Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (20) tries to evade the tackle of Ottawa Redblacks defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin IV (94) during first half CFL football action in Ottawa on Saturday, July 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
OTTAWA – The Ottawa Redblacks pulled off the unthinkable on Saturday as they upset the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 31-28 in overtime thanks to the late heroics of rookie quarterback Dustin Crum.
Trailing 25-17 late in the fourth quarter, Crum managed to drive the Redblacks down field and ran in a 12-yard touchdown. He then connected on a two-point conversion to tie the game 25-25 in the dying seconds.
After the Bombers kicked a field goal in overtime, Crum ran in a 29-yard touchdown to complete the CFL comeback. The Redblacks had erased a 16-point deficit in the final three minutes.
Crum finished the game passing 26-for-42 for 261 yards. The 24-year old had a rough day as he was sacked six times, but he played to his strengths and rushed for 103 yards.
Ottawa improves to 2-3 on the season, while the Bombers slipped to 4-2.
Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros finished the game passing 22-for-32 for 354 yards with two touchdowns.
Trailing 18-3 Lewis Ward made a 42-yard field goal early in the third quarter to make it 18-6, but minutes later the Bombers were back in the red zone and Collaros connected with Drew Wolitarsky for an eight-yard touchdown.
Crum had two solid drives that got the Redblacks deep into scoring territory. On the first Ottawa got down to the 15-yard line, but were forced to settle for a 22-yard field goal and trailed 25-9. On the second they got to the seven-yard line and gambled on third down, but fell short.
The Redblacks left the home fans feeling good after Brandin Danbridge intercepted Collaros and ran it back 25 yards. With the two-point conversion Ottawa closed the gap to trail 25-17.
The opening half was not pretty for the Redblacks, who trailed 18-3 at the half.
Ottawa didn’t complete a first down until late in the second quarter and were in negative yardage at the half when Winnipeg held a 201 to -17 advantage in net offence.
The offensive highlight for the Redblacks was a 47-yard field goal to get on the scoreboard. Ottawa’s defence had to be commended as it held Winnipeg to just seven yards rushing.
The Bombers opened the scoring as Ottawa conceded a single on Jamieson Sheahan’s 73-yard punt and on their second drive Sergio Castillo had a 52-yard field goal to take a 4-0 lead.
After a solid drive by Collaros to get into the red zone, Ottawa managed to hold off Winnipeg forcing them to settle for a field goal, but an unnecessary roughness penalty by Douglas Coleman put the Bombers on the one-yard line and they capitalized. Dakota Prukop punched his way through giving Winnipeg an early 11-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Bombers added a second TD five minutes into the second quarter when Collaros connected with Nic Demski on a 15-yard pass.
UP NEXT
The Blue Bombers host the winless Edmonton Elks on Thursday, while the Redblacks visit the Stampeders in Calgary on July 23.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2023.
