Redblacks lose a high-scoring affair against Alouettes after late comeback falls short

By: Adamo Marinelli

July 24, 2022

In a game that had a little bit of everything, especially in the final 10 minutes, the Ottawa Redblacks suffered another heartbreaking loss in a high-scoring affair, by a score of 40-33 to the Montreal Alouettes after a controversial overturning of two penalties essentially ended the Redblacks’ comeback on their final drive of the game.

The Redblacks are now the only winless team left in the CFL with a record of 0-6 and find themselves at the bottom of the East Division and the league standings. Despite moderately high expectations before the season, the Redblacks have lost 6 consecutive games, 32 of their last 36 games, and 17 of their last 19 home games. Paul LaPolice is 3-17 as the Redblacks’ head coach and 19-47 as a head coach in his career. 

Paul LaPolice has been too conservative offensively with his playcalling, settling for three field goals inside the Alouettes’ 30-yard line on numerous occasions (a 15-yarder and a 10-yarder in the second quarter, and a 37-yarder in the third quarter) after preaching to finish drives with touchdowns and not field goals earlier in the year. On 3rd and short situations, LaPolice has to trust his offense more. Considering the Redblacks are tied for the third most offensive yards per play in the CFL with 5.1, they should not be afraid to go for it on a third and one or a third and two, especially with William Powell, a physical, downhill runner in the backfield who can break tackles and get tough yards. 

Lewis Ward also missed a 40-yard field goal later in the first quarter. If the Redblacks scored a touchdown on any of the drives that ended in a field goal, it would’ve changed the entire game. 

While the referees did not get every call right and had every fan at TD Place stadium shouting “Refs, you suck” as loud as you could possibly imagine, they were not the only reason why the Redblacks lost. Ottawa made several mistakes, missed some assignments in coverage, was too conservative offensively and settled for multiple field goals instead of touchdowns, had two costly drops, and had a costly turnover early in the fourth quarter which proved to be the game-winning score.

“We lost, we didn’t play well enough to win,” Redblacks Head Coach PauI LaPolice said in his post-game press conference. “We have to make sure we do better defensively. Offensively, we had two drops in the end zone. And we missed a field goal. You just can’t make those mistakes and [expect to] win football games.”

Two former Redblacks, QB Trevor Harris and QB Dominique Davis both had monster games. Harris completed 25/31 passes, for 341 yards and two TDs. Davis rushed for three TDs too. 

The refs weren’t fully to blame, but they did make a handful of mistakes down the stretch.

With around 5:30 left in the third quarter, after a Redblacks two and out, a booming 75-yard punt from Redblacks’ punter Richie Leone was recovered by Chandler Worthy in the field of play and after failing to avoid a tackle from Redblacks’ defensive back Antoine Pruneau, Worthy was tackled in his own endzone for what should have been a safety. To the utter dismay of 20,000+ Redblacks fans at TD Place, the referees gave Montreal the ball at the one-yard line. The call was ultimately corrected by the command center and the safety cut the Alouettes’ lead to 25-19 with 5:20 left in the third quarter and gave the Redblacks the ball back. However, it took way too long for the referees to call the safety, which was clear and obvious. 

The Redblacks capitalized on the safety, driving down the field methodically and efficiently with a few huge runs from William Powell and a 32-yard reception from Darvin Adams. Caleb Evans punched it in from two yards out on a QB draw and the Redblacks regained their lead 26-25 with 1:30 left in the third quarter.

On the Alouettes’ next offensive possession, the Redblacks’ defense forced a fumble in the red zone to prevent the Alouettes from scoring and Ottawa maintained their lead. But the Redblacks couldn’t do anything off the turnover and were forced to punt. The Alouettes drove down the field and Davis punched in his third rush TD of the night to expand their lead to 33-26.

On their very next drive, the Redblacks drove all the way down the field to near the Alouettes’ 30-yard line. What appeared to be an incomplete pass to Nate Behar was called a catch and fumble, and Micah Awe returned it all the way down to the Redblacks’ three-yard line. While Behar did have slight control of the football, he did not have a chance to tuck the ball, take a step, or make a football move, which makes the fumble call confusing. Trevor Harris found Eugene Lewis for a three-yard TD and the Alouettes took a 40-26 lead with four minutes left.

On the Redblacks’ final drive of the game, which started at their own 10-yard line with just under two minutes left to play, the Alouettes looked to have committed two major infractions but got charged with neither. First, the Alouettes were flagged with a high hit against William Powell on a screen pass which would’ve put the Redblacks inside the ten-yard line with a chance to tie the game. Despite the Alouettes not having a challenge, the play was delayed for multiple minutes, in essence giving the Alouettes a free challenge, and the play - which looked like a clear high tackle - was overturned. 

On the next play, from the Alouettes’ 19-yard line, Evans rolled right to buy time and delivered a perfect pass to Darvin Adams, who finished the game with nine catches for 118 yards and was wide open in the endzone but couldn’t hang on to the game-tying touchdown pass with 36 seconds left. It doesn’t matter what the referee calls, Adams has to make that catch. 

After the incompletion, the Redblacks were facing a 2nd and 15 at the Alouettes’ 19. Caleb 

Evans appeared to have been horsecollar tackled and the referees initially agreed and threw a flag. Despite the Alouettes not having a challenge, the game was delayed again for multiple minutes, which left fans confused. Even though the CFL command center is within its right to automatically review a pass interference penalty called or non-called, it’s shocking the referees would even review and eventually overturn a play that looked like a clear penalty. The play was recorded as a sack and the Redblacks were unable to convert on their 3rd and 20 from the Alouettes’ 24-yard line and the game ended 40-33 in favour of the Alouettes. 

Overall, their offense played really well tonight, aside from a making few mistakes throughout. Their defense, which has been very good and quite consistent all season long, made several mistakes that contributed to the loss to the Alouettes. 

“We had a couple of explosive plays, but we had missed tackles and missed opportunities when we were in a position to make plays,” Pruneau said in a post-game press conference. “We missed out today. It’s on all of us as a group.”

