The Ottawa Redblacks (3-2) visited Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday night to close out Week 6 of the CFL season against the Edmonton Elks (0-5). This game started slowly and it looked like for a while it might be a low-scoring game. However, the action picked up late in the second quarter then the two teams engaged in a shootout that left the fans and media speechless.
First Quarter:
In the first quarter, the Redblacks went on a 10-play drive for 71 yards before kicker Lewis Ward made a 30-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 8:13 left. On Ottawa’s next drive, they had marched down to the Elks’ 45-yard line before quarterback Dru Brown lost the ball on a handoff and it was recovered by Edmonton defensive tackle Eddie Brown on their 49-yard line.
Edmonton’s offense went to work taking advantage of the turnover. They went on a six-play drive for 61 yards ending with quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Arkell Smith. Smith sat behind the offensive line for a bit before making the catch. The Elks took a 7-3 lead with 45 seconds left of the first quarter.
The Redblacks went two-and-out on the final two plays of the first quarter. The Elks led the Redblacks 7-3 to end the first quarter. Edmonton had 61 yards on offense (25 yards passing, 36 yards rushing). Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 2 of 4 passes for 25 yards, and one touchdown. Ottawa had 92 yards on offense (67 yards passing, 29 yards rushing, four yards lost). Quarterback Dru Brown completed 7 of 10 passes for 67 yards.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Edmonton quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson led the Elks to a four-play drive for 51 yards that ended with Thompson throwing a 39-yard touchdown to Hergy Mayala with two defenders on him. Mayala extended his arms to make the touchdown catch. Edmonton extended their lead to 14-3 with 10:39 left.
On the kickoff, Edmonton kicker Boris Bede kicked the ball 98 yards into the endzone where Ottawa returner DeVonte Dedmon conceded the single point. It was now 15-3 Edmonton with 10:34 left of the second quarter.
Ottawa’s offense was quiet for the majority of the second quarter. Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward made a 31-yard field goal and the Redblacks trailed the Elks 15-6 with 2:28 left. Ottawa’s defense stepped up on Edmonton’s third play when Adarius Pickett knocked the ball out of running back Javon Leake’s arm and it was recovered by Alonzo Addae on their 47-yard line.
An objectionable conduct penalty on Edmonton gave the Redbacks an extra ten yards to the Elks’ 53-yard line. The Redblacks went on a five-play drive for 53 yards that ended with backup quarterback Dustin Crum scoring a one-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak. It was now 15-13 Edmonton at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Edmonton had 141 yards on offense (85 yards passing, 57 yards rushing, one yard lost). Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 6 of 10 passes (60%) for 85 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for nine yards. Running back Kevin Brown had six carries for 29 yards, while Jevon Leake had four carries for 19 yards, and made two catches for 21 yards.
Wide receiver Hergy Mayala made two catches for 47 yards, and one touchdown, while Arkell Smith made one catch for 10 yards, and one touchdown. Edmonton’s defense made one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. They were penalized five times for 43 yards.
Ottawa had 200 yards on offense (172 yards passing, 44 yards rushing, 16 yards lost). Quarterback Dru Brown completed 13 of 20 passes (65%) for 172 yards. Running back Ryquell Armstead had seven carries for 28 yards and made three catches for 22 yards.
Wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton made two catches for 54 yards, while Jaelon Acklin made three catches for 36 yards. Ottawa’s defense made one tackle for loss. They were penalized four times for 56 yards.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, Edmonton kicker Boris Bede made a 42-yard field goal extending their lead to 18-13 with 5:38 left. On the second play for Ottawa, quarterback Dru Brown threw a pass to Kalil Pimpleton on a cross-route play and Pimpleton turned on the jets speeding his way for a 70-yard touchdown.
The Redblacks went for a two-point conversion as Brown threw the pass to Dominique Rhymes to get the two points. The Redblacks led the Elks 21-18 with 4:40 left of the third quarter. On Ottawa’s next possession, quarterback Dru Brown overthrew Ryquell Armstead and it was intercepted by Kordell Jackson for a seven-yard return on the Redblacks’ 24-yard line.
