Redblacks alone in 2nd in CFL East after beating Blue Bombers
1st winning season by Ottawa team since 1979
Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris joined a group of elite company in Saturday's 27-20 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The 40-year-old Burris surpassed 60,000 career passing yards, joining Anthony Calvillo and Damon Allen as the only three CFL pivots to accomplish the feat. Coming into the game only needing eight yards for the milestone, Burris threw for 413 yards on the Bombers, including 314 in the first half alone.
It's truly an honour. To be able to do it with this team, with all the fight we've had to put in to go through what we did last year to where we are now, it really just puts icing on the cake for me.- Redblacks QB Henry Burris on surpassing 60,000 career passing yards
Burris also orchestrated an 11-play, 70-yard touchdown drive in the dying moments of the fourth quarter, capped off by his one-yard scamper on a third-and-goal play to win the game.
"It's truly an honour," Burris said. "To be able to do it with this team, with all the fight we've had to put in to go through what we did last year to where we are now, it really just puts icing on the cake for me."
Burris completed his first pass attempt of the game for 15 yards to join Calvillo and Allen.
"I tell you, those guys paved the way for me," Burris said. "I've used a lot of things they've done to my advantage, to being able to extend my career. I'm thankful to have developed relationships with those guys."
The victory represented the first time an Ottawa CFL franchise (10-6) reached double digits in the win column since 1978. The Redblacks have also won six of their last eight games and secured the first winning season by an Ottawa club since 1979.
Playoff hopes take hit
With only one game remaining, the Bombers' (5-12) playoff chances took a hit with the loss.
Winnipeg tied the game 10-10 with 38 seconds remaining in the first half on Castillo's 42-yard field goal.
But Ottawa countered through Burris, who launched a 51-yard pass to Chris Williams for a 16-10 lead. Ottawa missed on the two-point convert attempt.
Winnipeg looked the stronger of the two coming out of the break and rattled off 10 points in the third quarter to take a 20-17 lead.
The Redblacks tied the game late in the fourth quarter on a Chris Milo field goal from 46 yards out.
The Bombers are off next week with their final bye of the season.
The Redblacks, who are tied for first in the East Division with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, begin a home-and-home with their rivals to close out the regular season starting next Sunday at Tim Hortons Field.
"This is what you play for, to get yourselves into these positions," Redblacks coach Rick Campbell said. "We are going to have to keep upping our game and keep getting better at stuff."