HAMILTON — Dustin Crum made his case to remain the Redblacks’ starting quarterback on Saturday, leading Ottawa to a 31-22 pre-season win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Crum took over for starter Dru Brown late in the first quarter and completed 10-of-16 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 33 yards and a score.
Ottawa seized control of the contest after defensive tackle Jamare Taylor forced the game’s first turnover, a sack-fumble against Hamilton QB Taylor Powell in the third quarter.
The change of possession gave the Redblacks the ball on Hamilton’s 20-yard line, and Ottawa converted three plays later when Crum scored on an 11-yard rush to put his team up 28-16, backing up his touchdown pass to Jon’Vea Johnson one drive prior.
Hamilton QB Bo Levi Mitchell impressed in his return to the lineup after playing in just six games last season due to injury. He completed 10-of-16 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown to receiver Shemar Bridges on his final drive in the second quarter.
Redblacks running back Ryquell Armstead, who spent two seasons with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, scored the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter, and returner DeVonte Dedmon took a punt 91 yards to the house to put the Redblacks up 14-3 not long after.
Hamilton kicker Marc Liegghio converted all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 31-yarder for the first points of the game, and made his lone convert.
Ottawa added a single early in the second quarter as Hamilton returner Kaylon Geiger Sr., conceded a punt return in the end zone. Redblacks kicker/punter Michael Domagala was also perfect on three converts and made a 27-yard field goal to clinch Ottawa’s win with 69 seconds left in the game.
The Tiger-Cats cut the deficit to six points when third-string QB Kevin Thomson tossed a 22-yard touchdown to Dev Holmes with just under five minutes remaining in the game. But that was the closest the home side would get.
Hamilton defensive lineman Curtis Woodmansey was carted off the field following an apparent late fourth-quarter leg injury. Nearly the entire Tiger-Cats’ sideline greeted him on his way off the field.
Following a rainy morning in Hamilton, the crowd at Tim Hortons Field was sparse at opening kickoff, but the weather cleared in time for the game to begin under cloudy conditions.
Hamilton is coming off an 8-10 2023 campaign that ended with a 27-12 loss in the Eastern semifinal against the eventual Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes.
The Ticats conclude their pre-season slate on Friday in Toronto before heading on the road for a Week 1 showdown against Calgary on June 7.
Ottawa struggled to a 4-14 record last season, including an 0-10 mark against East Division opponents.
UP NEXT — The Redblacks host Montreal on Friday before a Week 1 bye.
Their first regular-season game is June 13 at home against Winnipeg.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2024.