Article content
With next week off and 13 days before they play again, the Ottawa Redblacks are entering their second bye on a high.
The “Bank St. Bullies” turned in their most complete performance of the season Friday night, throttling the Calgary Stampeders 33-6 before 17,267 fans at TD Place.
In their most decisive victory since they defeated the Montreal Alouettes 32-4 in 2017, the Redblacks improved to 5-2, marking their best seven-game start in their decade long history.
Advertisement 2
Article content
It’s also the first time they’ve won five games in a season since 2018 … and it’s still July.
Most impressively, however, is the fact that this is the first time an Ottawa CFL team has been 4-0 at home since the 1978 season.
While the offence won the first of this current three-game winning streak and the defence won the second, the stomping of the Stamps was a full-team effort.
It also included a 99-yard punt return for a touchdown by rookie Kalil (The Thrill) Pimpleton.
Receiver Jaelon Acklin and short-yardage QB Dustin Crum had the other TDs, while Lewis Ward was once again Mr. Reliable, going 4-for-4 on field goals
Along with his spectacular performance in his first game as Ottawa’s return specialist, Pimpleton was also the team’s leading receiver with seven catches for 80 yards.
Quarterback Dru Brown was sharp, connecting on 30 of 37 passes for 325 yards.
The Redblacks held a 16-3 lead at the half but the score did not do justice to the way they dominated on both sides of the line.
They had 16 first downs to Calgary’s three and 270 net yards of offence to the Stamps’ 39.
Through two quarters, Brown was 20-of-25 for 250 yards and a touchdown while his opposite number, Jake Maier, completed seven of 10 for 31 yards.
Advertisement 3
Article content
However, the home side still had trouble finishing the drives it started, leaving Ward to hit on field goals of 40, 23 and 42 yards before the intermission.
The Redblacks lost running back Ryquell Armstead with 10:15 left in the second quarter after he took his second misconduct penalty of the night. Armstead has crossed lines before. Earlier this season, he was fined by the CFL for verbal abuse of an official.
Because they put former Ottawa Gee Gees running back Amlicar Polk on the practice roster this week, the Armstead ejection left them with fullback Marco Dubois as their lone back, although entering the game receiver Bralon Addison had 19 carries for 62 yards on the season.
Significant plays on the Redblacks six snap, 73-yard first quarter touchdown drive included a 19-yard over the middle pass to Acklin, an 18-yard screen to Rock Armstead that opened up with Pimpleton’s blocking, a 13-yard reverse to Justin Hardy and finally a feathered, 14-yard touchdown pass to Acklin.
Big stops by Davion Taylor and Lorenzo Mauldin on Calgary’s initial two possessions kept the visitors from getting a first down before their first points, which came on an ice breaking 50-yard field goal by Rene Paredes.
The Redblacks are now off until August 8, when they host they Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Redblacks left tackle Dino Boyd was a game day scratch for personal reasons. Drake Centers came off the practice roster to start in his spot.
Article content