It’s a common refrain for the Ottawa Redblacks, but remaining positive is a necessity for the 0-13 team.
asserted
remaining → ’ → team
The Redblacks are coming off a heartbreaking 40-38 loss to the Calgary Stampeders (6-8) who pulled off a victory with a 62-yard walk-off field goal by Rene Paredes with two seconds remaining.
asserted
who → come → seconds
The two teams square off again Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital, where Ottawa will look to snap a 19-game losing streak dating back to last September.
asserted
Ottawa → square → September
“Can’t call it, it’s tough man,” said Redblacks receiver Kalil Pimpleton.
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Pimpleton → call → it
“We’ve been in these battles all year and haven’t been able to pull one out.
asserted
We → pull → one
It’s obviously tough, but like we said earlier in the year, it’s a professional business and we’re in it to win and just haven’t found a way to get one yet but we’re still searching.”
asserted
we → ’ → one
Finding a fresh message for a team mired in a lengthy losing streak isn’t easy, and with five games remaining, head coach Ryan Dinwiddie knows motivation ultimately has to come from within.
asserted
motivation → find → within
“You’re playing for the love of the game and competing,” he said.
asserted
he → play → game
“I know we’re not competing for standings or a playoff spot, but we’re going out there competing, playing football the right way.”
asserted
we → know → football
Dinwiddie felt his team deserved a better fate last week, but said his team has dealt with the adversity well.
asserted
team → feel → adversity
“They’ve handled it the best they can,” Dinwiddie said.
asserted
Dinwiddie → handle → it
“Obviously, we’ve got to play better on the field, but that was a tough loss, especially losing that way, especially when you’re trying to get a monkey off your back to get a win.”
asserted
you → get → win
The Redblacks will once again turn to MacLeod Bethel-Thompson at quarterback.
asserted
Redblacks → turn → quarterback
The veteran got his first start last week against Calgary, throwing for 379 yards and five touchdowns.
asserted
veteran → get → yards
At 38, Bethel-Thompson doesn’t take the opportunity for granted.
asserted
Thompson → take → opportunity
At the start of the season he was enjoying being back in San Francisco, spending time with his young daughter and working with young quarterbacks.
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he → enjoy → quarterbacks
He understands his role and is just trying to support his fellow pivots.
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He → understand → pivots
“The big thing is leadership and the micro thing is just being the best version of myself for each play,” Bethel-Thompson said.
asserted
Thompson → say → play
“One play at a time, take what the defence is giving us, make every play right and if there is a mistake try to be the solution that makes up for other people’s mistakes.”
asserted
that → take → mistakes
Justin Hardy emerged as a favourite target for Bethel-Thompson last week.
asserted
Hardy → emerge → Thompson
Hardy was targeted 19 times and finished with 12 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown.
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Hardy → target → yards
The Stampeders will be looking to build off last week’s victory as they attempt to remain in playoff contention.
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they → look → contention
A Calgary win over Ottawa, combined with an Edmonton victory over Hamilton, would guarantee at least four West Division teams finish with eight or more wins, ensuring a West-to-East crossover in the playoffs.
asserted
teams → combine → playoffs
Calgary would prefer not to let things come down to the final play despite having full confidence in Parades.
asserted
things → prefer → Parades
“We can’t really start off slow and we can’t get into a lull like we kind of did last week,” said Calgary wide receiver Jalen Philpott.
asserted
Philpott → start → lull
“So, just come out and execute every play, every down and just put our best foot forward and I think we’ll be OK.”
asserted
we → come → foot
No better time for the Redblacks to get a win than Dinwiddie’s 100th career game as a head coach.
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Redblacks → get → coach
He has a record of 51-48.
asserted
He → have → 51
WATCH US RUN:
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US → watch → ?
Pimpleton leads the CFL with 2,459 all-purpose yards, ahead of Calgary’s Tyreik McAllister with 2,380.
asserted
Pimpleton → lead → 2,380
Deonta McMahon led Calgary’s rushing attack last week in his Stampeders debut with a career-high 102 rushing yards on 15 carries, adding 24 receiving yards on three catches.
asserted
McMahon → lead → catches
This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 25, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
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