All-world Lewis Ward sets ball-booting record of consistency

While Adam Vinatieri is gearing up to break a record, he actually had his record broken. The following story is courtesy of Ottawa Sun.

“The record of the universe.”

That’s what TD Place P.A. man Mike Sutherland dubbed the incredible foot-feat accomplished by Redblacks rookie ball-booter Lewis Ward in the first quarter of Friday’s game against the Hamilton Ticats.

Ward set a new professional football mark when he kicked his 45th consecutive field goal, surpassing the standard set by Adam Vinatieri, aka “Mr. Clutch,” of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2016 NFL season.

Not only did he carve his name in the history books — albeit with a run of success the NFL will surely never acknowledge — Ward did so in style.

After tying the mark with a 23-yarder 6:27 from the end of the quarter, Ward was called on again at the end of the next Ottawa drive, which was set up by Sherrod Baltimore’s first CFL interception.

This time, he lined up for a 52-yarder, when his previous best was from 47 yards out.

With a wind that was 28 km/h strong at the start of the game behind him, Ward split the uprights with plenty of room to spare.

Ward later smiled when asked about hitting one from 52 yards, calling it a “juicy number.”

Of the seconds leading up to the kick, he added: “On the sideline I didn’t think about it too, too much. Getting out there I knew it was a far kick, and I knew it was an important kick. Thankful that the coaches had confidence in me, my team had confidence in me to come out and do what I needed to do. It worked out.”

Sutherland made the announcement moments later, prompting a strong ovation from the hometown crowd. At the same time, the video board camera focused on Ward, who was standing on the sidelines, wearing a toque, grinning at the acknowledgement while simultaneously applauding the fans and giving them the thumbs up sign.

In a season full of up-and-down inconsistencies for the Redblacks, Ward has been a refreshing constant. For a stretch of time, at least, he can also be called the most consistent kicker in the history of pro football.