Redblacks Beat Stampeders Again and End Losing Streak
By Don Brennan

The Ottawa Redblacks finally got a win at home — and once again, it came against the Calgary Stampeders.

After a slow start, the The game was played Thursday night at TD Place in front of 16,115 fans.

This was a big win for Ottawa. They had lost four games in a row before this. Their only other win this season also came against Calgary — back on June 21.

Now the Redblacks have a 2-6 record. The Stampeders fall to 5-3.

Calgary was missing some key players. Their starting quarterback, Vernon Adams Jr., didn’t play. They were also without three Canadian receivers and cornerback Adrian Greene — who leads the league with four interceptions.

It was a tough schedule for Calgary, too. This was their fourth game in just 19 days. Ottawa, meanwhile, was coming off a bye week and looked fresher.

Redblacks Defence Shines in Big Win Over Stampeders

The Redblacks were up 17-3 at halftime, thanks to two touchdown catches by Justin Hardy.

But in the third quarter, Calgary’s strong defence tried to take over.
They sacked Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown twice, picked off a pass, and held him to just 12 passing yards.

Still, the Redblacks’ defence had the final say.

With under 10 minutes left, cornerback Alijay McGhee made a huge play — a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown.
It was the third time Calgary quarterback P.J. Walker was picked off that night.

Walker, a former NFL starter, was playing his first CFL game.
He completed 20 of 37 passes for 273 yards.

Dru Brown, who had been injured in the last game, came back and threw for 225 yards, completing 19 of 27 passes.

Calgary finally got a touchdown late in the game.
Former Redblack Dominique Rhymes caught a 29-yard pass for the score.
He also had two long catches that led to Calgary’s first points — a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter.

The game was basically over when Calgary’s coach, Dave Dickenson, went for it on third-and-10 from their own 9-yard line with just over 2 minutes left.
Ottawa’s Lorenzo Mauldin got a sack — his first of the season — and gave Ottawa the ball at Calgary’s 1-yard line.

Then Dustin Crum, Ottawa’s short-yardage quarterback, ran it in for the final score.

The Redblacks didn’t get their first first-down of the game until late in the first quarter.
It came on a 23-yard catch by Eugene Lewis with 1:22 left.

Redblacks Take Control Early with Big Plays

Just 18 seconds into the second quarter, Justin Hardy caught a 12-yard rocket from Dru Brown for a touchdown.
That gave Ottawa the lead.

Right after that, Amari Henderson came up big.
He made his first interception of the season at the Redblacks’ 11-yard line, stopping Calgary from scoring.

Later, Brown surprised everyone with a rare run — he scrambled for 16 yards.
That helped set up an 18-yard field goal by Lewis Ward.

With just under three minutes left in the first half, Brown and Hardy connected again.
This time it was another touchdown — from the 15-yard line.
Hardy was wide open in the end zone. There wasn’t a Calgary defender anywhere near him.

Then, right before halftime, Deandre Lamont made another big defensive play.
He intercepted a pass at the Ottawa 10-yard line, stopping Calgary once more.
That helped Ottawa go into halftime with a comfortable lead.

The game didn’t start perfectly, though.
Ottawa lost starting right tackle Zack Pelehos on their very first offensive play.
He had just returned from a foot injury in training camp and had to limp off the field.
American lineman Parker Moorer came in to replace him.