Redblacks rally but fall short in Montreal, remain winless
Ottawa mounted a second-half comeback Sunday but couldn't complete the comeback in a 37-35 loss to the Alouettes.
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The Ottawa Redblacks mounted a valiant second-half rally Sunday, June 28 at Montreal, but couldn't finish the comeback in a 37-35 loss to the Alouettes—leaving the team still winless at 0-3.
New head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, a two-time Grey Cup winner with Toronto, showed promise despite the loss. The Redblacks trailed 21-6 at halftime but outplayed Montreal after the break, whittling the deficit to 21-18 by the end of the third quarter.
Quarterback Dru Maier directed a 69-yard scoring drive on his first third-quarter possession, ending with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Justin Hardy. On his next drive, Maier led an 89-yard march capped by a four-yard touchdown pass to Keelan White. White scored again in the fourth quarter on a spectacular back-of-the-end-zone catch after a drive was extended by a grab from Binjimen Victor, who replaced the injured Eugene Lewis.
Montreal answered with two scoring drives led by Davis Alexander. Kalil Pimpleton's 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with just over a minute left set up an onside kick attempt, but the Alouettes held on.
Dinwiddie simplified his playbook for the game, reducing it from around 90 variations to roughly 40 plays. Running back Greg Bell led the team with four carries for 20 yards and three catches for 24.
Saskatchewan visits Ottawa for a game at TD Place Friday night, June 27.
