Tyrie Adams wins 1st CFL start as Redblacks top Elks battle winless teams

Tyrie Adams picked up his first career win in his first CFL start on Friday night as the Ottawa Redblacks defeated the visiting Edmonton Elks 26-7.

Adams finished the game 14 for 20 for 185 yards and one touchdown. He also had 31 yards rushing.

Jarret Doege also made his first CFL start but didn’t fare as well, going 19 for 33 for 214 yards and one touchdown. He was picked three times and sacked four times in the defeat.

It had been 640 days since Ottawa last won at TD Place. The last win was also against the Elks – a 34-24 victory on September 28, 2021.

With the win, Ottawa improves to 1-2-0 this season, while Edmonton falls to 0-4-0.

Trailing 16–0 at halftime, the Elks got on the board in the third quarter on a drive that began with an unlucky Richie Leone kick that allowed Edmonton to begin his drive from center field.

Five plays later, Doege connected with Maurice Ffrench for a three-yard touchdown pass. Edmonton’s two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving it 16–6 late in the third quarter.

Ottawa extended its lead on the next drive with a 41-yard field goal from Lewis Ward, his fourth of the game, making it 19–6. Jake Julien singled for the Elks with a deep kick.

The Redblacks had a solid opening half.

They opened the scoring after taking advantage of interference from a defensive pass to Siaosi Mariner and turned it into a 35-yard field goal 10 minutes into the game.

Just over a minute later, Ottawa took a 10-0 lead when Marco Dubois took an Adams pass on 54 yards for the first offensive TD of the season.

A pair of 51- and 15-yard field goals from Ward in the second quarter completed the Redblacks’ scoring in the first half.

Edmonton will be back in action next Thursday against Saskatchewan, while Ottawa will head to Hamilton to face Hamilton next Saturday.