Sunday, October 21, 2018

 

REDBLACKS Football-Dodging the tornados



                                               Hunter Loft with Jean-Christophe Beaulieu


The wicked winds of September streaked across Ontario last Friday night. By the time they reached Ottawa, they had formed three tornadoes, with sufficient strength to cause hundreds of millions of dollars of damage. One of the whirlwinds jumped across the Ottawa River, causing extensive destruction in Gatineau, Quebec. Non-partisan winds.


Ever the troopers, we jumped in the car Saturday morning and headed to our nation's capital for the REDBLACKS' game against the Edmonton Eskimos. We had no idea about the extent of the damage. But once we entered the inner city, we knew something was amiss. None of the traffic lights worked, and there was chaos on the roads.


More than 150 000 hydro customers were affected by the storm. Fortunately, for us football fans, there was power in and around Lansdowne Park. Game on, girls and boys!! The stands filled slowly as people struggled to get to the game. We took the advised route by going to Canada Post headquarters, (the building where mail is stored!) and taking the bus from there. A normal half hour journey took more than an hour.


The game began at 4:00pm, in brilliant sunshine. The little flags on the top of the goalposts danced only slightly, indicating little or no significant wind on the field. In the first half, neither team was able to get the ball into the end zone on most opportunities. Fortunately for the REDBLACKS, their rookie kicker, Lewis Ward, was right on the money throughout the game. He blasted seven field goals through the uprights for the second time this season. Late in the game, Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris hit Greg Ellingson for a touchdown to complete the scoring. Final score: Ottawa 28, Edmonton 15. (Or should that read: Lewis Ward 21, Ottawa 7, Edmonton 15.)


The score was close throughout the game. Ottawa would nudge ahead, only to be caught by the Eskimos. Teams began the second half with Ottawa leading 12-7. They rolled down the field, but failed to move the ball on second down in the red zone. They got 3 points on their field goal to edge ahead 15-7. The Eskimos stormed back on a touchdown pass to their brilliant receiver, D'haquille Williams. Their two point convert tied the score. But those were the last points that the Eskimos tacked onto the scoreboard.


The game was marred by penalty flags, turnovers and bad decisions. But all of those things, as well as some brilliant play, made for an exciting afternoon of football. The REDBLACKS now enjoy a bye week, whereas the Eskimos will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on September 29th.


Our grandson, Hunter, spent an hour after the game meeting with many of the players from both teams. They were all very pleasant and courteous, Chatting with him, signing his Belleville Minor Football League jersey. One player gave him his headband. Another told him that he was sorry, that he could not give him his gloves because they cost $ 45, plus tax, and he had to pay for them himself!!


We drove back to The County after the game, hesitating at all of the non-functioning traffic lights. A great way to spend a very fine Canadian autumn day!!


James Hurst
September 25, 2018

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