EDMONTON – Quarterback Dru Brown completed a couple of long touchdown passes in the second half and Lewis Ward kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired and the Ottawa Redblacks overcame an early deficit to defeat the Edmonton Elks 37-34 on Sunday.
The Redblacks are now 3-2 on the season.
The Elks continue to struggle, dropping to 0-5.
Ottawa was able to get on the board on its opening drive, getting a 25-yard field goal from Ward.
The Elks surged ahead with a minute remaining in the first quarter. After Elliott Brown recovered a fumble by Ottawa quarterback Brown at midfield, Edmonton eventually took advantage as QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Arkell Smith.
Edmonton added to its lead four minutes into the second frame as Bethel-Thompson threaded the needle on a 39-yard bomb to Hergy Mayala, who made a great catch despite double coverage. They added a single on the subsequent kickoff.
Ottawa cut into the lead with a 31-yard Ward field goal with two-and-a-half minutes left in the first half and then powered their way back up field to record a one-yard TD plunge by backup QB Dustin Crum to cut Edmonton’s lead to 15-13 at halftime.
Edmonton got back on the board with six minutes left in the third quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Boris Bede.
However, Ottawa quickly responded and took the lead just over a minute later as Brown completed a short pass to Kalil Pimpleton and the rookie receiver turned on the jets and blazed 70 yards into the end zone to record a touchdown in his first CFL game. The Redblacks completed the two-point convert to go up 21-18.
Edmonton’s defence came up big as Kordell Jackson picked off Brown at the Ottawa 24, but Bede missed a 31-yard field goal attempt to settle for a single to start the fourth.
The Redblacks came immediately back with another huge play as Brown went deep to Justin Hardy and he battled off a defender for a 68-yard touchdown.
Ward extended the lead with his third field goal of the game, a 35-yarder.
The Elks showed renewed signs of life and capped of a long drive with a four-yard touchdown run by backup QB Dakota Prukop. They added the two-point convert to make it 31-27 with just under six minutes to play.
Ottawa once again punched right back with a big play as Dominique Rhymes reeled in a 66-yard pass, setting up a 10-yard field goal by Ward.
Edmonton marched down the field in the final couple minutes and got a pass interference call in their favour on a third-down gamble to set up a one-yard TD plunge on a third try by Prukop with eight seconds to play to tie the game.
However, after Edmonton booted the ball out of bounds on the ensuing kickoff, Brown completed a 29-yard pass from his own 50-yard line to Pimpleton to set up Ward’s winning field goal.
NOTES
The Elks and the Redblacks finished in a tie for last in the league last season at 4-14. … Edmonton came into the game having suffered three consecutive losses by just three points apiece. … The Elks were bolstered by two major additions on defence in a pair of former CFL all-stars. Joining the team were linebacker Derrick Moncrief and defensive lineman Shawn Oakman. … Despite leaving last week’s road loss to Winnipeg after a hit to the head, Redblacks QB Brown was able to return to start the contest in Edmonton. … Pimpleton made his first CFL start at receiver and Davion Taylor at linebacker for Ottawa. … Edmonton entered the game with just a 2-26 record at home since Oct. 26, 2019.
UP NEXT
Redblacks: Host the Edmonton Elks on Friday.
Elks: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2024.
