November 20, 2016

LaFrance before final drive: ‘I’m here to get us to the Cup’

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – With just over three minutes left in the Eastern Final at TD Place Stadium, the Edmonton Eskimos looked to be snatching the momentum from the REDBLACKS as they pulled themselves within five points of Ottawa.

But that was as close as the Esks would get to taking the lead, as veteran pivot Henry Burris moved his team down the field and set up Kienan LaFrance to rush into the end zone, putting the home team up 35-23 with under a minute left in the contest.

The major score sealed the victory for the REDBLACKS, who will make their second straight Grey Cup appearance.

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As the Esks were trying to swing the momentum back their way late in the fourth quarter, it was the REDBLACKS’ offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo who settled his club down before the offence hopped back on the snow-covered field.

“Before that final drive we were all on the sideline,” said Burris. “Coach Elizondo got the whole entire offence together and he said, ‘nothing else matters, what happened prior to this moment.’ He was like, ‘if we call ourselves the best offence, which I know we are, we will run this clock down, we will take a knee and finish this game out.’”

And it was LaFrance who took the reins to do just that.

“Kienan stepped in and said, ‘guys, give me the hole. This is why I’m here. I’m here to get us to the Cup and win the Cup.’ And man, the kid responded,” Burris said of his running back. “He’s a Manitoba Bison so if there’s anybody that’s used to running in these conditions, it’s definitely the guy from Manitoba.”

LaFrance stepped into the snowy game for the injured Mossis Madu, who left the contest early in the first quarter with an upper body injury, and rushed 157 yards on 25 carries, including the major.

“When my name gets called, obviously that’s the role you have to embrace and when it’s your time you have to go and do it,” LaFrance said of his opportunity. “When Mossis went down, it’s an unfortunate thing but you kind of have to not worry too much and just accept what’s happening and take it.”

And when LaFrance was asked if he told Burris that he wanted the ball on the final play he laughed and said, “of course, I want the ball every play.”

 

While Ottawa’s offence was clicking – Greg Ellingson and Paden Khalil also scored majors in the victory – the REDBLACKS’ special teams and defence also contributed. Tristan Jackson had a punt return touchdown and the defence as a unit were able to contain Edmonton’s potent offence throughout most of the ball game.

“We played a lot more man-to-man, partly because of the weather but also because we wanted to challenge them and try to go toe-to-toe with them. They’re good,” head coach Rick Campbell said of the Eskimos’ offence. “When you look at all of the people they have in their lineup, they’re good. For the most part, we were able to slow them down.”

Derel Walker was held to 96 yards on six catches while John White had just 66 yards rushing on 12 carries – a far cry from his 160-yard performance in the Eastern Semi-Final last week. Adarius Bowman – who had just 70 receiving yards on the afternoon – made the best of his three catches, hauling in two touchdowns.

The REDBLACKS will be looking for redemption as they get set to play in their second Grey Cup in as many seasons, after falling to the Eskimos last year in the 103rd Grey Cup.

“Opportunities like this don’t come around often, you know, second chances,” LaFrance said of his team’s trip to the 104th Grey Cup. “We have a great squad (with a) very strong defence and a very strong offence. Just the opportunity to go back there is going to be special and I think that the guys returning have that hunger for it a little more.”

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The REDBLACKS didn’t spend too much time celebrating the win – just their third victory in their own stadium this year – as their mindsets switched almost immediately to the game that will be played at BMO Field in Toronto next week.

“The one thing I will say that’s different from last year, which we are thrilled and excited to win this thing, because it’s a big deal,” said Campbell, whose team did not touch the East Division Championship trophy. “Our guys immediately after were happy, they still are happy, but they’re all talking about (that) there’s one more (win) to go.

“We all remember the feeling last year standing in the locker room not finishing the task. We know whoever we play next, the games are going to keep getting tougher. Our guys, immediately their minds switched to ‘let’s go to Toronto to make sure we do everything we can to try and win that football game.’”