The Redblacks have a lot of work to do if they want to keep their very slim playoff chances alive, but of their six losses, you can make a case that they could’ve won every game except against Saskatchewan.

“As I told the players: We win or lose games, it’s not officiating. We have to find a way to win and not worry about the officiating; that’s the least of our worries,” LaPolice said. To LaPolice’s point, if Behar doesn’t fumble that ball, if Adams makes that catch, or Ward doesn’t miss that field goal, the Redblacks would likely win the game.

On the bright side, the Redblacks’ offense clicked tonight and it’s a sign of good things to come. William Powell recorded 79 yards on the ground on 17 carries, Jaelon Acklin and Darvin Adams both recorded over 100 receiving yards and Terry Williams had another monster game with 150 kick return yards on six returns. Caleb Evans looked great for the Redblacks for the most part, completing 25/40 passes for 297 yards, one passing TD, and one rushing TD. 

The Redblacks started the game well on both sides of the ball. On the opening kickoff, Alouettes’ return man Chandler Worthy coughed up the ball after Redblacks’ linebacker Shaheed Salmon punched it out with a hard tackle. Leone pushed it out of bounds and the Redblacks took over at the Alouettes’ 49-yard line. That was the perfect start on defense for the Redblacks, who got a turnover before the Alouettes’ offense even stepped on the field.

After a huge sack from Patrick Levels to force a long second down which the Alouettes couldn’t convert, the Redblacks got the ball back and moved down the field quickly with the help of a beautiful 42-yard lob pass from Evans to Jaelon Acklin to set the Redblacks up inside the Alouettes’ 20. Two plays later, the Redblacks executed a screen pass to perfection; Darvin Adams caught a pass from Evans and took it into the endzone from 15 yards out thanks to excellent blocking downfield from his offensive line and the other receivers. Lewis Ward hit the PAT and the Redblacks took a 7-0 lead with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter.

After the Redblacks’ defense forced a two and out, they were set up nicely right at midfield on their next drive with a 22-yard punt return from Terry Williams. Evans made a nice play to get a first down with his legs after he rolled to his left and evaded multiple tacklers before scampering ten yards and then out of bounds past the sticks. After being unable to get a first down, LaPolice sent out Lewis Ward who missed a 40-yard attempt, but the single gave them an 8-0 lead. 

Another sack by Ottawa’s Lorenzo Mauldin forced the Alouettes to punt it away. After a 23-yard return by Williams, the Redblacks meticulously moved the ball downfield with a few nice runs from Powell and a few nice catches from Acklin, Behar, and Adams. Despite making it inside the 10-yard line, the Redblacks settled for a 15-yard field goal which Ward hit. This is one of the instances when LaPolice’s conservative playcalling hurt them, they should’ve gone for the touchdown. If they had converted the TD for a 15-0 lead, the game’s result would’ve changed.

On the Alouettes’ next drive, the Redblacks’ secondary collapsed after a huge miscommunication in coverage. On a 2nd and 10 from their own 40, Alouettes’ receiver Hergy Mayala got past everybody. Trevor Harris saw he was wide open and delivered a perfect ball to Mayala in stride for a 69-yard gain to the Redblacks’ one-yard line. Short yardage QB Dominique Davis easily found his way into the endzone and Harris connected with Eugene Lewis for the two-point convert, the Redblacks’ lead was cut to 11-8. It’s hard for any defense to play a perfect game, but the Redblacks can’t keep making mistakes like that if they expect to win football games. A stop by the Redblacks on that play would lead to an Alouettes punt and Ottawa would get the ball back up 11-0. 

After an Alouettes’ sack to force a punt, they would get another explosive play on second down from running back Jeshrun Antwi who broke a few tackles and used his speed for a 55-yard gain to get to the Ottawa 15-yard line. A few plays later, Harris would roll right and find Hergy Mayala for a four-yard TD to give the Alouettes a 15-11 lead. The Redblacks are normally excellent at getting stops on second down, but against the Alouettes, they struggled mightily. 

After conceding a field goal, on a second and one backup QB Nick Arbuckle saw the loaded defensive front by the Alouettes. After faking the handoff to Powell, Arbuckle completed his first pass as a Redblack in style by finding a wide-open Jaelon Acklin downfield for a huge 47-yard gain to inside the Alouettes’ 15-yard line. After two short gains, on third and two from the seven, instead of going for a TD to tie the game before half, LaPolice’s conservativeness was apparent again as he sent out Ward who drilled the short field goal. The Alouettes led 18-14 at halftime.

The Redblacks started the second half well and moved the ball down the field meticulously using a mix of the run and pass, including a few nice runs from Powell and Evans for first downs. However, they cannot advance the ball any further than the Alouettes' 30-yard line and settle for a 37-yard field goal to cut the Alouettes’ lead to 18-17.

The Alouettes responded to Ward’s field goal with a long drive of their own. They advanced the ball downfield using their run game to open up their receivers. The Alouettes made it inside the red zone and it looked like the Redblacks had forced a fumble and recovered it to prevent the Alouettes from extending their lead. However, it was later overturned to an incomplete pass, which didn’t seem like the right call considering it was close and there didn’t appear to be enough evidence to overturn the ruling on the field. The Alouettes punched it in from two yards out - something Ottawa has struggled with this season - with Davis’ second rush TD of the game to take a 25-17 lead with 6:42 left in the third quarter. 

After two Alouettes TDs to take a 40-26 lead, the Redblacks responded nicely, with an efficient drive that utilized several long completions to Adams, Acklin, and Shaq Johnson to get down the field quickly. A 27-yard pitch and catch by Acklin, who broke a few tackles to get some nice yards after the catch led to a one-yard TD on a QB draw by Caleb Evans. Ward hit the PAT to make it 40-33. 

The Redblacks’ defense needed a quick stop after the TD. They did just that with a quick two and out to force the Alouettes to punt. The Redblacks had to drive 90 yards in two minutes for the game-tying score and they moved the ball effectively downfield. However, the two penalties that were called back left the Redblacks with a 3rd and long, which they couldn’t convert, ultimately ending the game.

