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Lewis Ward's game-winning field goal leads Redblacks to victory against Stampeders
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    Lewis Ward’s game-winning field goal leads Redblacks to victory against Stampeders

    CALGARY — Lewis Ward kicked a 51-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to lead the Ottawa Redblacks to a 31-29 win over the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Thursday.

    Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 27-of-35 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown pass to Devonte Dedmon.

    After dressing as the Redblacks’ third quarterback in Ottawa’s last two games, Masoli made his first start since suffering a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon in a 21-13 road loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 8, 2023.

    Ryquell Armstead and Dustin Crum ran for touchdowns for the Redblacks (6-2-1), who are unbeaten in their last five games (4-0-1).

    Ward kicked three field goals for Ottawa, while Richie Leone added a single.

    Short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens ran for three touchdowns for the Stampeders (4-6), who lost for the first time at home this season in front of 17,692 fans at McMahon. Rene Paredes kicked two field goals, while punter Cody Grace had a pair of singles for Calgary.

    On the first play of the game, Calgary running back Peyton Logan fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Ottawa linebacker Frankie Griffen. The Redblacks had to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Ward to take an early 3-0 lead.

    The Stamps answered right back with a one-yard touchdown run by Stevens to cap off a six-play, 70-yard drive that was aided by a pair of penalties (a 15-yard face-mask penalty to Adarius Pickett and a 35-yard pass interference infraction to Brandin Dandridge).

    The Redblacks retook the lead at 8:07 of the first quarter thanks to a 25-yard TD run by Armstead just after Masoli completed a 27-yard pass to Jaelon Acklin during an efficient two-play drive.

    Once again, the Stamps replied with a one-yard touchdown rush by Stevens, this time to put an exclamation mark on a five-play, 75-yard drive. Ishmael Hyman was initially credited with catching a 46-yard TD pass from quarterback Jake Maier, but after review, it was deemed that the rookie Calgary receiver was down on the one-yard line.

    Ward kicked his second field goal of the game, this time from 19 yards out, at the end of the first quarter.

    Following a 75-yard punt single by Grace early in the second quarter, Leone kicked an 83-yard single of his own for Ottawa.

    After Grace’s second single of the quarter, Ottawa’s offence came alive as Massoli led the Redblacks on a six-play, 70-yard drive that he punctuated by tossing a nine-yard TD pass to Dedmon.

    The Redblacks carried that momentum into the third quarter as Masoli marched his team 83 yards down the field before giving way to Crum, who came into the game at quarterback to run for a one-yard TD on the 10th play of the drive.

    After a 29-yard field goal by Paredes at 9:23 of the third quarter, Stevens ran for his third touchdown of the game, this time from two yards out, at 4:51 of the fourth to pull the Stamps within two points.

    Paredes then split the uprights from 48 yards with 2:23 remaining on the clock to put the Stamps up 29-28 before Ward’s heroics led the Redblacks to victory on the final play of the game.

    UP NEXT

    Redblacks: Host the B.C. Lions (5-4) on Saturday, Aug. 24.

    Stampeders: Host the Edmonton Elks (2-7) on Monday, Sept. 2.

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    In a thrilling matchup between the Ottawa Redblacks and the Calgary Stampeders, it was Lewis Ward who emerged as the hero with a game-winning field goal to secure a victory for his team.

    The game was a back-and-forth battle between two powerhouse teams in the Canadian Football League. The Stampeders, known for their strong defense and explosive offense, were expected to give the Redblacks a tough challenge. However, it was the Redblacks who came out on top thanks to the clutch performance of their kicker, Lewis Ward.

    With the game tied in the final minutes, the Redblacks drove down the field and put themselves in position for a potential game-winning field goal. As the pressure mounted, Ward remained calm and focused, delivering a perfect kick that sailed through the uprights to give his team the lead.

    Ward’s accuracy and consistency have been a key factor in the Redblacks’ success this season. Known for his ability to come through in high-pressure situations, Ward has quickly become one of the top kickers in the league.

    The victory over the Stampeders was a statement win for the Redblacks, proving that they have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the CFL. With Ward leading the way, the Redblacks are poised to make a strong push for the playoffs and potentially contend for a championship.

    As fans celebrate the thrilling victory, they can’t help but marvel at the talent and composure of Lewis Ward. His game-winning field goal will go down as one of the memorable moments of the season, solidifying his status as a key player for the Redblacks.