Friday, July 1, 2005
YES!!! A Canada Day to remember complete with dramatic 39-36 Renegades victory over the Montreal Alouettes!
Ottawa battles back from 23-point deficit to down rivals in home opener at Frank Clair Stadium Friday night
 Kerry Joseph ran for three touchdowns and threw for over 300 yards and a passing TD in Ottawa's incredible 39-36 double overtime win Friday night. (Photo credit, Scott Grant/IMAGE Communications) |
OTTAWA - Drama? Check.
Excitement? Absolutely.
Down-to-the-wire? Without a doubt.
Victory? Done. And just about as sweet as they come.
It was a happy Canada Day for the Ottawa Renegades and the boisterous fans who packed Frank Clair Stadium for the team's home opener Friday night. With their backs against the walls and facing a 23-point deficit heading into the final period, the Renegades battled back to beat the Montreal Alouettes 39-36 in double-overtime, capping off one of the most memorable victories in the history of the franchise.
The Renegades improved to 1-1 and are tied for a log jam atop the CFL's East Division standings heading into next Friday night's road affair in Vancouver against the defending Western conference champion B.C. Lions (July 8, 10 p.m., TSN/Team 1200).
In its first game on home soil this season, Ottawa trailed 33-10 at the end third quarter before mounting an incredible comeback.
The Renegades drove the field for three consecutive touchdown drives to open the fourth period - a pair which came on quarterback Kerry Joseph diving into the end zone for six and the latter a 17-yard scoring strike to Frank Cutolo - making it 33-30 Alouettes with 2:43 remaining in regulation. After an Ottawa defensive stop with a minute to play, the Renegades put together an efficient 82-yard drive to send the issue to overtime. The extra session was needed when embattled veteran kicker Matt Kellett (four-for-four on the night) blasted a 32 yard field goal between the eyes of the goal post in the still summer night to knot the issue at 33-apiece.
The Renegades and Alouettes exchanged field goals early in overtime to make the score 36-36. Momentum turned in the favour of the Renegades when Alouettes kicker Damon Duval attempted a 42-yard field goal, but missed wide left. The Renegades then took possession of the ball and won the game with a 14-yard chip shot - mainly set up by clutch back-to-back Josh Ranek rushes (23-yards, 7-yards) - by Kellett, who exacted revenge on his former team.
Renegades quarterback Kerry Joseph completed 23-of-36 passes for 302 yards, along with a touchdown and an interception. He also came up big on the ground, running for 62 yards and three Renegades scors. Joseph passed the ball to seven teammates, most notably Cutolo, who caught the ball four times for 70 yards and one touchdown.
Alouettes quarterback Anthony Cavillo had a decent night, completing 29-of-50 passes for 399 yards and one touchdown, but also threw 2 interceptions.
The Renegades opened the scoring on the first drive with a 41-yard field goal by Kellett to make it 3-0. Montreal shortly tied the game with a 13 yard field goal by Duval. The Alouettes initiated the scoring drive when Cavillo made a lateral pass to wide receiver Dave Stala, who completed a 39 yard pass to slotback Gerald Vaughn.
The Alouettes had a 10-3 lead at the end of the first quarter when Cavillo threw a 9 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ben Cahoon, after Renegades quarterback Joseph fumbled at the Montreal 55 yard line.
The game started to get away from the Renegades in the second quarter, as the Alouettes began to show off its offense, scoring 13 points to make it 23-3 just before the half.
With 45 seconds left in the first half, the Renegades moved the ball down to the Ottawa 6 yard line. On third down at the Ottawa 2 yard line, the Renegades brought out the field goal team to attempt a field goal, which was received by a chorus of boos by the Renegades fans. However, the Renegades quickly called a time-out, and after the time-out decided to go on third down. Renegades quarterback Joseph brought the crowd alive with a two yard run to make the score 23-10.
The Alouettes regained the momentum in the third quarter, scoring 10 points scored another 10 points to make it 33-10 at the end of the third quarter. The Renegades tried to generate some momentum with a 18 yard run from Renegades punter Fleming off a fake punt, but got stalled on the drive when Joseph was sacked for a loss of 7 yards.
The Ottawa comeback in the fourth quarter, starting with a one-yard touchdown run by Joseph to make the score 23-16. The Renegades followed up with another touchdown on its next drive when Joseph made an eight-yard run into the end zone. Ottawa went for a two-point conversion, but couldn't complete the score, leaving the score at 33-23 before the incredible crowd-roaring inspirational comeback was made complete.
