The Ottawa Redblacks may be facing a quarterback controversy after Jake Maier struggled in Friday's preseason game, while former starter Dru Brown shined in relief. Maier, recently named the starting quarterback for the upcoming season, completed just six of nine passes for 35 yards and failed to move the offense before leaving late in the second quarter with the team trailing 3-0.
Brown's Impactful Performance
Dru Brown, the Redblacks' starting QB for the past two seasons, entered the game with 5:13 left in the first half. He quickly turned the tide, completing seven of eight passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns, giving Ottawa a 14-3 lead at halftime. Brown benefited from good field position after a forced fumble by Lucas Cormier and recovery by Luiji Vilain. His first touchdown came on a cross-field toss to rookie Sam Schnee, and his second was a four-yarder to Kalil Pimpleton after a pass interference penalty.
Other Quarterbacks Shine
Rookie Max Duggan took over in the third quarter and led a five-play, 63-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run by Rory Starkey. Duggan completed six of nine passes for 69 yards. Bryson Barnes also saw action, completing three of six passes for 46 yards. Rookie Marcus Barnes added a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Maier's Struggles
Maier's performance was a stark contrast to his previous preseason outing, where he completed 10 of 14 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. On Friday, the offense was feeble in the first quarter, starting with a dropped ball by a wide-open Pimpleton. The Redblacks failed to move the chains in four possessions, while the defense held firm, forcing turnovers on Montreal's first two drives.
Defensive Highlights
Cornerback Shakur Brown intercepted a pass in the end zone, and the defense stopped Montreal on a third-and-two gamble at the Ottawa 45-yard line. The Alouettes finally scored on a 20-yard field goal by Michael Horvat with 9:48 left in the second quarter.
Looking Ahead
The Redblacks finished the preseason with a 2-0 record after a 27-3 victory. They open the regular season on Saturday, June 6, against the Edmonton Elks at TD Place. Despite the quarterback controversy, head coach Ryan Dinwiddie has not indicated any change to his decision to start Maier.
