The Ottawa Redblacks (6-3-1) visited McMahon Stadium on Thursday night to start Week 11 against the Calgary Stampeders (4-6). This was a rematch of Week 8 where the Redblacks won the game 33-6 in Calgary. This time around, the game was not a blowout but rather came down to the final play.
First Quarter:
In the first quarter, Ottawa linebacker Frankie Griffin stripped Calgary running back Peyton Logan of the football and recovered it on the Stampeders’ 23-yard line. Ottawa quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed two passes for three yards before kicker Lewis Ward made a 27-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 12:17 left.
Calgary running back Kylin Hill started the drive with two carries for 11 yards. On the next play, quarterback Jake Maier threw a 5-yard pass to Peyton Logan and got an extra 15 yards on a face mask penalty by Damon Webb.
Two plays later on the Redblacks’ 36-yard line, Jake Maier threw a 35-yard pass to Ishmael Hyman. Backup quarterback Tommy Stevens came in to score a 1-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak. The Stampeders led 7-3 with 10:12 left of the first quarter to cap off a six-play drive for 70 yards. On Calgary’s next series, they went two-and-out.
Calgary punter Cody Grace punted the ball 39 yards to Ottawa returner DeVonte Dedmon. Dedmon returned the ball for six yards to the Stampeders’ 52-yard line. Ottawa quarterback Jeremiah Masoli threw a 27-yard pass to Jaelon Acklin, followed by running back Ryquell Armstead breaking a tackle to score a 25-yard touchdown. The Redblacks led the Stampeders 10-7 with 6:31 left of the first quarter to cap off a two-play drive for 52 yards in 26 seconds.
Calgary responded on their next drive. Quarterback Jake Maier threw four passes for 74 yards to get them to the Redblacks’ 1-yard line. Backup quarterback Tommy Stevens came in again to score another 1-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak, and the Stampeders took a 14-10 lead with 3:38 left of the first quarter. The drive went 5 plays for 75 yards.
The Redblacks had the ball for the final 3:22 left of the first quarter. They went on a five-play drive for 43 yards before kicker Lewis Ward made a 19-yard field goal and the Redblacks trailed the Stampeders 14-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Calgary had 101 yards on offense (82 yards passing, 19 yards rushing) and 8 first downs. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 6 of 7 passes for 82 yards. The Stampeders were penalized three times for 30 yards. Ottawa had 95 yards on offense (47 yards passing, 48 yards rushing) and 5 first downs. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 6 of 8 passes for 47 yards. Ottawa was penalized three times for 60 yards.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Calgary went two-and-out gaining six yards to their 46-yard line. Calgary punter Cody Grace punted the ball 75 yards into the endzone where Ottawa returner DeVonte Dedmon conceded the single point. Calgary led 15-13 with 13:09 left.
On Ottawa’s second possession of the second quarter, they started on their 18-yard line. Ottawa ran three plays for 26 yards before the drive stalled. Ottawa punter Richie Leone punted the ball 83 yards into the endzone where Calgary returner Peyton Logan conceded the single point. The Redblacks trailed the Stampeders 15-14 with 4 minutes left before halftime.
Calgary quarterback Jake Maier threw two passes for 18 yards to the Redblacks’ 52-yard line before the drive stalled. Punter Cody Grace punted the ball 64 yards into the endzone where Ottawa returner DeVonte Dedmon conceded the single point. Calgary led 16-14 with 2:01 left of the second quarter.
Ottawa quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back Ryquell Armstead led the Redblacks down to the Stampeders’ 9-yard line. On the next play, Calgary blitzed Masoli. He avoided the blitz before throwing the ball to DeVonte Dedmon. Dedmon made a juke move to avoid a tackle before scoring a 9-yard touchdown giving the Redblacks a 21-16 lead at halftime. The drive went five plays for 70 yards.
First Half:
Ottawa had 201 yards on offense (116 yards passing, 86 yards rushing, 1 yard lost), 1 for 3 in the red zone, and 11 first downs. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 12 of 15 passes (80%) for 116 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Ryquell Armstead had 7 carries for 86 yards, one touchdown, and three catches for 22 yards.
Wide receiver Justin Hardy made two catches for 32 yards, and Jaelon Acklin made 1 catch for 27 yards. Ottawa’s defense made two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. They were penalized 5 times for 70 yards.
Calgary had 157 yards on offense (122 yards passing, 35 yards rushing), 2 for 2 in the red zone, and 11 first downs. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 11 of 16 passes (69%) for 122 yards, and backup quarterback Tommy Stevens had four carries for three yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Kylin Hill had five carries for 18 yards, and Peyton Logan had four carries for 14 yards and one catch for five yards. Wide receiver Ishmael Hyman made three catches for 56 yards, and Marken Michel made two catches for 21 yards. Calgary’s defense made one tackle for loss. They were penalized three times for 30 yards.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, the Redblacks started the drive from their 26-yard line. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back Ryquell Armstead led the offense to a 9-play drive for 36 yards before backup quarterback Dustin Crum scored a 1-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak. It was Crum’s sixth rushing touchdown this season. The Redblacks extended their lead 28-16 with 9:28 left.
