OTTAWA — The next two games will be the biggest of the season for the Ottawa REDBLACKS and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The beasts of the east begin a home and home series on Friday night at TD Place that will determine the fate of the East Division. The Ticats and REDBLACKS are in a deadlock with 8-7 records with three games remaining for both teams.
Ottawa has the upper hand in the season series after beating Hamilton 21-15 back in Week 7.
The Ticats and REDBLACKS have both already punched their tickets to the post-season and secured a home playoff date. However, a bye to the Eastern Final and an extra week of rest after a long and grueling regular season could be the difference in earning a spot to the Grey Cup in Edmonton.
Neither the Ticats nor REDBLACKS need a reminder of what is on the line.
“It’s a great opportunity,” linebacker Simoni Lawrence told Ticats.ca. “They’re a good team. We feel like we have a very good team as well. It’s a race to first place. We wouldn’t have it any other way. They’re a true competitor.”
Hamilton completed its season sweep over the rival Toronto Argonauts last week with a 34-20 victory at BMO Field. Luke Tasker hauled in three touchdown grabs in the win while fellow receiver Brandon Banksracked up a game high 178 receiving yards and one touchdown on eight receptions.
Jeremiah Masoli continued to make his case for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player by throwing for 338 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Masoli’s teammates believe he is worthy of the honour.
“He’s definitely MOP,” said Banks. “Most consistent. He’s been through a lot. I’ve seen him grow each week. I just think he’s the most valuable person in the CFL right now.”
The Ticats have dealt with injury woes this year, specifically when it comes to the receiving corps. Jalen Saunders, Shamawd Chambers, and Chris Williams are all out with season ending injuries while Terrence Toliver is on the six-game. Still, the Black and Gold have persevered and boast one of the deadliest offences in the league.
Receiver Marquay McDaniel will make his first start of the season for the Ticats on Friday night. Hamilton recruited the 34-year-old last month following the abundance of injuries.
The Ticats will also receive a boost on offence with the return of running back Alex Green. The 30-year-old is coming off of his second stint of the season on the six-game injured list after a hand injury, but has been given the green light to play in Ottawa.
The Ticats will be looking for their third straight win, while the REDBLACKS are looking to stop a brief two game losing skid after dropping a pair of games to two tough West Division opponents.
Ottawa fell 34-16 last week at the hands of the Edmonton Eskimos. The REDBLACKS led by two points heading into the second half, but the Esks pulled away by shutting out the Ottawa offence in the last 30 minutes and scoring 20 unanswered points.
Quarterback Trevor Harris threw 21-of-26 for 291 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Diontae Spencer had a team high 98 receiving yards and one touchdown on five catches.
Rookie kicker Lewis Ward extended his CFL record field goals made streak to 43 after splitting the uprights three more times last week.
The two straight losses have opened the door for the Ticats to pounce on first place in the East Division.
“You wake up. The air is a little more chilly. You know that playoff football is here,” Harris told OttawaREDBLACKS.com. “We didn’t play playoff football the last 30 minutes of the game last week. We need to make sure we’re firing on all cylinders like we were in the first half and putting together full games because the time is now. We have to put up or shut up.”
As if containing the Ticats’ league-leading offence wasn’t enough, the REDBLACKS will have to try and do it minus four starters.
Defensive backs Antoine Pruneau and Randall Evans, along with linebackers Avery Williams and Kevin Brown, are out.
Linebacker Chris Ackie will get his first start for the REDBLACKS after being acquired by the team in a trade with the Montreal Alouettes earlier this month.
While the Ticats’ offence boasts a league-leading 423.2 net yards on offence per game, the REDBLACKS’ offence cannot be overlooked.
Running back William Powell owns a league high 1,275 rushing yards and has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in six games this season.
Meanwhile, Brad Sinopoli is the only receiver this year to reach the 100 receptions milestone. He also ranks third in the league in receiving yards with 1,207 through 15 games.
Head Coach Rick Campbell says now is the time for his team to showcase its ability.
“If you can’t get excited about this, then man you’re in the wrong business,” said Campbell. “It’s going to be exciting these next three weeks. There’s been some ups and downs this season but we’re in a good spot as far as having an opportunity to do something really good.”
By The Numbers:
7 – Straight games that the Ticats have been able to build up a double-digit lead. The last time they accomplished that was way back in 1981 when they built a 10-plus point lead in eight straight games.
10 – Receiving touchdowns this season for Brandon Banks, tied for most the league.
44 – Receiving yards needed by Greg Ellingson to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark for a fourth straight season.
49 – Pass knockdowns this season for Ottawa, ranked second in the league.
Here is how the East Division can shake out.
Ottawa can clinch the season series with a win on Friday night at home. However, that would not guarantee top spot in the East.
A REDBLACKS win and at least a tie next week when they play the Ticats in Hamilton would lock down first place and a bye to the Eastern Final.
The fate of the East rests in the balance.
– With files from Ticats.ca/OttawaREDBLACKS.com
AFI, Yare Media and the CFL
American Football International is collaborating with Yare Media and the Canadian Football League to present 2018 CFL games live. This is more than a livestream. This is a stream of the top flight TSN network television broadcast.
LIVE STREAM PPV: CFL – Hamilton Tiger-Cats @Ottawa REDBLACKS, Oct. 19, 7p (1a Oct. 20 CET)