Overall, the offense looked great apart from a few mistakes. The defense created a few big plays and turnovers but surrendered just as many big plays in return. The refs weren’t great, however, the Redblacks’ own mistakes hurt them just as much as the refs. The Redblacks’ conservative playcalling, dropped passes, Behar’s fumble, and mistakes in coverage all contributed to their loss.

The Redblacks have an extended 10-day break before traveling to Toronto to play the Argonauts. In the meantime, they have a lot of decisions to make regarding who the head coach and the starting QB will be. I wouldn’t be surprised to see LaPolice fired, but he honestly wasn’t too bad tonight. apart from some conservative play calling, which cost the Redblacks. He did dial up a few nice plays on offense and defense and won a few critical challenges that kept the Redblacks in the game. He’s been decent all year, helping his team stay competitive in five of six of their losses, which have been by seven points or fewer. Three losses have been by three points or fewer. 

Regarding QB play, Evans looked good overall but is inconsistent at times. Sometimes, he’ll look like a veteran making great plays, and other times, he’ll make rookie mistakes. If they want to compete for a playoff spot, they should start the experienced veteran Arbuckle, but if they want to develop their youth, they’ll start Evans to see what they have in him as a backup behind Masoli next year. 

Insigne and Bernadeschi shine in their debut, TFC dominates in 4-0 win

 By: Adamo Marinelli

July 23, 2022

Toronto FC has struggled mightily on offense and defense all season long, sitting second last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 5-4-12 (19 points). They couldn’t generate plenty of goals, they frequently conceded in the first and last 15 minutes of matches and sloppy defensive play in their own half would lead to turnovers and counterattacks for their opponents. 

In every game they played, it seemed like they would find a new way to lose. They would fix one issue from a previous game but in doing so, a new issue would arise. 

TFC lost their last two games without scoring a goal, a 2-0 loss to Chicago and a 1-0 loss to Montreal. Their inability to score goals puts even more pressure on a young defense that still has a lot of work to do to be considered one of the best units in the league.

Ahead of their home matchup with expansion side Charlotte FC, head coach Bob Bradley announced that Italian international forwards Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi would make their TFC debut. It turns out that the debut of the two designated players, Insigne and Bernardeschi was exactly the spark this young TFC offense needed to get going. 

Bernardeschi scored a goal and assisted on another, Lorenzo Insigne recorded an assist, and captain Michael Bradley scored two goals to help TFC cruise to a 4-0 victory over Charlotte FC for their first clean sheet in league play this season and their first clean sheet since a goalless draw against Colorado on September 25, 2021, which means they conceded a goal in 29 straight league matches. 

TFC scored four goals in the first half for the first time in franchise history and they wasted no time before getting on the board.

In the fourth minute, TFC made their way into Charlotte’s box after an attack from Mark Anthony Kaye up the left. He passed it to Jesus Jimenez, who crossed it into the box. It deflected off Jonathan Osorio before a Charlotte defender attempted to clear the ball out of harm’s way, however, it took a fortuitous bounce off Osorio - who was chasing the ball toward the box - before finding its way into the bottom corner of the net.

Osorio’s goal was his sixth of the campaign and his 55th for TFC in all competitions. It also ended a 199-minute scoring drought for TFC, who had failed to score in seven of its previous 12 matches.

Less than six minutes later, TFC would add to their lead. After an extended attack that led to a corner kick, Bernardeschi crossed the ball beautifully to the top right corner of the six-yard box, right onto the head of Bradley who bravely challenged the ball before potting home the goal in 

the top-left corner of the net to put TFC up 2-0 less than 10 minutes into the game. 

TFC continued their dominance against a Charlotte side, who beat English Premier League 

side, Chelsea, in a penalty shootout in their last game. That says a lot about the talent of TFC

and how much the two designated players helped TFC improve their offense. 

TFC dominated the possession battle, out-chanced and outshot Charlotte, and consistently found themselves in the attacking zone. They were solid on defense, preventing Charlotte from getting many high-quality scoring chances and shots on target and they created turnovers which led to several counterattacks of their own. Goalkeeper Alex Bono made key saves when he had to, in order to keep the clean sheet.

In the 31st minute, Bernardeschi found the net in his debut and made it 3-0 for TFC with a phenomenal strike from outside the box. Great ball movement from TFC and a beautiful touch pass from Kaye created the scoring chance and the goal. Bernardeschi’s first goal was a very nice one, an elegant and powerful left-footed strike from 25 yards out that slid into the bottom corner of the net.

According to Opta, the 28-year-old Bernardeschi is the first player to record a goal and an assist before halftime of his first MLS appearance since Fredy Montero for Seattle in 2009.

TFC was not done there. Osorio forced a turnover on Charlotte’s side of the field and passed it to Insigne, who set up Bradley with a beautiful, behind-the-back, no-look flick pass. After receiving the pass, Bradley used his ball-control skills to split past two Charlotte defenders before tapping it over Charlotte’s goalkeeper to make it 4-0 for TFC two minutes into first-half stoppage time. It was the first time Charlotte conceded four goals in a league match.

TFC dominated every stat category, on the scoreboard, and on both sides of the ball with Insigne and Bernardeschi on the pitch in the first half. However, Charlotte FC began to string some passes and scoring chances together when the two Italians were subbed off at the start of the second half.

However, all momentum Charlotte created at the start of the second half was evaporated in the 65th minute after captain Christian Fuchs was shown a straight red card for cynically dragging down Jayden Nelson, who had outpaced Fuchs and only had the goalkeeper to beat. 

Charlotte was irate that TFC defender Doneil Henry had not been disciplined after he tackled Kamil Jozwiak in the TFC penalty area. In the ensuing chaos, Charlotte’s bench was shown two separate yellow cards. TFC also finished the game with 10 men after Nelson was taken off but was unable to be replaced with Bradley out of substitutions. 

Even though Insigne and Bernardeschi are still finding their fitness after being transferred from Serie A, they were both fantastic tonight and showed a touch of brilliance with each possession. It was a smart move by Bradley to sub the two Italians off at halftime, especially with the win already secured for TFC and to preserve their fitness for a huge game on July 26 against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Canadian Championship Final. 