Calgary’s offense went out for their first possession of the third quarter. Quarterback Jake Maier threw four passes for 36 yards to the Redblacks’ 36-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Rene Paredes kicked a 29-yard field goal and the Stampeders trailed the Redblacks 28-19 with 5:36 left of the third quarter.
Ottawa’s offense had two good plays for 62 yards but both plays were wiped out by penalties and they ended up punting the ball with 2:46 left of the third quarter. On the final play of the third quarter, quarterback Jake Maier’s pass to Jalen Philpot went for a 1-yard loss to their 34-yard line. The Stampeders trailed the Redblacks 28-19.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier threw two passes for 61 yards to the Redblacks’ 4-yard line. Running back Kylin Hill rushed for a gain of two yards before backup quarterback Tommy Stevens scored a two-yard touchdown. The Stampeders trailed the Redblacks 28-26 with 9:51 left of the game that capped off a four-play drive for 65 yards.
Calgary quarterback Jake Maier completed four passes for 35 yards and backup quarterback Tommy Stevens rushed for a gain of three yards to the Redblacks’ 40-yard. Kicker Rene Paredes made a 48-yard field goal giving the Stampeders a 29-28 lead with 2:23 left of the game.
Calgary’s defense during the two Ottawa drives was good putting pressure on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was sacked twice by Mike Rose and Kenyon Reed. With 1:26 left in the game facing third down, Calgary defensive back Demario Houston prevented the ball from getting caught by Jaelon Acklin forcing a turnover on down.
All Calgary’s offense had to was pick up yards along with eating up the clock. Calgary’s offense could not do that and Ottawa got the ball with 47 seconds left. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli threw four passes for 32 yards to the Stampeders’ 44-yard line.
Calgary’s defense was conservative and did not pressure Masoli at all. Despite having a ton of defenders in the backfield, Masoli was still finding guys wide-open. Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward kicked the game-winning 51-yard field goal and the Redblacks defeated the Stampeders 31-29. It was Ward’s third walk-off of the season. The Redblacks are now 4-0-1 in their last six games, while the Stampeders have lost two straight games.
Final Stats:
Ottawa had 382 yards on offense (254 yards passing, 146 yards rushing, 18 yards lost) and 21 first downs. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 27 of 35 passes (77.1%) for 254 yards, one touchdown, and two carries for 17 yards. Running back Ryquell Armstead had 11 carries for 120 yards, one touchdown, and 6 catches for 44 yards.
Wide receiver Jaelon Acklin made 6 catches for 94 yards, and Bralon Addison made 6 catches for 55 yards and 1 carry for 8 yards. Kicker Lewis Ward made three field goals with a long of 51 yards. Ottawa’s defense made 41 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and six tackles on special teams. The Redblacks were penalized 8 times for 90 yards.
Calgary had 323 yards on offense (269 yards passing, 62 yards rushing, 8 yards lost) and 20 first downs. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 24 of 32 passes (75%) for 269 yards. Running back Kylin Hill had 9 carries for 38 yards, and backup quarterback Tommy Stevens had 7 carries for 10 yards and three touchdowns.
Wide receiver Reggie Begelton made 4 catches for 92 yards, while Ishmael Hyman made 5 catches for 75 yards. Kicker Rene Paredes made two field goals with a long of 48 yards. Calgary’s defense made 41 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, 10 tackles on special teams. The Stampeders were penalized 6 times for 60 yards.
Final Thoughts:
Congrats to Jeremiah Masoli for winning his first game in three years. After the injury he suffered it was good to see him back on the field. He looked good out there and the team responded well by playing hard for him in his first game back. Masoli got off to a slow start but as the game went along, he got better and was taking some hits. His offensive line was ok protecting him but Masoli made quick decisions to keep the drives alive.
For Calgary, it is the same old same old. Calgary had the ball with 1:24 left of the game. They should’ve closed it out but they are horrible at time management. They could not close the game and gave Ottawa plenty of time left and it cost them.
Calgary’s defense despite playing a better second half, had problems tackling and leaving guys wide open, especially on the final drive by Ottawa. If this team wants to make the playoffs, they have to play better on both sides of the ball. The West Division is competitive and teams like Winnipeg and Edmonton will catch and pass them in the standings.
Next Saturday, the Ottawa Redblacks host the B.C. Lions at 7 pm on TSN and CFL+, while the Calgary Stampeders are on a bye week.