On the last two plays of the third quarter, Edmonton quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw two incomplete passes. The Redblacks led the Elks 21-18 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Edmonton kicker Boris Bede missed a 31-yard field goal wide left for a single point. The score was now 21-19 Redblacks with 14:37 left. On the second play for the Redblacks, quarterback Dru Brown threw a deep pass which was caught by Justin Hardy. Hardy had a defensive back on him. As he was getting taken down, Hardy stretched out to score a 68-yard touchdown for a 28-19 lead with 13:23 left in the game.
When Ottawa got the ball back, they went on a two-play drive for 13 yards before the drive stalled and kicker Lewis Ward made a 35-yard field goal to take a commanding 31-19 lead with 8:24 left in the game.
With their backs against the wall, Edmonton started to make their move. The Elks had reached the Redblacks’ seven-yard line before Thompson was sacked by Blessman Ta’ala. However, a roughing the passer penalty on Ottawa gave the Elks an automatic first down on their four-yard line.
Edmonton backup quarterback Dakota Prukop came in to score the four-yard touchdown. The Elks went for a two-point play and got it. Edmonton trailed Ottawa 31-27 with 5:36 left. The drive went five plays for 67 yards.
The Redblacks came back going on a six-play drive for 81 yards before kicker Lewis Ward made a 10-yard field goal for a 34-27 lead with 2:10 left in the game. At this point in the game, Ottawa’s defense was playing conservatively during the Elks’s next drive and it cost them.
Ottawa’s defense initially stopped Edmonton’s offense to force third down. Edmonton went for it but Thompson’s pass to Eugene Lewis was incomplete. However, Edmonton head coach Chris Jones challenged the third down play for defensive pass interference and won. Three plays later, backup quarterback Dakota Prukop scored a one-yard touchdown with the quarterback sneak, and the game was tied 34-34 with 8 seconds left.
On the kickoff, Edmonton kicker Boris Bede kicked the ball for 66 yards but it went out of bounds giving the Redblacks great field position. On the next play, quarterback Dru Brown threw a 29-yard pass to Kalil Pimpleton at the Elks’ 31-yard line. Lewis Ward came in and kicked the game-winning 38-yard field goal. The Redblacks defeated the Elks by the final score of 37-34.
Final Stats:
Ottawa had 520 yards on offense. Quarterback Dru Brown completed 26 of 38 passes (68.4%) for 480 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Backup quarterback Dustin Crum had three carries for six yards and one touchdown. Running back Ryquell Armstead had 14 carries for 40 yards and made four catches for 31 yards.
Wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton had a big night making four catches for 153 yards, and one touchdown, while Dominique Rhymes made 7 catches for 131 yards, and Justin Hardy made 5 catches for 110 yards, and one touchdown.
Kicker Lewis Ward made five field goals with a long of 38 yards. Ottawa’s defense made 44 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and seven tackles on special teams. Ottawa was penalized 8 times for 100 yards.
Edmonton had 339 yards on offense (272 yards passing, 86 yards rushing, 19 yards lost). Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 26 of 35 passes (74.3%) for 272 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for nine yards. Running back Kevin Brown had 8 carries for 35 yards.
Wide receiver Hergy Mayala made 7 catches for 88 yards, and one touchdown, while Eugene Lewis made 6 catches for 89 yards. Edmonton kicker Boris Bede made one field goal for 42 yards. Edmonton’s defense made 43 tackles, four tackles loss, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and five tackles on special teams. The Elks were penalized 7 times for 68 yards.
Final Thoughts:
This game got off to a slow start but it picked up in the second half. I thought Edmonton played their best game of the season despite the loss. They were prepared and took advantage of Ottawa’s defense playing conservatively late in the game. If Bede had not kicked the ball out of bounds, this game would’ve gone to overtime.
Now, the crowd in Edmonton chanted for Tre Ford to get in the game. The fans want Ford in the game and I think Edmonton should put him in for a least a couple of games to see what he can do. Again, if you are not going to use him, then trade him to a team that will use him like Hamilton, Saskatchewan, and Calgary.
Ottawa wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton did a terrific job. He showed why he deserves to be in the starting lineup and I think he has earned the opportunity to start again. How could you not use him in the first four games of the season, even on special teams?
He showed his speed and is always a threat to go deep. That’s a guy Dru Brown needs to practice throwing deep passes to because opposing teams are going to have a hard time covering him.
The Redblacks and Elks will meet again next Friday in Ottawa at 7 pm on TSN and CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
