Critical Combination: Redblacks Suffer Two Losses In One Night Against Blue Bombers

The Ottawa Redblacks experienced a tough time on Friday night in Winnipeg, facing a double setback. They not only lost the game but also their starting quarterback.

This loss marked the first defeat of the season for the Redblacks, as they fell to the Blue Bombers with a score of 25-16 at Princess Auto Stadium. Following this outcome, Ottawa’s record stands at 2-2, while Winnipeg’s record is now 1-4.

Of ongoing concern for Ottawa is the condition of quarterback Dru Brown. During a keeper play in the late second quarter, Brown sustained a head injury from Blue Bombers defensive back Redha Kramdi as he was sliding at the end of a run, subsequently preventing his return to the game.

“Drew is functioning normally,” head coach Bob Dyce told TSN1200’s A.J. Jakubec immediately after the game. “So we’re happy with that.”

Brown will probably need to undergo concussion protocol, but it’s early to determine his availability for the Redblacks’ next game on Sunday, July 14 in Edmonton.

Stepping in at the quarterback position was Dustin Crum, who served as the Redblacks’ starter for much of the previous season. Crum led a scoring drive in the third quarter, relying significantly on running back Ryquell Armstead. However, he also had two turnovers, losing possession once due to a fumble and once due to an interception in the fourth quarter.

The only touchdowns of the game were scored by Blue Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler with a one-yard dive in the second quarter, and Armstead with a four-yard run in the third.

After a slow start, Armstead had a strong performance in the second half, achieving 17 carries for 103 yards – marking the first time in his CFL career that he surpassed 100 rushing yards. Despite this, he was outpaced by the impressive rushing performance of Winnipeg’s Brady Oliveira, who carried the ball 23 times for 129 yards.

Filling in for the injured quarterback Zach Collaros, Blue Bombers backup Chris Streveler completed 13 of 21 passes for 127 yards, and contributed 13 carries for 79 yards.

The most significant error by the Redblacks’ defense was failing to contain Sergio Castillo, the Blue Bombers kicker, who successfully made all six of his field goal attempts, including two from 53 yards, one from 49, one from 28, one from 18, and one from 13. On the other side, Redblacks’ kicker Lewis Ward was also flawless, going 3-for-3 with successful field goals from 51, 35, and 18 yards. Ward’s 35-yard field goal narrowed the Redblacks’ deficit to a converted touchdown against the Bombers.

Despite the Redblacks’ limited offensive output in the first half, amounting to only 129 yards, most of which occurred after Crum replaced Brown, who completed just two of six passes for 24 yards before leaving the game, they struggled defensively to contain the Blue Bombers’ running game. By halftime, Oliveira had 11 carries for 75 yards, while Streveler rushed nine times for 55 yards.

Nonetheless, the Redblacks trailed by only 13-3 at halftime, a deficit that could have been smaller if not for consecutive mistakes by Armstead in the final minute. Firstly, he missed an easy reception near the Blue Bombers’ 28-yard line, and then failed to recover the loose ball as officials ruled the Crum throw a lateral.

Critical Combination: Redblacks suffer two losses in one night against Blue Bombers

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