In week four action the Ottawa Invaders and Toronto Raiders took to the field to see who would slip in to second place in Northern Football Conference standings. With both teams sitting at 2-1, something had to give Saturday night, setting up another football thriller in the nations capital.
Defensive pressure paved the way for offensive success in an Invaders week three victory over the Sudbury Spartans and Saturday’s game against Toronto was no different.
Off the opening kick Ottawa was able to stop the competition at their own 10 yard line. The Raiders had no where to go and surrendered a safety on fourth down. This not only gave the Invaders the first 2 points of the contest but early momentum as well.
From here the Invaders offence took over with Adam Gourgon running in the game’s first touchdown from 12 yards out. Toronto answered right back with Ricky Clarke returning his fourth kickoff, in as many games, for 6 points,. However, they were unable to tack on the extra point attempt which left Ottawa with a 9-6 lead as they regained possession of the pig skin.
TJ Williams set up the Invaders next touchdown with a brilliant 64 yard run, capped off by slotback Kyle Kavanaugh who was the second of 6 Invaders to score in the game. Jeff Hildreth slipped a pass in to Danny Mullins in the end zone for the 2 point conversion. Gourgon made it in from 19 yards out for his second touchdown before the first quarter ended as well. Jeff Morris was able to convert on the point after attempt giving Ottawa a 24-6 lead.
The Raiders answered next to get things going again with a 16 yard touchdown pass, followed by a 2 point conversion bring Toronto within 10 points. This would be the closest the visitors came to catching Ottawa however.
Jeff Hildreth hooked up with Danny Mullins for a 101 yard touchdown, setting a new franchise record. On his next opportunity Hildreth found Curtis Cates for a 38 yard score. Ottawa’s quarterback threaded the needle one more time with a 15 yard touchdown pass to Mat Harmer in the third quarter, before Maxim Bourgie provided the final nail in the coffin and punched it in from 6 yards out.
The Toronto Raiders were able to convert on the final play of the game, bringing the score to 51-22. Christian Contreras led Ottawa with 4 tackles on the day, however the real story of the game was the Invaders 533 total yards offence to the Raiders 199.
This victory moves Ottawa in to a tie for second place in the NFC with defending champions the Tri-City Outlaws. Ottawa is rewarded with a bye week, before they hit the road for back to back trips where they will face Tri-City and the Sault Ste. Marie Steelers in weeks 6 and 7.
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