RedBlacks win thriller vs. Tiger-Cats, widen East lead

By the margin of a missed field goal, the Ottawa RedBlacks edged the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 30-29 on Friday in the first leg of their home-and-home series that will likely decide the East Division.

Veteran Henry Burris, in his first start since August, factored into all three touchdowns for Ottawa (7-7-1), which will host Hamilton (6-9) in a return game on Oct. 21. Ottawa, which has had difficulty winning tight games all season, secured the win through its defence and a ball-control drive.

On Hamilton's final drive, Jeremiah Masoli steered the Tiger-Cats to Ottawa's 40-yard line before misfiring on a second-down throw to Junior Collins. Hamilton kicker Brett Maher missed a 47-yard attempt for the go-ahead field goal.

The RedBlacks ran out the remaining 2:23. Burris converted a second down with an 11-yard rush, and also found receiver Khalil Paden for a 28-yard reception that iced the game.

Ottawa forced Hamilton to kick on its last two possessions after going ahead on Chris Milo's 35-yard field goal with 6:08 left.

Burris was 27-of-39 for 393 yards, with one touchdown pass and two rushing TDs. Ernest Jackson made five receptions for 106 yards, including a 62-yard TD. Juron Criner also had a big night, recording three receptions for 85 yards, while Mossis Madu chipped in 14 rushes for 66 yards.

Milo was 3-of-3 on field goals, making up for missing a 30-yarder during Ottawa's overtime defeat against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Oct. 7.

Masoli was 25-of-32 for 278 yards with three TDs and two interceptions. Terrence Toliver (six receptions, 96 yards), C.J. Gable (11 rushes for 66), and John Chiles scored the Tiger-Cats' touchdowns. Maher was 0-for-1 on field goals.

Ottawa led 20-7 at halftime, but Brandon Banks ignited the Tiger-Cats in the third quarter with punt returns of 42 and 27 yards that each set up touchdown drives.

The teams traded the lead thanks to a pair of spectacular touchdowns. Jackson grabbed a tipped pass and broke free for a 62-yard score to put Ottawa back in front. Early in the fourth, Masoli authored a five-play, 72-yard march, with Collins making an over-the-shoulder diving catch deep in the end zone for a 28-27 lead.

On Ottawa's next possession, Brad Sinopoli, normally a possession receiver, made a 36-yard grab to take his team down to the Tiger-Cats' 30. That set up Milo's decisive field goal.

The RedBlacks scored the last 20 points of the first half after allowing an opening-drive touchdown. A fumble recovery by linebacker Taylor Reed with 4:40 left in the first flipped field position. Burris engineered back-to-back touchdown drives of 53 and 64 yards to open a lead.

Defensive back Forrest Hightower also made a diving end-zone interception for one of Ottawa's three takeaways in the first half.

Hamilton's defence picked up its offence by denying two red-zone opportunities. All-star DE John Chick strip-sacked Burris, with MLB Larry Dean recovering on the Tiger-Cats' 23. Hamilton also responded to allowing a 41-yard reception by Criner by limiting Ottawa to a field goal with 16 seconds left in the second.