Redblacks 2016 Season in Retrospective
by Owen Glaude
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It was another sloppy and sluggish season in the National Capital that Redblacks fans had to endure as they saw their squad finish with a record of 4-14 and miss the playoffs. This was the fifth time in the last six years that the Redblacks have been eliminated before the playoffs. While watching the Redblacks during these times might be hard and tough, it even dates back to the Rider days in the 80s and 90s and the short and failed stint of the Renegades in the early to mid 2000s. However, professional football in Ottawa has had great successes like the Russ Jackson and Frank Clair days. While the Redblacks haven’t had a dynasty like the Riders in the 60s, we have still had some good teams in the early stages of Redblacks football from 2015-18, including a Grey Cup victory in 2016 which brings me to my main topic: the 2016 Ottawa Redblacks in retrospective.
The 2016 Ottawa Redblacks were led by quarterback Henry Burr, who was 41 years old at the time and was coming off an MOP season in 2015. They had a young upcoming head coach in Rick Campbell who helped turn around the Redblacks in 2015 having won 10 more games than in the inaugural season. In the off-season the Redblacks signed former Argonauts quarterback Trevor Harris and it pressured Henry Burris to try to win as the future was coming and Harris was going to be at the helm. The Redblacks started the 2016 season at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton in a Grey Cup rematch with the Edmonton Eskimos looking for revenge. But, in the middle of the 2nd quarter, starting quarterback Henry Burris was injured and newly signed backup Trevor Harris took over the reins for the rest of the game. Unfortunately, Ottawa ended up falling 45-37 in overtime. Harris would start the next 4 games with Burris out and the Redblacks went 1-2-1 during that span. By late July the Redblacks were struggling with a record of 1-3-1. Burris would come back for the Redblacks on July 31st 2016 against the Toronto Argonauts, but he would also struggle in the next 3 games which included a beatdown at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes 43-19 at T.D. Place in front of a crowd of 19,117.
From that point on, Harris was back in the fold in week 1o starting at home against Travis Lulay and the B.C Lions where Ottawa would lose 29-23. They would go 2-4 with Harris at quarterback. In week 17 head coach Rick Campbell made the decision to leave Henry Burris the starter against Hamilton. This was the most important game for the Redblacks because if they won, they would win the East division (which was really weak in 2016). Henry Burris was a man on a mission in week 17 as he powered his club to a critical 30-29 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Ottawa would then drop the final game of the season, but it was a nothing burger for Ottawa having already clinched the division. The 2016 CFL regular season had come to a close with the Redblacks having a bumpy ride going 8-9-1, but the East division was so weak that the Redblacks won the division and would get to move to the East final.
The evil empire of Edmonton arrived at T.D.Place. The Edmonton Eskimos were led by gunslinger signal caller Mike Reilly, who had previously taken down the Redblacks in Grey Cup 103 26-20. Henry Burris and the Redblacks were looking for revenge and they would get off to a hot start in the first half going up 17-3 and dominating the Eskimos. In the 3rd quarter Ottawa would extend their lead even more when returner Tristan Jackson housed a 75 yard punt and the 2 point conversion to make it 25-3. However, Mike Reilly and the Eskimos wouldn't go away with Edmonton getting in the endzone to make it 25-10. An Ottawa fumble near midfield and another Eskimos touchdown would make it 25-17. Burris would lead Ottawa down the field as Ray Early would make it 28-17 before the Esks went back down the field and got another touchdown; Ottawa led 28-23. This was the biggest drive of the game as Ottawa looked to avenge their loss to Edmonton in the Grey Cup in 2015 and couldn’t give Mike Reilly and the Eskimos another chance in this game. The Redblacks went down the field and got a touchdown. In the end, the Redblacks took down the Eskimos 35-23, but they had one final game to decide their season at B.M.O Field in Toronto. David vs Goliath were the comparisons of this matchup beforehand, with the underdog Redblacks coming in with 0 chance against the powerhouse favourite, the Calgary Stampeders led by 2016 M.O.P Bo Levi Mitchell.
Just like in the East Final, the Redblacks got off to a fast start with Henry Burris lunging forward for a 1 yard touchdown and Ottawa led 7-0 until Calgary went down the field and got a touchdown of their own before Ottawa went back up by 3 leading 10-7 after the first quarter. Calgary fumbled on a punt return and Ottawa had good field position. They marched down the field once again and got another touchdown. Henry Burris found fullback Patrick Lavoie for another score and Ottawa's lead grew to 10, as they were up 17-7. The Redblacks defence got in on the action with defensive back Forrest Hightower picking off Bo Levi Mitchell for the first turnover of the game. Ottawa’s offence stalled but then Mitchell threw another interception, this time going to Jeff Richards and Ottawa marched down the field ending the half up 20-7.
On the first drive of the second, Burris and the Redblacks would go back down the field and end with yet another touchdown. This time it was Brad Sinopoli and Ottawa had a 20 point lead over Calgary. Calgary would slowly come back as they would get a Rene Parades field goal to make it a 17 point game before Bo would find Lemar Durant for a touchdown, and the Stamps made this a game as it was now 27-17 Redblacks. Just like in the East final, the momentum would shift away from the Redblacks with Calgary getting another touchdown. However, Ottawa wouldn't back down, going back up 10 with a Henry Burris touchdown. Defensive back Forrest Hightower would then snag his 2nd interception of the game with Ottawa up 10, but the Redblacks offence would stall again. DaVaris Daniels would take an end-around for a touchdown and Calgary narrowed the lead to just 3 with a little over 90 seconds left in the game. Brad Sinopoli bobbled the onside kick and the Stampeders recovered, setting up shop near midfield. The Stamps would march all the way down the field before backup quarterback Buckely was shoelace tackled by defensive back Abdul Kanneh and force this game to go to overtime at 33 a piece. Ottawa started overtime with the ball and they slowly, but effectively, moved it. Henry Burris found the reliable Ernest Jackson for the touchdown after he bobbled the ball for what felt like an eternity, but Ottawa was unsuccessful during the 2 point attempt. Then it was Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stampeders’ turn. Calgary struggled to move the ball effectively and on third and 10 Mitchell’s toss sailed and the Redblacks were Grey Cup champions.
After a long season of twists and turns the season was over and #Rnation came out happy and victorious while the other 8 CFL teams were looking for answers.
Go Redblacks!
Go Redblacks!
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