Burris on rematch vs. Ticats next week: ‘It’s going to be a dog fight’

HAMILTON – You wouldn’t know that Henry Burris’ last start was almost two months ago – that is until you talked to him after Friday night’s contest against the Tiger-Cats.

“If there’s one part that didn’t have the practice that’s needed it’s the voice,” Burris laughed when asked about losing his voice during the game. “This crowd was loud tonight, especially in the second half when they made a run. It was good that we were able to match it, come back and put some points on the board to keep the momentum on our side.”

In his first start since Week 9, Burris rushed in two majors for the REDBLACKS, while connecting on 27-of-39 passes for 393 yards and one touchdown pass.

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Ottawa held off a third quarter surge from the Tiger-Cats, who scored two touchdowns coming back to the field from half time, and left Tim Hortons Field with a 30-29 victory.

John Chiles scored the first major for the tabbies in the third quarter, followed by a rushing touchdown from CJ Gable, who was playing in his first game since being out with a knee injury.

But just over a minute later, the REDBLACKS swung the momentum right back in their favour, as Burris found Ernest Jackson for a 62-yard touchdown strike.

“Football is a game of momentum swings,” head coach Rick Campbell said after the game. “We had a good demeanor about us tonight in that we were just working the game and getting ready for the next play and we found a way to make the plays in the fourth quarter to get it done.”

It was the first half of the contest that set the tone for the REDBLACKS, as the team’s defence collected two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Taylor Reed recovered an Andy Fantuz fumble late in the first quarter while Andrew Marshall intercepted a Jeremiah Masoli pass in the second.

But perhaps the biggest play for Ottawa’s defence in the first half was when Forrest Hightower intercepted Masoli, who was looking for Brandon Banks in the end zone, to keep the Tabbies from scoring a touchdown late in the second quarter.

“We need more of that this year,” Campbell said of his team’s defensive effort. “That’s something we’ve been missing. Forrest Hightower made a tremendous play and then Andrew Marshall, who’s a defensive end, who I’m sure is going to give that ball to his baby girl, (did as well).

“Those are big plays and they swing the momentum in the game. Our defence has done a lot of hard work this year they just haven’t made those big plays that tonight we were able to.”

It’s been tough to close out games for the REDBLACKS this season, as they have struggled on numerous occasions to finish games strong. But on Friday night they were able to hang on to get the job done.

“It’s good to close out a close game,” said Campbell. “You can add this to our list (of close games), this is probably number 10. The feeling of winning and winning a close game is obviously huge. The good teams find a way to do it especially late in the season when you’re getting closer to playoff time. The good teams find a way to do it.”

And with playoffs just around the corner, Ottawa needs every single win it can get.

“Our defence has done a lot of hard work this year they just haven’t made those big plays that tonight we were able to.”

Rick Campbell

Heading into Friday night’s crucial matchup, the REDBLACKS held a one-point lead over the Ticats in the East. After the game? The gap widened to three.

“The number one thing is being able to have the cool composure out there amongst all of the craziness that’s going on,” said Burris when asked how to stay focused in such a crucial game. “That’s one of the traits and attributes that a quarterback has to have, especially when you’re playing in a game of this magnitude.”

Ottawa and Hamilton meet again next week in the back half of a home-and-home. The REDBLACKS will hope to keep widen the gap even more between themselves and their East Divison foes and as Burris alluded to, they want their crowd to be just as loud as the Ticats’ faithful were on Friday night.

“It’s going to be another dog fight. We have to make sure we come ready,” Burris said of the matchup next week. “We know our home faithful is going to come out for us. We’re asking them to get loud again for us and try to make it hard for them to communicate like it was for us tonight.”

Although his team came away with the win, and the much-needed two points, Campbell still knows his team has a lot to work on before they can get too comfortable in the top spot as they get set to face the final three games of the regular season.

“I thought we took a step forward as a football team tonight,” he said. “We’ve played better than we have as far as keeping it positive and tipping the odds in our favour and not hurting ourselves. We’re going to have to grow and get better because the stakes are getting higher as we go.”