Ottawa REDBLACKS Beat the Hamilton in a Highly Entertaining Game
Sunday night, the Ottawa REDBLACKS secured a last-second win against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to remain undefeated . . . at home. It was the first time the REDBLACKS have won against an Eastern division team since the 2022 season.
Unlike the home opener, there was no warning of a tornado, and ponchos were not needed; it was a great night for football as the REDBLACKS welcomed their rivals from Hamilton.
Quarterback Dru Brown had a solid game with 265 yards of passing and one touchdown.
Hamilton scored early, but Ottawa rebounded quickly. It was an entertaining back-and-forth game performed in front of an energetic crowd. The REDBLACKS don’t provide attendance numbers anymore, but while it wasn’t a sellout, there was a decent-sized crowd, especially given that it was over a long weekend.
But, the REDBLACKS’ offense needs to get going. While the team has only played three games, other teams in the league with the same number of games have scored more points. Early in the season, what may appear as a minor concern is nonetheless on this fan’s radar.
The flip side is that this team didn’t quit, something that was not said a few seasons ago when the REDBLACKS would become lethargic by the end of the game. In the 2022 season, there were times when the team didn’t seem like they wanted to be there, and fans started to ask themselves the same thing.
Not in 2024.
On Sunday, with seconds remaining, the REDBLACKS got themselves into field position, and Lewis Ward kicked the winning field goal, sending Hamilton home with a 0-4 record.
On paper, this game may have appeared to be a mismatch, as Hamilton came into it with no wins. Their quarterback, Bo Levi Mitchell, has an extremely impressive resume. With less than two minutes left in the game, he temporarily put Hamilton into the lead with a touchdown pass to Shemar Bridges.
Some don’t find the CFL entertaining, but respectfully, I disagree. While nail-biting games like this one can be tough on the nerves, they are extremely enjoyable.
The REDBLACKS are on the road for their next two games. The team will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, July 5, and the Edmonton Elks on Sunday, July 14. They will return to TD Place on Friday, July 19, for a home game against the Elks.
Some final thoughts
– CFL, why doesn’t the league have an app?
– REDBLACKS fans at TD Place, when the team is on offence, please be quiet. This gives the offence the opportunity to hear each other and the counts. When the opponents are on offence, make as much noise as possible. This shouldn’t need to be said ten years in, but here we are.
Tickets for the July 19 game can be purchased from Ticketmaster.ca using this link: www.ticketmaster.ca/ottawa-redblacks-vs-edmonton-elks-ottawa-ontario-07-19-2024
