Contributions from Canadians keep injury-plagued Ottawa Redblacks in thick of CFL East race
Okpoko and Ageli are prime examples of the Canadians who have stepped up to make big plays on a shorthanded roster.
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While most of the few hundred fans in attendance at McMahon Stadium last Saturday were cursing the miserable conditions, a small, huddled group of about 20-strong who kept dry under an overhang at the top of the stands will remember it as a beautiful day.
Those Calgary residents were family members and friends of Daniel Okpoko, a second-year Ottawa Redblacks player who registered his first CFL sack while playing, by his estimation, a career-high 32-34 defensive snaps.
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“It was amazing. I’ve been waiting a long time for that one,” Okpoko said of the sack. “To get it in front of my mom, brother, sister …. it felt so nice.”
Okpoko, who the Redblacks selected in the second-round pick (11th overall) of the 2024 Canadian College Draft, is a seasoned veteran compared to Muftah Ageli, another defensive lineman who was Ottawa’s fourth-round pick (33rd overall) this year.
Still a couple of weeks from his 22nd birthday, the former Windsor Lancer was making his CFL debut.
Ageli’s time in the game was short but impactful.
“Muftah only got five snaps in the game before he got his concussion, but he did a good job,” said head coach Bob Dyce.
“Five snaps, one sack, and it was by being disciplined. Because if he wasn’t in the lane he needed to be, he wouldn’t have gotten that sack.”
The Redblacks only have three sacks as a team through three games, and Okpoko and Ageli are prime examples of the Canadians who have stepped up to make big plays on a shorthanded roster.
How shorthanded?
The loss of Ageli means the Redblacks have 14 players on their one-game injury list and three more on the six-game.
Of the 17 players, 12 are Canadians.
Yet Ottawa is still considered a 2.5-point favorite for Sunday night’s “Canada Day” game at TD Place against the defending champion Toronto Argos, a clash of significant importance given that it’s only Week 4 of the CFL season.
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When the Hamilton Ticats (1-2) handed the Montreal Alouettes (3-1) their first loss on Friday night, it kept the East Division standings compressed.
The Redblacks (1-2) will be looking not only for some momentum and their first home win of the season on Sunday, but also to keep the winless Argos (0-3) in their rear view mirror.
With Toronto No. 1 quarterback Chad Kelly still not ready to return from a knee injury, the game will be a battle of the backups, with former Redblacks QB Nick Arbuckle and Ottawa’s Dustin Crum calling the signals.
Arbuckle’s last win was in November, when he was named the MVP in the Argos’ second championship win in three years.
Crum will be making his second start after guiding Ottawa to a 20-12 victory over the Calgary Stampeders at a rainy, windy and cold McMahon Stadium last Saturday.
Lambasted by head coach Ryan Dinwiddie for taking too many penalties in last week’s final play loss to Saskatchewan, the Argos will be desperate to break into the win column.
“We don’t talk about them being 0-3, we talk about them being the defending Grey Cup champs,” said Dyce. “The guy starting a quarterback won the Grey Cup for them. Ryan is a great coach. So we don’t worry about the record. We’re more focused on us and what we have to do, not our opponent’s record.
“We’re at a point where we know we’re playing an Eastern opponent, and we have an opportunity to keep a team behind us down and allow ourselves to move up and keep pace with Montreal.”
Among the additions to the Ottawa infirmary is cornerback Adrian Frye, who suffered a knee injury last week in a game in which he had his league-leading third forced fumble. Alijah McGhee, a starter last season, will replace Frye, while American Gavin Heslop will make his CFL debut and see some action in the secondary.
They also remain without two starting Canadian offensive linemen, which, because of the import ratio, limits the number of snaps running back William Stanback can play.
With Ageli out, Canadian Anthony Bennett will join the rotation by making his Redblacks debut on the D-line.
“Everybody plays better when they’ve had a little break,” says Dyce. “So it’s been really good for the defensive line, keeping everybody ready to play at a high level and fresh at all times.”
While “Canada Day” celebrations at TD Place will include a live concert by JUNO AWARD-winning rockstar JJ Wilde and a post-game fireworks display, Okpoko would like to celebrate his continued progression with a new personal best snap count.
At the same time, he’s not at all growing impatient for more chances. Instead, Okpoko is content to take what is given him
“In our D-line room, there are so many people you can learn from,” said the former San Diego State Aztec. “I’m just being able to pick up a lot from them and show that I’m putting those pieces together.”
Dyce likes what he has seen from the guy nicknamed “Big Maple” at his U.S. college
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“This is Daniel’s second year and I always say I really expect a boost in the second year,” said Dyce. “Daniel is showing everything that we thought when we drafted him. He’s playing physical. He’s such a great athlete for his size. I mean, you’d never believe he’s close to 280 pounds. He looks like he’s about 250. And he’s benefited from the fact that he’s playing defensive end as well as inside.”
Meanwhile, playing a Canada Day game in the nation’s capital is special for Okpoko.
“Being like a Canadian, living in Canada and growing up here, and being able to play in this game means a lot,” he said. “Growing up, you see games like this all the time watching TSN, and you’re just like ‘oh, that was cool.”
Walking away with a win would be the best way to cap the day.
“Anytime you’re going up against a team in your division, you always have to try to get one step ahead of them,” said Okpoko. “Because at the end of the year, everything is always crazy. In the CFL, you never know what’s going to happen.
“I know they’re going to come in here and play good football. But we’re also going to play better football.”
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