OTTAWA — Quarterback Dru Brown earned a little redemption against his former team helping lead the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 36-34 come-from-behind overtime win over the winless Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday night.
With the loss Ottawa falls to 0-6, while the Blue Bombers improve to 4-2.
Brown found Gavin Cobb for the winning play — a two-point convert in the new CFL overtime format that helps break ties after each team has two offensive possessions. Winnipeg then forced an incomplete Ottawa pass to seal it.
The teams exchanged field goals on the first two overtime possessions. Ottawa kicker Brett Lauther connected from 17 and 40 yards, while Sergio Castillo was good from 21 and 14 yards.
Jake Maier put together an impressive outing for the Redblacks, going 30-for-40 for 344 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Brown went 27-for-43 for 317 yards and two touchdowns. Brown was traded to Winnipeg after Ottawa chose Maier to be its No. 1 quarterback.
Brown played his best football when it counted. Trailing 26-19, he marched the Blue Bombers down field and connected with Ontaria Wilson at the goal line to tie the game 26-26 with 63 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Trailing 26-9, the Blue Bombers opened the final quarter with a fourth field goal, a 39-yard kick from Castillo. Brown then made it a one-score game with 7:15 remaining connecting with Nic Demski on an eight-yard touchdown pass.
Late in the third quarter, Ottawa put together an eight-play, 70-yard drive that ended with Maier finding Justin Hardy for a 12-yard touchdown, extending the Redblacks’ lead to 26-9.
Ottawa missed a golden opportunity to seize momentum early in the second half. A roughing-the-passer penalty advanced the Redblacks from the Winnipeg 40 to the Blue Bombers’ 15-yard line. A completion to Hardy set up first-and-goal at the two, but Winnipeg’s defence stood firm, stuffing Ottawa on three straight attempts before the Redblacks turned the ball over on downs.
After getting into the red zone a couple times in the first half, the Redblacks capitalized in the dying seconds of the second quarter.
Maier drove the team to the Winnipeg 13 and looked to connect with Eugene Lewis in the end zone, but a pass interference penalty negated the opportunity but set Ottawa up for first and goal.
Bryson Barnes punched in a one-yard touchdown to give Ottawa a 19-9 lead at the half.
The first half was a kicker’s duel with the teams combining for seven field goals.
Lauther had 47, 27, 18 and 29-yard field goals, while Castillo connected on 26, 53 and 24-yard kicks.
Blue Bombers: Host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday.
Redblacks: Host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, July 31.