The game finished with Charlotte narrowly winning the possession battle 51-49 percent. TFC dominated possession in the first half, but as a result of playing back and defending their clean sheet in the second half, Charlotte was able to make the possession battle look more respectable. TFC outshot Charlotte 15-11, but Charlotte recorded five shots on target to TFC’s four. TFC scored on each of their four shots on goal and recorded an assist on three of their four goals. It was utter dominance from TFC tonight for 90 minutes.

TFC entered the evening seven points behind Charlotte and nine points out of a playoff berth. With a huge win and three points tonight, their biggest win in a few seasons, they are now only four points behind eighth-place Charlotte and six points behind Cincinnati FC who hold the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Before Insigne and Bernardeschi arrived, the playoffs looked like a lost cause. However, if TFC is able to maintain this excellent form, with their two Italian superstars playing at an elite level, they would be considered a heavy favourite to make the postseason for the first time since 2020. A new, exciting beginning has started in Toronto.

Redblacks fall one yard short vs Tiger-Cats, remain winless in 2022

By: Adamo Marinelli

July 18, 2022 

A must-win game for two talented East Division teams who have yet to taste victory this season was exciting from start to finish and delivered multiple explosive plays, several lead changes, a handful of turnovers, a game-winning drive, and even came down to a last-second field goal. 

Unfortunately, a 54-yard game-winning field goal from Lewis Ward fell less than one yard short and the Tiger-Cats got their first win after a near-flawless game-winning drive to come back from a five-point deficit with just over one minute remaining. 

The Redblacks fall to 0-5 despite a solid performance from QB Caleb Evans, who got his first start of the year after the injury to Jeremiah Masoli, and a great performance from their defense, which caused multiple turnovers despite being without four key starters Frankie Griffin, Monshadrik Hunter, Patrick Levels, and Abdul Kanneh who have all made huge impacts for a young Redblacks’ team this season.

The Redblacks needed to get the ground game going to help Caleb Evans get going. Several physical runs from William Powell, that involved several jukes and broken tackles, allowed the Redblacks’ passing game to get going. A beautiful 23-yard catch from wide receiver Jaelon Acklin and a 26-yard QB draw from Evans after excellent lead blocking by running back William Powell set up a nine-yard TD pass from Evans to former TiCat Acklin on their first possession of the game to take a 7-0 lead. The Redblacks moved the ball quickly and efficiently, they traveled 66 yards on 6 plays in 3:06 to take an early lead. 

After the Redblacks stuffed the Tiger Cats’ run game on first down, they gave up a huge 61-yard completion play to inside their own 20, but after making the catch, Anthony Johnson coughed up the ball after a big hit and the Redblacks got the ball back at their own 14-yard line after Randall Evans recovered the fumble. 

The Redblacks couldn’t do anything on offense after the takeaway and were forced to punt. After a booming punt from Richie Leone, arguably the best punter in the CFL, the Redblacks forced another fumble on the ensuing punt return and Ottawa started their next offensive possession in Hamilton territory at the Tiger Cats' 34.

Two turnovers on consecutive defensive drives is impressive for a young, shorthanded defense. A sack by the Tiger-Cats pushed the Redblacks back to the Hamilton 42. Lewis Ward missed a 49-yard field goal attempt and the Tiger-Cats avoided giving up any points off of their turnover. 

Despite the missed field goal, the Redblacks’ defense remained stout and Avery Williams recorded a huge sack to force another Tiger Cats’ punt after the Redblacks’ defensive line generated immense pressure on Dane Evans.

A few drives later, on the very first play, the pressure generated by the Tiger Cats’ defensive line was enough to cause a turnover of their own. Dylan Wynn tipped up a ball thrown by Evans at the line of scrimmage and it fell right into the arms of his teammate Kameron Kelly for an interception, which led to the Tiger Cats’ only point of the first quarter. 

After giving up a punt single, following another stop on defense, the Redblacks responded on the next drive with a few big shot plays. On the first play of the drive, Evans connected on a 50-yard pass to Acklin. However, the Redblacks' drive would end there as the Tiger Cats’ defense held and prevented the Redblacks from scoring any points in the red zone. The Redblacks settled for a 20-yard field goal from Lewis Ward, which he hit, and they lead 10-1.

The Tiger Cats’ offense, which is normally excellent in the first half, but struggles to close out games in the second half, particularly the fourth quarter, registered two only first downs the entire first quarter, both came with less than 15 seconds left.

After a difficult opening first quarter from the Tiger-Cats - who are normally a very good first quarter team, with a +24 point differential in the opening frame this season - where they had as many turnovers (two) as first downs, recorded only one point on a punt single and gave up two sacks, they started moving the ball very well in on their first drive of the second quarter. 

The Tiger Cats’ offense was propelled by their rushing attack, getting production on the ground from running back Don Jackson and both their quarterbacks: Dane Evans and Matthew Schiltz. They moved the ball efficiently and the threat of the ground game opened up the intermediate passing game. After kicking a field goal to cut the Redblacks’ lead to 10-4, the Tiger-Cats would move the ball all the way down to the Ottawa three-yard line but would fail to get into the endzone on three consecutive tries thanks to brilliant coverage by the Redblacks' secondary and the Tiger-Cats turned the ball over for the third time.

On the Redblacks’ next offensive drive, Caleb Evans made a great play to escape immense pressure from the Tiger Cats’ defense, and scramble out of his own end zone for a first down.  However, on the next play, he threw a deep ball downfield that sailed over the receiver’s head and got intercepted by defensive back Alden Darby Jr.

The Tiger Cats’ offense capitalized on the momentum created by their defense and continued moving the ball meticulously and efficiently downfield. The big play of the drive was a 39-yard pass from Evans to fullback Jake Burt who found a hole in the Redblacks’ defense and utilized his speed and ability to break tackles to move downfield. Schiltz capped off the drive with a two-yard rush TD on a QB draw and gave the Tiger-Cats an 11-10 lead, their first lead of the game.

