Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — It wasn’t an easy start to the season for last year’s Grey Cup champs.
After tying their Week 1 contest against the Calgary Stampeders, the Ottawa REDBLACKS dropped their next three games. Their first win didn’t come until Week 5 versus the Montreal Alouettes.
Ottawa has now won two straight and sits second in the East. The REDBLACKS are only one game behind the division-leading Toronto Argonauts for the top spot after Saturday’s 31-24 win over the BC Lions.
The winds of change can be felt in the REDBLACKS’ locker room.
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“When we were going through all that losing, the thing I just wanted to keep in sight with the guys is that there was so much to play for because two teams in the East are hosting playoff games,” Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell said after Saturday’s win. “It’s going to be a dogfight the rest of the way with the all of the teams in the East but the key is to keep working at it and get the tide turned and win some games and go from there.”
Ottawa’s 3-6-1 record this season does not tell the full story. The REDBLACKS have not lost a game by more than one score. Their largest losing margin was only seven points. Ottawa’s other five losses were by four points or less.
“Our guys have been working hard,” said Campbell. “I have no complaints this year of our work ethic or ‘want-to’. Every win you get is a confidence builder and hopefully we can just keep building on it.”
The REDBLACKS’ hard work appears to be paying off at the midway point of the season. They have averaged 34 points for and only 21 points against during their two-win stint.
Up next for the REDBLACKS are three crucial games against divisional opponents. Two of those matchups will see the REDBLACKS go toe-to-toe with the Als while the other will be against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“This four game set; this game today, and then going to Montreal two times and then playing Hamilton here, those four games are going to go a long way to determine how the rest of the season finishes out,” said Campbell. “We’re 1-0 as far as that little four game set and it’s going to be a tough game in Montreal but I know our guys are going to be ready to go.”
