THEY ARE BACK! With rookie quarterback Evans shining, the Ottawa Redblacks bounce back with a win over the Elks

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It’s hard to imagine this was the same Ottawa Redblacks team that had lost five straight games this season and 11 straight at home since 2019.

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This was a different team, one that went red hot Tuesday at TD Place and kept the heat going in a 34-24 win over the Edmonton Elks. It was an excellent CFL debut for rookie quarterback Caleb Evans, who started after the injuries of Dominique Davis and Matt Nichols. Evans had a lot of help on offense; There were also heroic acts by DeVonte Dedmon and the special teams. It was also a solid defensive effort.

Evans was 15 of 21 for 192 yards, with three touchdown passes. But he was also dangerous with his legs, rushing 59 yards.

The Redblacks started on their own 43 and scored a touchdown four plays later. The big play was a winger from Ryan Davis, who completed a 30-yard pass to Kenny Stafford. On the next play, Evans found Davis in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Lewis Ward’s convert made it 7-0 at 2:28 of the game.

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The Redblacks quickly recovered the ball, Don Unamba snatched the ball out of Greg Ellingson’s hands and was attacked by Antoine Pruneau at Edmonton 32. Evans ran down the middle for 17 yards, then Timothy Flanders took a short pass and fought. his way to the end zone from 15 yards. With the convert, he was 14-0 in less than five minutes.

A 33-yard punt return from Dedmon, with an unnecessary roughness penalty added, gave Ottawa the ball at Edmonton 14. Ward kicked a 15-yard field goal and it went 17-0.

After a short punt from Hugh O’Neill, the Redblacks got a good field position, but Ward went down the left on a 49-yard field goal attempt.

After Redblacks defender Brad Muhammad squirmed, Shai Ross got behind him for a 77-yard touchdown reception from Taylor Cornelius. It was the longest offensive play of the Elks season. The convert made it 17-7 with 1:46 left in the first half.

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The Redblacks started the second half with a bang as Dedmon started down the middle on a punt return, then broke to the right, with Adam Auclair making the last necessary block – it turned into a 73-yard touchdown. The convert did it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Elks got a touchdown when Greg Ellingson caught an 18-yard pass in the end zone. Then Sean Whyte kicked a 48-yard field goal and it went 24-17.

Another big 42-yard return from Dedmon on kickoff gave Ottawa the ball at Edmonton 54. A 32-yard field goal by Ward gave Ottawa a 10-point margin again.

With the Elks marching, Brandin Dandridge made an excellent jump interception in Ottawa’s end zone early in the fourth quarter.

A sack by Avery Ellis forced the Elks to punt from deep within their own field with nine minutes to go. A 22-yard punt return from Dedmon gave Ottawa the ball at Elks 42. Evans found Stafford with a seven-yard touchdown pass with 5:20 to play.

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The Elks completed 52 yards for Ellingson, then got an eight-yard touchdown reception from Ross with 2:21 to play. The Redblacks got the side kick back. After an Ottawa punt, Pruneau stood in front of a pass for an interception.

SECOND AND LONG

History will show that Evans’ first CFL finish was a false transfer and a three-yard pass to Anthony Coombs for a first down … I love the play at the end of the first quarter – on the first down, with Ottawa on. on his own side, Evans faked a trade and sent a 44-yard pass to RJ Harris … Former Redblacks catcher Ellingson extended his pass-catching streak to 67 games … It was the CFL’s 100th game for Redblacks safety Antoine Pruneau … Former Redblacks quarterback Trevor Harris, who was activated early from the six-game (neck) disabled list a couple of days ago, was on the sidelines, wearing a mask … Former Redblacks assistant general manager (now Elks general manager) Brock Sunderland was also in Ottawa for the game … Yet another injury for an Ottawa offensive lineman – left guard Jakub Szott dropped and was replaced by Andrew Pickett in the first half … good he catch of Don Unamba who ran around Edmonton’s left side and found Elks QB Taylor (Yukon) Cornelius … Great read from Ottawa DB Brad Muhammad, who cut W alter Fletcher for a loss of five yards in the third quarter … Jordan Hoover’s nosedive prevented what would have been a long touchdown pass to Ryan Davis in the fourth quarter… The assist was 12,108.

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THE END AROUND

Stefan Charles was the pregame scratch for the Redblacks … Nice outburst from Redblacks DL Davon Coleman, who captured Cornelius with six minutes to go in the first half … Brendan Gillanders had repeats as a running back … Ha It’s been a rough year for the Elks, with the pandemic hitting hard. The David Beard center entered the COVID protocol on Sunday; he is the 17th Edmonton player this season to do so. Earlier this season, the Elks had a COVID outbreak that affected 13 players and forced a game to be postponed … In honor of National Truth and Reconciliation Day (Thursday), the Redblacks presented pregame music and half time by Twin Flames and a performance by Inuit throat singers. Acknowledging the atrocities perpetrated by and in residential schools, the Redblacks wore Every Child Matters stickers on their helmets during the game. Former NHL member John Chabot was also honored with a Redblacks wood cracker. Chabot, who is from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation (North Ottawa), is the founder of First Assist, a sports and education focused charity that works with indigenous youth in remote northern communities.