The Redblacks’ miserable second quarter got worse after another two and out. The Tiger-Cats, who only scored one point in the first quarter, would complete the second quarter - where they outscored their opponent 17-0 - with a beautiful 25-yard TD pass from Dane Evans to receiver Anthony Johnson, who had two catches for 66 yards. That touchdown gave the Tiger-Cats an 18-10 lead at halftime and was made possible by a phenomenal one-handed catch on the sideline, a definite catch of the year candidate, by receiver Steven Dunbar for 36 yards to get to the Redblacks’ 29-yard line. 

The first half was truly a tale of two quarters. The Redblacks were the better team on both sides of the ball in the first quarter, and the Tiger-Cats were by far the better team on offense and defense in the second quarter. 

Despite a poor end to the first half, the Redblacks are a resilient, young squad and did not give up. The Redblacks started the second half with great field position after another huge return from Terry Williams who has been phenomenal on kick returns all season and finished the game with five kick returns for 159 yards. His return and an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Tiger-Cats set the Redblacks up on their opponents' 45-yard line.

The Redblacks relied heavily on their run game to open the second half, which got the quick passing game clicking and opened up the field for Evans to throw. But two massive runs on second down from Evans and William Powell, each going for a first down to keep the drive alive, were the catalyst of the drive. Similar to how they started the first half, they scored on their opening drive in the second half after Evans found the endzone on a QB draw. Lewis Ward hit the PAT and the Redblacks’ cut the Tiger Cats’ lead to only one point. 

After the touchdown, down 18-17 early in the third quarter, the Redblacks’ defense fed off the momentum their offense created and got a huge stop on defense to force a punt. The Redblacks’ defensive line, despite being shorthanded, created immense pressure against the Tiger Cats’ offensive line all night and on that drive, forced a holding penalty they couldn’t recover from.

Both defenses really heated up in the third quarter. They generated a ton of pressure by showing a lot of unique looks and disguised their coverages, making it difficult for both young QBs to progress through their reads, get completions and find their rhythm. 

After the third quarter, the Tiger-Cats led 18-17 despite outgaining the Redblacks 306-146 through the air. The pressure created by the Redblacks’ defensive line, their three takeaways compared to the Tiger Cats’ two and their dynamic run game kept the game close. 

After another sack by Redblack’s defensive lineman Davon Coleman to force a Tiger Cats’ punt, Evans showed his poise and calmness in the pocket by completing two nice passes to RJ Harris and Jaelon Acklin to advance to near midfield, but like they’ve done so often this season after big plays, two quick incompletions from Evans forced another punt. 

On the ensuing defensive drive, Davon Coleman created the Redblacks’ fourth takeaway, strip-sacking Dane Evans before Lorenzo Mauldin Jr. picked up the loose ball at the Tiger Cats’ two-yard line. The Redblacks’ punched it in with Caleb Evans’ second rush TD of the evening and they re-took the lead 23-18 after their two-point try was unsuccessful, something that would come back to haunt them later on. 

After trailing 18-10 at the half, the Redblacks went on a 13-0 run in the third quarter and during the first half of the fourth quarter to take a 23-18 lead. The Tiger-Cats had been outscored 99-25 in the second half and overtime coming into this game. It looked like the trend would continue, with Ottawa’s defense playing perfectly until midway through the final frame, until the Tiger-Cats ripped off a huge play.

With only a few minutes left, Tiger Cats’ defensive back Lawrence Woods returned a punt from Leone 88 yards after breaking several tackles and he set up his offense inside the Redblacks’ 10-yard line. He would’ve arguably taken it all the way if it hadn’t been for fullback/tight end Marco Dubois, who used his speed to make a phenomenal chase-down tackle to prevent the TD. 

Even with the touchdown-saving tackle, the Tiger-Cats were in a prime position to score and take the lead. Redblacks’ defensive back Hakeem Bailey had other ideas and made a stellar play on the ball to jump the route and pick off backup and short-yardage QB Matthew Schiltz to give the Redblacks’ the lead with two minutes left. Unfortunately, the Redblacks’ offense couldn’t seal the game with a first down and they would need to rely on their defense one final time for their first win in 2022. 

The Tiger Cats’ started their potential game-winning drive on the Redblacks’ 49-yard line after Leone punted from his own endzone. Dane Evans showed his talent, accuracy, and athleticism on the final drive, and was extremely calm in the pocket against the pressure. A 23-yard run from runningback Bralon Addison got the Tiger-Cats to the 26-yard line. A nice catch from receiver Tim White set the Tiger-Cats up inside the Redblacks’ seven-yard line. The Tiger Cats' would have a first and goal from inside the Redblacks' 10-yard line with a chance to win their first game of the year.

After a four-yard gain from Jackson on first down and an incompletion on second down, a third and goal would decide the game. Evans calmly moved around in the pocket to avoid pressure and his offensive line blocked long enough for Tim White to get open in the endzone. Evans fir the ball in a tight window, right to White to give the Tiger-Cats a 25-23 lead. It looked like there was a holding against the Tiger Cats’ offensive line on the play, but nothing was called. 

It looked glim, but the Redblacks weren’t done yet after Williams returned the ball to his own 50 with 15 seconds left. The Redblacks strung together a few quick plays to advance to the Tiger Cats’ 47-yard line, where Ward would attempt a 54-yard field goal with no time left - his longest attempt of the year - to try and complete the comeback. Ward’s kick fell short by less than a yard and that was the difference between a win and a loss.

The Redblacks fall to 0-5 and all of a sudden, playoff hopes are getting slimmer despite a weakened East Division. They will host the Alouettes on Thursday in what is essentially a must-win contest. The Tiger-Cats were surely content to get their first win under their belt and will travel to BC to play a red-hot Lions team in hopes of getting another win and keeping their playoff dreams alive. 

It was a disappointing result for sure, the Redblacks have all the pieces, they are simply struggling to put them all together in a game, which is what they need to do to win. How much longer will head coach Paul LaPolice keep his job before fans start calling for his head is another topic that may begin floating around Ottawa media very soon. It's not all his fault, but every great coach needs to find a way to win, no matter the circumstances.

