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Henry Burris threw for six touchdowns and set a single-season record for completions as the Ottawa Redblacks clinched first place in the East Division with a 44-28 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.
Jacoby Harris was making his first CFL start. Hamilton needed to win by 6 to secure first place.
Early in the first quarter, after a Redblacks field goal, Brandon Banks returning the kick but he fumbles the ball to give Ottawa ball on the Ticats 19.
Banks would leave the game and would change into street clothes for a time, but he did return in the second half.
The Burris would go deep to former Ticats Greg Ellingson for a great catch. Ottawa were quickly up 10.
Second quarter with the score 17-3, Burris is picked off by Eric Norwood. He returns it down to the 1. They’d score, making it a 17-10 game.
During the celebration, Simoni Lawrence was right in the middle of the Redblacks side and some chirping occurs.
17-13 with 25 seconds left before halftime and Terrel Sinkfield finds room, picks up speed and returns it for 63 yards to set up an Andy Fantuz TD catch. Ticats led at the half 20-17.
Third quarter and Burris hits Mo Price for a 32 yard gain. They’d score.
And still in the 3rd, it’s 31-20 Redblacks. Ticats Justin Medlock with the onside punt and Rico Murray takes it in stride, all the way and it’s a 5 point game.
Fourth quarter, Henry Burris passes to Brad Sinopoli for 10 yards and a touchdown which made it 37-26.
Later, Henry Burris passes to another former Ticat, Chris Williams for 24 yards for a touchdown.
With that, Burris sets the single season completion record. Final score 44-26.
Ottawa finishes in first place in the east after winning just 2 games last year. Hamilton will host the Argos in the east semi-finals next Sunday at 1pm.
Burris finished the day with 28 pass completions to give him 481 on the season. It broke the old record of 479 set by Ricky Ray with the Edmonton Eskimos back in 2005.
Ellingson had 152 yards receiving to become the fourth Redblacks receiver this season to go over 1,000 yards – along with Sinopoli, Williams and Ernest Jackson.
Hamilton finishes at 10-8 after a three game losing streak. Harris was 3 of 6 passing for 41 yards while Masoli was 11 of 21 for 148 yards. C.J. Gable was the leading rusher with 9 carries for 81 yards.
