Redblacks try to get right before playoffs vs. Tiger-Cats

Field Level Media|published: Thu 24th October, 21:22 2024

Jun 16, 2024; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; Hamilton Tiger Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (19) throws a touchdown pass in the third quarter against the Saskatchewan Rough Riders at Tim Hortons Field. Mandatory Credit: Gerry Angus-Imagn Images

The Ottawa Redblacks will try to snap a five-game losing streak and build momentum for the playoffs when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Friday night's regular-season finale.

The Redblacks (8-8-1) woke up to score 25 points in the fourth quarter last weekend at Toronto, but the rally fell short in a 38-31 setback. They'll get another shot at the Argonauts in the East Division semifinal on Nov. 2.

The Tiger-Cats (7-10) have won five of their last six games but are missing the CFL playoffs for the first time since 2017. Hamilton is coming off a 42-20 home victory against Calgary last weekend.

The teams split the previous meetings this season, with Ottawa winning 24-22 at home on June 30 and Hamilton notching a 37-21 victory at home on Sept. 14 -- the first loss in the Redblacks' current skid.

Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has already wrapped up his first CFL passing title with 5,026 yards -- more than 1,000 ahead of second-place Zach Collaros of Winnipeg.

Mitchell has a shot to eclipse his career high (5,385 in 2016) and break the Hamilton franchise record of 5,367 set by Henry Burris in 2012.

"It means a lot to show the work put in (during) the offseason, it means a lot to show what this offense has done all year despite the record," Mitchell said. "When we play good football, we are hard to beat right now."

Redblacks wideout Justin Hardy is also within reach of a milestone, but he'll sit out Friday to ensure he's fully healthy for the playoffs.

Hardy needed 127 receiving yards to pass BC's Justin McInnis for the receiving title, with the Lions having already wrapped up their regular season. Hardy leads the CFL with 97 receptions and is second with 1,343 yards.

"If you talk to Justin, he's just about team performance ... He's not worried about those things," Redblacks coach Bob Dyce said, according to the Ottawa Citizen. "He knows the most important thing going forward to next week is to make sure he's 100 percent then. So he's not going to sacrifice himself and we're certainly not going to sacrifice him just for the sake of records."

Dyce said that Andre Miller would replace Hardy at receiver Friday. Miller has 13 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns in five starts this season.

--Field Level Media