Veteran forward Claude Giroux signs with the Senators

By: Adamo Marinelli

July 13, 2022

The Ottawa Senators made a huge splash just minutes after the official opening of free agency, by signing veteran forward Claude Giroux, one of the biggest names in this year’s free agent class, to a three-year, $19.5 million deal, with an average annual value of $6.5 million. 

Giroux, 34, was born in Hearst, Ontario, and has strong ties to the Ottawa region, spending his offseasons in Ottawa. He went to Beatrice-Desloges high school in Orleans and played Junior A hockey for the Cumberland Grads and Major Junior hockey for the Gatineau Olympiques from 2004-2008.

As a first-round draft pick in 2006 by the Philadelphia Flyers, he has been a top target for the Senators since the start of the offseason after he recorded 21 goals and 44 assists in 75 games in the 2021-22 season for both the Flyers and the Florida Panthers. 

He now joins a young club, with a lot of depth and talent, emerging from an extensive rebuild and looking poised to end what has been a five-year playoff drought. The Senators have been one of the busiest teams in the offseason thus far, trading for Alex DeBrincat from the Chicago Blackhawks, acquiring veteran goaltender Cam Talbot in a trade with the Minnesota Wild, and sending Matt Murray to the Toronto Maple Leafs to clear up cap space. Unfortunately, forward Colin White was placed on waivers to also clear up cap space to afford DeBrincat and Giroux. 

Clearly, Giroux liked the moves the Senators have made so far this offseason and he believes they’re in the position to not only contend for a playoff spot but also contend for the Stanley Cup.

“I wouldn’t sign here if I didn’t think we had a chance to win the Cup,” Giroux said in an interview with TSN’s James Duthie shortly after the news broke. “For me coming here, I’m just excited to play with young talent that likes to compete. I’m not saying we’re going to win the Cup this year, but the plan is to build on it and have baby steps to that.”

“When the idea was to come back home and play for the [Senators], I didn’t look back after that,” Giroux said to TSN. “It’s a young group that’s very exciting. A lot of talent, guys that like to work hard and compete. I like the character of the team and I think I’m going to fit right in with them.”

Giroux spent the first 15 seasons of his career in Philadelphia, where he experienced immense success and also served as the captain for 10 seasons. Giroux played exactly 1,000 career games for the Flyers where he recorded 900 points (291 goals and 609 assists). He led the Flyers in scoring on eight separate occasions. Shortly after his 1,000th game, he was traded to the Panthers at the trade deadline and his incredibly efficient offensive production continued with his new team as he registered 23 points (three goals and 20 assists) in 18 regular season games. He has also amassed 81 playoff points in 95 playoff games, including eight points in 10 contests this postseason with the Panthers. 

Giroux is an extremely talented playmaker, with a high hockey IQ. He knows where all his teammates are on the ice, and has the ability to make a pass to anyone from anywhere on the ice. He is a great skater, has fantastic stickhandling, and his short and long-range passing is tremendously accurate, powerful, and elite. He has an accurate and hard wrist shot, with a quick release that can fool opposing goalies. He is extremely helpful on special teams and carries his own weight defensively with his speed and physicality. He is versatile and despite being listed as a left-wing by Hockey Reference, he has extensive experience playing in the center position and is reliable in the faceoff circle, something the Senators need more of.

This is another fantastic move by Senators’ General Manager Pierre Dorion, who has had arguably the best offseason of his career, and free agency is only just getting started. Giroux is one of the best two-way players on the free agent market, is a leader and a mentor for younger players, and getting him for only $6.5 million per year is a steal. This signing definitely gets an A grade, at the very least. 

“We're thrilled to add a player of Claude's caliber to our lineup,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a news release. “He's an elite offensive talent with exceptional face-off prowess and a player who maintains a strong work ethic. His leadership skills are arguably among his best assets. We're very happy to welcome Claude and his family home to Ottawa.”

Giroux provides a huge boost on the offensive side of the puck with his playmaking ability, his leadership, his dominance in the faceoff circle, and his leadership skills. He will be a mentor to a young core of players who want to win. He also provides a spark on defense with his speed, physicality, and his ability to create turnovers in the neutral zone and turn them into counterattacks. He will provide a boost to a powerplay and penalty kill unit, which both finished in the bottom half of the league last season. 

Giroux will likely line up on the left side of the first line, with Stutzle playing at center and DeBrincat - a two-time 40-goal scorer at only 24 years old - on the right wing. Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, and Drake Batherson will form the second line. That is a deadly top-six forward core if it can stay healthy all season long. With guys like Alex Formenton, Mathieu Joseph, Connor Brown, and Shane Pinto, their bottom six forwards will be very good too.

In addition, after moving on from Matt Murray and Filip Gustavsson, who they sent to the Wild for Cam Talbot, their goaltending duo will consist of Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg. Talbot has a ton of experience in the regular season and postseason. He led the Wild to the playoffs for the two seasons he played with them while posting a save percentage of .910% or better and a goals-against-average of 2.76 or better in each of his two seasons in Minnesota. He has a career save percentage of .915% and a career goals-against-average of 2.63, both tremendous numbers. Anton Forsberg has been developing nicely and had a breakout season this year, with a 22-17-4 record, posting a .917 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average. Mads Sogard has been developing nicely in the minors for the future.

The Senators are definitely trying to compete for a playoff spot now with all the signings they’ve made this offseason, most notably DeBrincat, Talbot, and now Giroux. If the Senators bring in another top-tier defenseman to help out the talented defensive players they already have like Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub, Travis Hamonic, and Erik Brannstrom, they will truly be able to compete for a playoff spot and potentially a Stanley Cup in the near future.

I am genuinely excited about what Dorion will do the rest of this offseason and for the start of next season. I believe the Senators will finish top four in the Atlantic and will get into the playoffs for the first time since they were one goal away from the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.

Alex DeBrincat traded to Ottawa for three draft picks

Adamo Marinelli

July 7, 2022 

The Ottawa Senators shook things up on NHL draft night by adding right-winger Alex DeBrincat, an elite, young sniper from the Chicago Blackhawks for the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft - which was used to draft Kevin Korchinski, a Canadian defenseman from the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, - a 2022 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick. 

