reach the Redblacks’ one-yard line. Then, Dominique Davis scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, putting Montreal back up 34-30 with 2:50 left.
Ottawa had a couple of chances to win the game, but quarterback Nick Arbuckle was sacked on third down, and Montreal went into victory formation to win the game 34-30, tying the season series 2-2. Montreal clinched a playoff spot and can pull within a game behind Toronto if Toronto loses to Edmonton on Saturday. Montreal is now 8-8, and Ottawa is 4-12. Ottawa remains winless at home this year.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris went 19/27 for 241 yards, one touchdown, and two carries for 17 yards. Running back William Stanback had nine carries for 34 yards, and one touchdown, while wide receiver Tyson Philpot had seven catches for 76 yards.
Montreal’s defense allowed 381 yards, 47 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Montreal hosts Toronto next Saturday at 4 pm on ESPN+.
Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle was 28/36 for 271 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for four yards. Running back Jackson Bennett had eight carries for 55 yards, while wide receiver Justin Hardy had eight catches for 93 yards.
Ottawa’s defense allowed 333 yards, 54 tackles, four sacks, and three pass breakups. Ottawa visits the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Friday at 7 pm on ESPN+.
