The B.C. Lions (9-4) closed out Week 15 on Saturday night from B.C. Place Stadium against the Ottawa Redblacks (3-10) for the first time this season.
With the loss by Winnipeg earlier in the day, B.C. had a chance to get within a game behind them for first place in the West Division. While the Lions did not get off to a good start, they made it an entertaining game in the end with a thrilling finish.
In the first quarter, Ottawa took a 3-0 lead on a 53-yard field goal by Lewis Ward with 12:33 left. Later in the first quarter, Josh Woods intercepted Dustin Crum’s pass on the Redblacks’ 51-yard line. B.C. kicker Sean Whyte had a chance to tie the game but missed a 50-yard field goal with 8:02 left.
Late in the first quarter, B.C. punter Stefan Flintoft punted the ball 67 yards into the endzone and out of bounds for a single point with 3:27 left. It was now 3-1 Ottawa. Ottawa running back Devonte Williams had two carries for six yards, followed by Dustin Crum’s 10-yard run which led to Lewis Ward converting a 53-yard field goal as time ran out of the first quarter leading 6-1.
In the second quarter, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed two passes for 24 yards. Then, Adams Jr. tried to throw a deep pass to Keon Hatcher but it was incomplete. However, a defensive pass interference penalty on Ottawa gave the Lions an automatic first down with the ball spotted on the Redblacks’ one-yard line. Backup quarterback Dominique Davis scored the touchdown, which gave them an 8-6 lead with 13:18 left.
On the third play for Ottawa, Dustin Crum completed a short pass to Jaelon Acklin for a gain of 14 yards before he was tackled on the Lions’ 46-yard line. Ottawa would reach the Lions’ 14-yard line before Lewis Ward kicked a 21-yard field goal for a 9-8 lead with 6:42 left in the second quarter.
Next, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed three straight passes for 51 yards to Lucky Whitehead, Alexander Hollins, and Jevon Cottoy. On the next play, Adams Jr. threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Justin McInnis to take a 15-9 lead with 4:47 left in the second quarter.
Just before halftime, Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum scored a 3-yard touchdown that put the Redblacks back on top 16-15 with 1:28 left. Both offenses did not do much for the rest of the second quarter with the Redblacks leading the Lions 16-15 at halftime.
Ottawa had 193 yards on offense. Quarterback Dustin Crum completed 9 of 15 passes (60%) for 98 yards, one interception, six carries for 32 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Devonte Williams had ten carries for 63 yards, and one catch for eight yards, and wide receiver Justin Hardy made four catches for 47 yards. Ottawa’s defense had two sacks.
B.C. had 137 yards on offense. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 9 of 11 passes (81%) for 139 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for six yards. The running game was ineffective in the first half with four carries for seven yards, and wide receiver Lucky Whitehead had four catches for 52 yards. B.C.’s defense had one sack.
In the third quarter, the Lions took an 18-16 on a 38-yard field goal by Sean Whyte with 12:34. Then, Ottawa dominated the rest of the third quarter. Quarterback Dustin Crum completed four passes for 66 yards. Next, Crum was looking to throw the ball to someone before taking off for a 5-yard touchdown. It was now 23-18 Ottawa with 7:43 left of the third quarter.
Ottawa’s defense came up with a big play when Sherrod Baltimore intercepted Vernon Adams Jr.’s pass before he was taken down on the Lions’ 51-yard line. Eight plays later, Dustin Crum scored a one-yard touchdown which made it 30-18 with 2:29 left of the third quarter.
Ottawa’s defense made another huge play when Douglas Coleman III intercepted Vernon Adams Jr.’s pass and returned it for a 50-yard touchdown for a 37-18 lead with 1:38 left. The crowd at B.C. Place was not happy with the team’s performance as they headed into the fourth quarter down by 19 points.
Then, B.C. quietly started their comeback in the fourth quarter. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 38-yard field goal which made it 37-21 with 13:22 left in the fourth quarter. Late in the fourth quarter, Vernon Adams Jr. completed six passes for 56 yards before throwing a six-yard touchdown pass to Justin McInnis. They attempted a two-point conversion but did not get it. It was now 37-27 with 2:22 left in the game.
The turning point of this game came on a missed field goal by Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward. Terry Williams caught it. With good blocks in front of him, Williams scored a 120-yard touchdown which made it 37-34 with 1:25 left of the game. The crowd was up on their feet in hopes the team could complete the comeback. They did not have to wait long.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed a 20-yard pass to Justin McInnis, followed by a three-yard pass to Taquan Mizzell. In addition, a roughing the passer penalty on Ottawa moved the ball to the Redblacks’ 16-yard line with 22 seconds left. On the next play, Adams Jr. threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Lucky Whitehead which gave them a 41-37 lead with 16 seconds left.
Ottawa had one last shot to win the game but the Lions’ defense finished them off when Woody Baron sacked Dustin Crum on the final play of the game. The Lions completed the comeback with a 41-37 win over the Redblacks. The Lions will now have a chance to tie the Blue Bombers for first place next week as Winnipeg is on a bye week.
This game was crazy in the second half with each team dominating one quarter. However, Ottawa fell apart in the fourth quarter and the Lions took advantage of their mistakes. The Redblacks have now lost seven straight games. The season can’t end soon enough for Ottawa. They need a complete makeover in the offseason.
B.C. had 366 yards on offense. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 26 of 37 passes (70.2%) for 325 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, and five carries for 45 yards. Running back Taquan Mizzell had five carries for 13 yards.
Wide receivers Justin McInnis and Lucky Whitehead combined with 14 catches logging 205 yards, and three touchdowns. B.C.’s defense made 51 tackles, three sacks, and one interception.
Ottawa had 323 yards on offense. Quarterback Dustin Crum completed 19 of 30 passes (63%) for 233 yards, one interception, nine carries for 46 yards, and three touchdowns. Running back Devonte Williams had 18 carries for 66 yards, and wide receiver Justin Hardy had eight catches for 118 yards. Ottawa’s defense made 37 tackles, three sacks, and three interceptions.
Next Friday, the Ottawa Redblacks host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 7 pm on CBS Sports Network, while the B.C. Lions visit the Edmonton Elks at 9:30 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
