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What looked like such a great night for the Ottawa Redblacks took a horrible twist with 8:33 left.
Redblacks receiver Jaelon Acklin, jumping to catch a pass in the end zone, was hit low by BC Lions defender T.J. Lee and tumbled hard to the turf, back and neck first.
Several minutes later, he left the stadium in an ambulance. The good news: In a post on social media post, the Redblacks said he was conscious and had movement in all of his extremities.
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On a night where several players from the Redblacks’ All Decade Team returned to Ottawa and were introduced at halftime, the “new” version of the Redblacks, with quarterback Dru Brown slinging it and with some creative offensive playcalling, won 34-27 over the Lions, overcoming some mistakes along the way.
It extended the Redblacks’ undefeated streak to six games. And, rookie receiver Nick Mardner, the second overall selection in this year’s CFL Draft, scored the first two touchdowns of his pro career.
Ottawa now has a record of 7-2-1.
“We consider ourselves a family; imagine if one of your family members was in that type of situation,” said Redblacks coach Bob Dyce. “It’s an emotional time. I know how those guys love Ack.
“First thing that was said when we got together to go out on the field was by (linebacker) Jovan (Santos-Knox). He said, ‘We have to do this for our brother.’ They went out and did it.
“It’s a mentally strong group. I’m not saying they put it out of their heads. To be able to refocus, finish that drive with a touchdown and be able to run out the clock is a testament to these guys.”
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Asked what he was thinking with Acklin on the ground, Brown said: “You’re just hoping he’s OK. It’s a very humbling moment. We’re so focused on winning the game and doing our job. It’s the sad reality of what we do; it’s the risk we take. I wish it was avoidable.
“He’s a guy that does the right thing every day; he’s a good person. It sucks to see it happen to someone you care about.”
The Lions, who have now lost five straight games, took an early 7-0 lead following the opening kickoff. A pass interference penalty on Alijah McGhee in the end zone led to a one-yard run for a touchdown by David Mackie.
Following a 42-yard completion to Bralon Addison, Ottawa got a 24-yard Lewis Ward field goal.
A 16-yard Sean Whyte field goal made it 10-3 for the visitors.
A 37-yard Whyte field goal attempt was blocked by Brandin Dandridge; the ball bounced into the end zone and the Redblacks gave up a single point.
An interception by McGhee gave Ottawa the ball on the BC 34-yard line. That set up a 22-yard touchdown pass to Acklin. The pass attempt for a two-point convert was incomplete.
A 51-yard run by Rourke set up a 21-yard field goal by Whyte.
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A fumble by running back Ryquell Armstead gave the ball back to BC. A 35-yard field goal by Whyte made it 17-9.
A 54-yard field goal by Ward made it 17-12.
On the first possession of the second half, the Redblacks got a 64-yard touchdown catch from Mardner. Armstead ran into the end zone for the two-point convert.
Seconds later, defensive Damon Webb knocked the ball out of Rourke’s hands and it was recovered by Kene Onyeka at the Lions’ 35.
Two plays later, Brown found Acklin cutting across the field from the left side the receiver scored from 29 yards out. But a Lions coach’s challenge was successful, with the Redblacks penalized for offensive pass interference. Ward’s 36-yard field goal attempt missed right.
A coach’s challenge by the Redblacks got the Lions penalized for pass interference, extending an Ottawa drive. Ottawa took a 27-17 lead after Mardner caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Brown.
The Lions scored on third-and-goal, third-down gamble on the Ottawa one, with Mackie getting his second touchdown of the game. It was 27-24 after the convert.
With a methodical drive that started from the Ottawa 41, the Redblacks gambled on third down, with a bit more than a yard to go, and Dustin Crum pushed into the end zone for the touchdown with 6:13 left. It was 34-24.
With 5:21 left, Mike Wakefield knocked the ball out of Rourke’s hands and pounced on the fumble. But the Lions got the ball right back when Addison fumbled.
B.C. made it 34-27 with 2:08 left on a short Whyte field goal.
The Redblacks kept the ball for the rest of the game.
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