Recap: Ottawa 12, Hamilton 6
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Striking First: REDBLACKS grind out win over Ticats
Posted: November 1,2015 04:05PM
Updated: November 2,2015 08:56AM
CFL.ca Staff
HAMILTON – The Ottawa REDBLACKS took the first step in securing the East Division title as they beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 12-6 at Tim Hortons Field on Sunday afternoon.
The victory secured a home playoff date for the REDBLACKS.
Coming into the game, there were questions if Henry Burris would start the game for the REDBLACKS after hurting his knee last week. It was confirmed pre-game that he would indeed get the nod under centre and he finished with 187 passing yards.
It didn’t take long for Burris to prove he was feeling no ill effects of his knee, connecting with Jamill Smith and Ernest Jackson for first down gains on the opening drive. Chris Milo kicked a 35-yard field goal to give the REDBLACKS the 3-0 lead to start the game.
The Ticats looked to respond on home turf as Mathews led the offence on the field. After Luke Tasker earned a first down, Mathews had the ball knocked out of his hand on a pass attempt by Shawn Lemon and the fumble was recovered by Moton Hopkins to give the ball back to the REDBLACKS.
Burris went right back to work from there, beginning at midfield and connecting with former Ticat wideout Greg Ellingson. After two incompletions in the red zone, Milo hit his second field goal of the game and increased Ottawa’s lead to 6-0.
REDBLACKS punter Ronnie Pfeffer left the game near the end of the first quarter after being hit by Neil King on a punt attempt. Milo took over punting duties.
With 20 seconds left in the first quarter, Milo hit his third field goal of the game as the REDBLACKS lead grew to 9-0.
On the final play of the opening frame, Brandon Banks rushed for 23 yards on a misdirection to put the Ticats past midfield entering the second quarter. From there, Medlock hit a 47-yard field goal to put the Ticats on the board and cut the lead to 9-3.
A sack by Craig Butler pushed the REDBLACKS back for a 10-yard loss and forced them into a 2nd-and-20 situation. Burris was nearly picked off on the next play as Ottawa was forced to punt the ball.
A defensive pass interference call on the REDBLACKS helped the Ticats’ continue their drive downfield. Two incomplete passes by Mathews had Hamilton settle for another field goal to further cut into the Ottawa lead.
The REDBLACKS were pinned at their one-yard line after Justin Medlock’s punt was left to bounce out of bounds by Smith. A rush by William Powell took the REDBLACKS out of direct danger as the clock ran out on the first half.
Midway through the second half, Banks and the Ticats kept pressure on the REDBLACKS defence. Led by Gable and Mathews, Hamilton was able to get a fresh set of downs on a successful quarterback sneak on 3rd-and-one. Mathews was intercepted by Abdul Kanneh in the end zone as the REDBLACKS avoided losing the lead.
Simoni Lawrence was penalized for roughing the
passer near the end of the third quarter to keep the REDBLACKS drive
alive. Later in the drive, Milo bobbled the snap and the short punt was
recovered by Lawrence near midfield.
However, Mathews failed to get anything going as he was sacked by Jonathan Williams for a nine-yard loss and had his next pass attempt knocked down by John Boyett. The REDBLACKS would take over possession as the clock switched from the third to fourth quarter.
A 19-yard gain by Jackson had the REDBLACKS enter the red zone midway through the final frame. The reception put him over the 1,000 yard mark on the year and he became the third REDBLACKS receiver to reach that total this season. William Powell failed to rush for a first down and Burris threw an incomplete touchdown pass as the REDBLACKS settled for a 30-yard field goal to go up 12-6.
A pair of catches for first downs by Tasker and Terrell Sinkfield brought the Ticats into scoring territory as the Ticats looked to respond. Approaching the goal line, Mathews was intercepted by Boyett who returned the pick 41 yards to midfield.
The Ticats appeared to strike back with a Brandon Stewart pick-6 with 5:10 remaining but it was nullified by two Ticats penalties as the REDBLACKS continued to push to increase their lead. Ottawa ended up punting the ball away but back-to-back sacks by the REDBLACKS gave them possession back with 3:30 left in the game.
Milo’s 56-yard punt bounced out at the one-yard line as the Ticats faced a steep hill to tie the game with 1:22 on the clock. Jacory Harris entered the game for the Ticats to replace Mathews at quarterback following a hit by David Hinds and ran out of time in his attempts for a last-minute rally for Hamilton.
In his first game against his former team, Chris Williams recorded 42 receiving yards on six receptions.
