Ottawa Redblacks Snap 22-Game Losing Skid With Thrilling Win
The Ottawa Redblacks avoided historic infamy on Friday night, defeating the Toronto Argonauts 40-39 at TD Place to snap a modern-day record 22-game losing streak. Rookie quarterback Bryson Barnes engineered a dramatic final-seconds touchdown drive in his first professional start, preventing the Redblacks from finishing the season winless, sportsnet.ca reported.
Ottawa entered the penultimate game of the season with a 1-16 record, staring down the possibility of becoming the first team in Canadian Football League history to finish a campaign 0-18. Instead, Barnes completed 27 of 37 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also added 62 rushing yards on seven carries, orchestrating a three-play, 58-yard drive in the final 27 seconds that culminated in a 24-yard touchdown strike to Ayden Eberhardt with just six seconds remaining.
Coach Ryan Dinwiddie Explains Late-Season Quarterback Switch
With Ottawa already eliminated from playoff contention, questions surrounded the coaching staff’s decision to start veterans Jake Maier and McLeod Bethel-Thompson for most of the year before finally turning to Barnes. Redblacks head coach Ryan Dinwiddie defended the timing of the rookie’s debut.
“Young quarterbacks especially in this league, you’ve got to develop them,” Dinwiddie said, according to sportsnet.ca. “Twelve-man football, guys moving around, he’s fresh out of college so we had to make sure we gave him the time to develop.”
Barnes expressed relief after the victory, noting that the hard work finally paid off for a locker room that weathered intense outside criticism. Eberhardt finished the night with nine receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns, eclipsing the 1,000-receiving-yard mark for his CFL career.
Toronto Argonauts Weigh Play-Calling Decisions And Chad Kelly’s Injury Status
The Argonauts dropped to 9-8 despite a stellar performance from backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who stepped in after starter Chad Kelly exited in the first quarter with a lower-body injury. Kelly was tackled by Luiji Vilain while escaping pressure and spent the rest of the game watching from the sideline with a limp. Toronto head coach Mike Miller had no immediate update on Kelly’s health following the final whistle.
Controversy also surrounded Toronto’s final offensive sequence. Miller defended the play-calling after the loss.
“We’re playing hard, I liked where we were at. No, I don’t regret that,” Miller said, as reported by sportsnet.ca. “It’s unfortunate it didn’t work out for us.”
Playoff Preparations And Season Finales For Both Franchises
The Argonauts (9-8) wrap up their regular-season schedule next Friday against the Montreal Alouettes before hosting the East semifinal on Oct. 31. Toronto receiver Kevin Mital hauled in six passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season total to 981 receiving yards.
Barnes is scheduled to make his second start in Hamilton, carrying a newfound wave of optimism into the offseason for an organization that endured a 406-day drought between victories.
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