DeBrincat is a high-scoring winger and led his team with 41 goals in 82 games. He also recorded 37 assists and finished second on the team in total scoring, with 78 points in 82 games. He was named to the 2022 Central Division all-star game, the first of his career.

DeBrincat is one of the league’s best pure snipers, registering two seasons with at least 40 goals and he is only 24 years old. That is on the talent level of guys like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

He has a high hockey IQ and creates a lot of offense with his accurate wrist shot, powerful slapshot, skating, stickhandling, and playmaking ability.   

In his five-year NHL career with the Blackhawks, spanning 368 games, DeBrincat has recorded 160 goals, 147 assists, and 307 points. 

He has also experienced plenty of success internationally with the United States, where he won bronze medals at the 2016 World Juniors and 2018 World Hockey Championship.

He carries a $6.4 million cap hit this season before he hits restricted free agency in the summer of 2023, but it is still a tremendous signing for the Senators, who need a boost of scoring and creativity on their offense which ranked 23rd in the league with only 224 goals scored last season. He isn’t a veteran, but his extensive experience in the league will also help mentor the Senators’ young core.

“Alex’s acquisition brings immediate and additional firepower to our forward group,” Senators’ general manager Pierre Dorion said in a press conference. “He’s a dynamic forward who’s a scoring threat to the opponent when in the attacking zone. He maintains great vision, has exceptional skill, and a quality shot which helps him score from virtually any part of the ice. He’s a consistent performer and an underrated playmaker who Senator’s fans are sure to enjoy watching him play in Ottawa.”

They didn’t have to give up very much to acquire him. For a player of Debrincat’s talent and experience, that is quite the steal. Also, next summer, they have the option to resign him if he excels and in the very unlikely event he doesn’t perform up to expectations, they can move on from him with a very limited cap penalty.

The Senators have arguably one of the best young forward corps in the league with Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, and Josh Norris. He will also replace the production of Colin White, who the Senators placed on waivers with the intention to buy out his contract. 

DeBrincat comes into a situation in Ottawa where the roster core is extremely young, especially at forward. He will mesh extremely well with Tkachuk, Norris, Batherson, and Stutzle. In addition, the Senators have a ton of prospects like Jake Sanderson, Ridley Grieg, and Jacob Bernard-Docker, none of whom they had to give up to acquire DeBrincat and who will all mesh well with him on the ice.

DeBrincat will likely join the first line, with Tkachuk on the left and Norris in the center. Connor Brown, Tim Stutzle, and Drake Batherson will likely form the second line and Alex Formenton, Shane Pinto and Mathieu Joseph will likely form the third line. The point is, the Senators were deep without DeBrincat, but they got so much better and deeper, especially on offense, by adding him.

Overall, this trade gets an A. They didn’t give up much to get him, which is rare for a player of his caliber. He is a very talented two-way player, a tremendous goal scorer, and a leader and he isn’t that expensive. The only issue now becomes will they be able to resign him to a long-term deal next summer if he has a great season this year? If the Senators stay healthy, he more than likely will have a great year.  Go Sens Go.

Redblacks make it interesting late but fall short to the red-hot Lions

Adamo Marinelli

July 1, 2022

The Ottawa Redblacks’ late fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell just short after they failed to convert an onside kick attempt with 30 seconds left after scoring a late TD with a two-point conversion to cut the BC Lions’ lead to three points. They would end up losing a close, back and forth battle by a score of 34-31 against the red-hot, undefeated Lions led by Canadian QB Nathan Rourke, who was just as effective with his legs as he was with his arms today.

Last week, the Redblacks outgained the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the ground and through the air but could not find the endzone and only scored 12 points en route to a 19-12 loss. This week, the Redblacks were outgained 359 - 162 in the passing game and 150 - 91 on the ground but found the endzone three times while scoring over 30 points against the CFL’s best defense, who have only allowed nine points per game and 279 yards per game for the first two games of the season. The Redblacks only gained 253 offensive yards, however, significantly less than their two previous games' totals. Masoli had over 330 pass yards alone in weeks one and two.

This is very impressive, considering the Redblacks only scored 14.5 points per game in the first two games of the season, despite moving the ball very well, recording 430 yards per game (355.5 pass yards per game and 77.5 rush yards per game). The Redblacks haven't had any problems moving the ball and gaining yards this year, but have had trouble scoring points.

Both teams’ defenses started strong and forced the opposing offense to go two and out. A sack from Praise Martin-Oguike forced the Lions to punt on their opening drive, however, the Redblacks couldn’t do much with their opening possession either.

On BC’s ensuing drive, a phenomenal catch on a bobbled ball set up a 3rd & 1 at the Ottawa 50-yard line. The Redblacks applied a ton of pressure to Rourke, but he still managed to roll out of the picket and scamper for a 50-yard TD, the first of two big, game-changing plays for the Lions. The Lions had a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.

The next two drives from each team resulted in two and outs. The Redblacks’ defense was playing pretty well considering they were up against the best QB in the league this season who leads the league’s number one offense that scored 51.5 points per game and gained 526 yards per game (359 pass yards per game and 167 rush yards per game) in their first two regular-season games. Meanwhile, the BC Both teams were relying on the short run and pass game and both defenses were shutting it down before it could start up.

It wasn’t until near the end of the first quarter before the Redblacks strung together a drive with multiple first downs, using a nice mix of run and pass while also relying heavily on running back William Powell’s strength, speed, and agility. They moved down the field efficiently, however, could not advance past the 25. The Lions’ defense held them to a 35-yard field goal attempt, which Lewis Ward hit. 

The Redblacks’ defense was playing very well up to that point. The secondary was playing with more confidence and the defensive line and linebackers did a better job containing Rourke, preventing him from rolling out of the pocket and applying pressure to give him less time to make a play.

On the next drive, the Lions responded nicely with a long, meticulous drive that took several minutes off the clock and ended in a three-yard touchdown pass from Rourke to running back James Butler after the two connected on a 24-yard screen pass to set up the first and goal. The Lions took a 14-3 lead only four minutes into the second quarter.

