With 5:13 remaining in the third quarter, it looked like the Ottawa REDBLACKS were headed for a third straight defeat, Friday night at TD Place.
When BC Lions returner Seven McGee took a Richie Leone punt 93 yards to the endzone, putting the REDBLACKS down 27-10, the home side needed everything they had to claw their way back into a critical game, and the effort paid off in spades, in a dramatic 34-33 comeback win.
Still riding the momentum of an early third-quarter interception by Lucas Cormier, that set the table for a five-yard William Stanback rushing touchdown, Ottawa needed only six plays to get back in the game. Filling in for the injured Dru Brown, quarterback Dustin Crum made good on short and intermediate completions to Daniel Adeboboye, Anthony Gosselin, and Kalil Pimpleton, before breaking multiple tackles for a nine-yard rushing touchdown. Lewis Ward’s PAT was no good, but Ottawa found themselves back in the game at 27-20.
The Lions expanded upon their lead early in the fourth quarter, with star pivot Nathan Rourke setting the table nicely for a 47-yard Sean Whyte field goal.
Not to be outdone, Crum took advantage of a post-whistle foul by BC, and a 25-yard catch-and-run by Bralon Addison to put Ward in position to cash in a 39-yard field goal of his own.
Feeding off the energy of the crowd, the REDBLACKS’ defence earned a quick two-and-out on the ensuing drive. Crum and the offence wasted no time upon getting the ball back, immediately connecting with Justin Hardy for 18 yards, and watching Stanback rumble for 16 more on the ground. Another BC penalty put Ottawa back in striking distance, and Crum took it 13 yards into the end zone, powering through some big shots by Lions defenders. Stanback scored the two-point conversion on the ground, narrowing BC’s lead to 30-27.
Much to the dismay of the home crowd, Rourke put together a longer drive on his next possession, and Whyte pushed the lead back to six with a 37-yard field goal. The Lions defence did their part, sacking Crum on Ottawa’s ensuing possession and nearly putting the game out of reach.
Ottawa’s defence rallied in response, with Muftah Ageli smashing running back James Butler in the backfield, and the REDBLACKS made the Lions pay for an unnecessary roughness penalty by getting off the field on second down.
Despite an apparent roughing the passer infraction, and with Ottawa unable to challenge, a turnover on downs with their next possession appeared to spell their end, but the defence would come through yet again. Butler gained only five yards on two carries, and Whyte would miss a 46-yard field goal attempt, allowing Pimpleton to return the ball 38 yards, boosted by yet another foul on the Lions for a late hit out of bounds.
Incredibly, with just 33 seconds left on the clock, the REDBLACKS offensive line kept Crum clean in the pocket, and the 26-year-old unloaded on a 52-yard throw that was caught by Pimpleton between two defenders. On the next play, Crum hit Geno Lewis in the endzone as the crowd shook TD Place, and Ward’s PAT gave Ottawa a 34-33 lead.
Needing a miracle after a Lorenzo Mauldin knockdown, Rourke heaved a long ball over the middle that was intercepted by Mark Milton in his REDBLACKS debut, securing a stunning come-from-behind win.
Crum ended the night with a career-high 301 passing yards, three total touchdowns, and leading the team in rushing yards (69). Pimpleton was Ottawa’s leading receiver with 95 yards on seven catches. Defensively, Milton was Ottawa’s leading tackler (five), and posted a forced fumble along with the interception. Ageli was credited with their lone sack.
For the Lions’ part, Rourke’s final stat line was 22 for 32 for 284 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. The Lions built a 13-3 first-half lead thanks to a first-quarter field goal by Whyte, and a Butler rushing touchdown. Rourke hit Justin McInnis for the 51-yard touchdown not long after the Cormier interception, in the early third quarter.
These two teams will do it again next week, in a 10:00pm ET kickoff at BC Place on Friday, September 12.