Crum et Dedmon mènent le ROUGE ET NOIR à la victoire de présaison contre les Ti-cats

It’s been a long time since DeVonte Dedmon had an extended, healthy look as the Ottawa REDBLACKS kick returner, but it took only three chances with the ball in his hand to electrify RNation.

After a 37-yard return helped to set up a four-yard touchdown by Ryquell Armstead in preseason action against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saturday, Dedmon’s next effort was a blazing 91-yard run across Tim Hortons Field, for his first CFL return major since 2021. The pair of scores set the table for a 108-yard performance by Dustin Crum where he threw one touchdown, and rushed for another, as the REDBLACKS cruised to a 31-22 victory.

Dru Brown started the game in a limited outing, throwing for 26 yards while completing four of six passes, and Jake Dunniway closed things out.

The Ti-Cats opened the scoring with an early Marc Liegghio field goal, but an efficient drive from Brown put the REDBLACKS in scoring position, when receiver Khalil Pimpleton drew a pass interference penalty at the Hamilton four-yard line. Brown handed off to Armstead who punched in the touchdown, capped off by a Michael Domagala PAT.

After both defences stood tall, Dedmon found a hole on his third return attempt of the day, and ignited the Ottawa sideline to make it a 14-3 game.

Ti-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell would later connect with Shemar Bridges for a 35-yard score, and after the REDBLACKS found a rouge, and Liegghio made good on another field goal try, Ottawa found themselves with a 15-13 lead at the half.

Another field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter put Hamilton up by one, but on the very next possession, Crum connected with Jon’Vea Johnson and Keaton Bruggeling to drive the REDBLACKS down the field, before finding Johnson in the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown.

Though a two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, the Ottawa defence got the ball back, when Jamare Edwards sacked Ti-Cats pivot Taylor Powell, knocking the ball loose, and allowing Jermaine McDaniel to recover the loose football, and set the REDBLACKS up at the Hamilton 25. 

A Crum pass to Kylin Hill gained nine yards, before the REDBLACKS quarterback fooled the Ti-Cats defence on a bootleg, and scampered 11 yards into the endzone.

Trailing 28-16 in the fourth quarter, Kevin Thompson entered at quarterback for the home team, and threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Dev Holmes, but the REDBLACKS stood tall on the two-point conversion attempt, holding on to a six-point lead.

A solid drive led by Dunniway, and Ronnie Brown put Ottawa back in scoring range, before Domagala converted on a 27-yard kick to make it 31-22.

The Ti-Cats had one last chance to get back into the game with time winding down, but a third down pass was broken up by Dishon McNary, scoring the victory for the REDBLACKS.

Ottawa will play their final preseason action on May 31 at 7:30pm, facing the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes at TD Place.