The Redblacks would respond with another long drive down the field. The Lions’ secondary was playing a near-perfect game, but once the Redblacks shifted their offensive game plan and started to more rely on Powell and their run game, their offense got a lot better and things started opening up for Masoli in the passing game. Masoli aired the ball downfield frequently in weeks one and two, but rarely this evening. 

The Redblacks instead relied on their running game and multiple short and intermediate throws with yards after the catch potential to meticulously move down the field. They made it inside the red zone, however, they were stopped short of the endzone by the Lions’ defense that played great coverage and applied a ton of pressure to Masoli all game long. They settled on a 28 field goal attempt from Ward to cut BC’s lead to 14-6. 

The Redblacks’ defense tightened up near the end of the second quarter and played on another level for the rest of the game, registering multiple pressures against Rourke and causing multiple sacks, interceptions, and fumbles. It would stay 14-6 for BC at the half. In the second half, the game would really get interesting.

The Redblacks’ first offensive drive of the first half saw another two-and-out, however, their defense would make the first of many big, momentum-swinging plays. The Redblacks got the ball to start the second half and went two and out after two incompletions from Masoli.

On the Lions’ ensuing drive, they drove down to around midfield before Redblacks’ defensive back Monshadrik Hunter picked off Nathan Rourke - who hadn’t thrown an interception thus far this season - and returned it all the way to the Blue Bombers' 16-yard line. Immense pressure from the Redblacks’ defensive line forced Rourke to throw it quicker than he wanted to which led to the pick.

Down eight points, starting their drive in the red zone, the Redblacks needed to convert for a touchdown. The Redblacks relied on their run game to get just inside the 5-yard line before Masoli threw a shovel pass to William Powell who juked around a defender before diving into the endzone. Caleb Evans ran in the two-point convert from the one-yard line after multiple penalties from both teams. With 10 minutes left in the third quarter, the score was tied 14-14. 

After a two and out from both teams, Ottawa’s defense took the field again and made another big play. The Lions were driving down the field effectively and Rourke was connecting with Keon Hatcher, James Butler, and Dominique Rhymes. Rourke also used his legs to extend drives. The Lions made their way beyond the 30-yard line before Monsahdrik Hunter recorded his second interception of the night and took it all the way down to the Lions’ 4-yard line (a 76-yard INT return) before Masoli capped off the drive with a QB draw for a touchdown. Lewis Ward missed the extra point and the Redblacks took their first lead of the game, 20-14.

The Redblacks defense was shutting down the Lions’ number one ranked offense, with great secondary play and generating immense pressure against Rourke. The Redblacks only allowed the Lions to score 34 points, which is very impressive considering they scored 59 against the Elks in week one and 44 against the Argos in week two. The Lions did amass 509 total yards, only 17 yards short of their average of 526 yards per game in weeks one and two. It just shows how talented the Lions' offense is, their QB, receivers, and running backs are all among the best in the league.

Their defense was playing a fantastic game, until the Lions’ next offensive drive when a huge defensive miscommunication in the secondary led to a 71-yard TD pass from Rourke to Hatcher who was as wide open as you can be. Kicker Sean Whyte hit the extra point and the Lions regained the lead, 21-20 with five minutes left in the third quarter. 

Ottawa failed to respond on their next offensive drive and the Lions’ momentum continued and their offense showed why they are the best offense in the league. The Lions drove the ball down the field, methodically but efficiently using a strong mix of the run and pass. Running back James Butler was a key contributor through the air and on the ground, including a 24-yard catch on a screen pass from Rourke to set them up at the five-yard line, before capping off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Whyte hit the extra point and the Lions led 28-20 at the end of the third quarter.

The Redblacks got the ball back to start the fourth quarter and moved the ball down the field, but only got to around midfield before they were forced to punt. 

On the Lions’ next drive, Monshadrik Hunter made another huge play in arguably one of the biggest games of his career. Defensive back Justin Howell came in on a blitz and forced a fumble against Rourke as he was rolling right out of the pocket before Hunter scooped up the ball and took it all the way to around midfield to start their next offensive drive. 

The Lions’ defense bent but didn’t break and showed why they had the league’s best defense. They held the Redblacks to a 38-yard field goal, his third of the night on three attempts. The Redblacks cut the Lions’ lead to 28-23 with 8:30 left in the game.

The Lions scored two field goals on two consecutive drives to take an 11-point lead. With over one minute left, Jeremiah Masoli orchestrated an efficient 80-yard drive down the field after a good kick return from receiver Terry Williams who had 155 yards on six kick returns and 43 yards on three punt returns. Jaelon Acklin, Darvin Adams, and William Powell were key pieces in that drive each with several receptions. 

Backup quarterback Caleb Evans found the endzone after a one-yard QB sneak after a defensive pass interference penalty against the Lions set up Ottawa at the Lions’ one-yard line. Masoli connected with Darvin Adams on a beautiful lob pass to get the two-point conversion to cut the Lions’ lead to 34-31 with just over 30 seconds to go. However, Ward hit the ball too far on the onside kick and the Lions recovered before kneeling out the clock. 

The Redblacks made the game very close and interesting at the end but fell just short and they fell to 0-3 on the season and third in the East Division. Meanwhile, the Lions improved to 3-0 and sit in first place in the West Division, ahead of the Stampeders and Blue Bombers, who are also both 3-0, on point differential. The referees weren’t the greatest for both teams, however, they were harder on the Redblacks than they were on the Lions. The referees weren’t the reason why the Redblacks lost though. The Redblacks had some miscommunications on defense that led to two long touchdowns for the Lions and the Redblacks also took some undisciplined penalties after the play too.

There were a lot of positives from yesterday’s game. The defense played very well for the most part against a stout BC offense, the Redblacks finished most of their drives with TDs and not field goals and they made it interesting against the Lions, but a few mistakes throughout the game, a few key incompletions on offense, and multiple undisciplined penalties cost the Redblacks the game. They have the talent and potential, just have to put it all together with no mistakes to get their first win of the year.

The Redblacks visit another Western Conference rival, the Saskatchewan Roughriders next Friday and the Lions host the Blue Bombers in a crucial West Division battle on July 9.