The two teams face off again at TD Place next week with the East Division title on the line. If the Ticats win that game, the winner of the East will be determined by aggregate.
HAMILTON – The Ottawa REDBLACKS took the first step in securing the East Division title as they beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 12-6 at Tim Hortons Field on Sunday afternoon.
The victory secured a home playoff date for the REDBLACKS.
Coming into the game, there were questions if Henry Burris would start the game for the REDBLACKS after hurting his knee last week. It was confirmed pre-game that he would indeed get the nod under centre and he finished with 187 passing yards.
It didn’t take long for Burris to prove he was feeling no ill effects of his knee, connecting with Jamill Smith and Ernest Jackson for first down gains on the opening drive. Chris Milo kicked a 35-yard field goal to give the REDBLACKS the 3-0 lead to start the game.
The Ticats looked to respond on home turf as Mathews led the offence on the field. After Luke Tasker earned a first down, Mathews had the ball knocked out of his hand on a pass attempt by Shawn Lemon and the fumble was recovered by Moton Hopkins to give the ball back to the REDBLACKS.
Burris went right back to work from there, beginning at midfield and connecting with former Ticat wideout Greg Ellingson. After two incompletions in the red zone, Milo hit his second field goal of the game and increased Ottawa’s lead to 6-0.
REDBLACKS punter Ronnie Pfeffer left the game near the end of the first quarter after being hit by Neil King on a punt attempt. Milo took over punting duties.
With 20 seconds left in the first quarter, Milo hit his third field goal of the game as the REDBLACKS lead grew to 9-0.
On the final play of the opening frame, Brandon Banks rushed for 23 yards on a misdirection to put the Ticats past midfield entering the second quarter. From there, Medlock hit a 47-yard field goal to put the Ticats on the board and cut the lead to 9-3.
A sack by Craig Butler pushed the REDBLACKS back for a 10-yard loss and forced them into a 2nd-and-20 situation. Burris was nearly picked off on the next play as Ottawa was forced to punt the ball.
A defensive pass interference call on the REDBLACKS helped the Ticats’ continue their drive downfield. Two incomplete passes by Mathews had Hamilton settle for another field goal to further cut into the Ottawa lead.
The REDBLACKS were pinned at their one-yard line after Justin Medlock’s punt was left to bounce out of bounds by Smith. A rush by William Powell took the REDBLACKS out of direct danger as the clock ran out on the first half.
Midway through the second half, Banks and the Ticats kept pressure on the REDBLACKS defence. Led by Gable and Mathews, Hamilton was able to get a fresh set of downs on a successful quarterback sneak on 3rd-and-one. Mathews was intercepted by Abdul Kanneh in the end zone as the REDBLACKS avoided losing the lead.
| Pressure Under Centre |
|---|
 Jeff Mathews struggled against the REDBLACKS defence as he was sacked six times. He finished the game with 160 passing yards and a pair of interceptions. |
However, Mathews failed to get anything going as he was sacked by Jonathan Williams for a nine-yard loss and had his next pass attempt knocked down by John Boyett. The REDBLACKS would take over possession as the clock switched from the third to fourth quarter.
A 19-yard gain by Jackson had the REDBLACKS enter the red zone midway through the final frame. The reception put him over the 1,000 yard mark on the year and he became the third REDBLACKS receiver to reach that total this season. William Powell failed to rush for a first down and Burris threw an incomplete touchdown pass as the REDBLACKS settled for a 30-yard field goal to go up 12-6.
A pair of catches for first downs by Tasker and Terrell Sinkfield brought the Ticats into scoring territory as the Ticats looked to respond. Approaching the goal line, Mathews was intercepted by Boyett who returned the pick 41 yards to midfield.
The Ticats appeared to strike back with a Brandon Stewart pick-6 with 5:10 remaining but it was nullified by two Ticats penalties as the REDBLACKS continued to push to increase their lead. Ottawa ended up punting the ball away but back-to-back sacks by the REDBLACKS gave them possession back with 3:30 left in the game.
Milo’s 56-yard punt bounced out at the one-yard line as the Ticats faced a steep hill to tie the game with 1:22 on the clock. Jacory Harris entered the game for the Ticats to replace Mathews at quarterback following a hit by David Hinds and ran out of time in his attempts for a last-minute rally for Hamilton.
In his first game against his former team, Chris Williams recorded 42 receiving yards on six receptions.
The two teams face off again at TD Place next week with the East Division title on the line. If the Ticats win that game, the winner of the East will be determined by aggregate.
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