GUELPH In the early stages of the 2013
Canadian Football League season, there were two main criticisms levelled
at this Hamilton Tiger-Cats team: a porous defence that surrendered too
many points and a collective inability to finish games.
Not anymore.
For the second straight week, the Ticats
came through in the clutch, beating the Toronto Argonauts, 24-18, in
front of a raucous Thanksgiving Day Monday crowd in Guelph. The win was
sealed by an end-zone interception of Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray —
his first such error of the season — and head coach Kent Austin says
it's the latest sign his Hamilton club is continuing to get better.
"A couple of times this year, we haven't
been able to close teams out on that side of the ball," Austin said.
"They were able to do that tonight against a great quarterback."
Hamilton got a strong performance from
running back C.J. Gable, who gained 118 yards rushing and another 46
through the air while posting a touchdown. Quarterback Henry Burris went
27-of-36 passing for 350 yards, no touchdowns and one interception,
while changeup and short-yardage quarterback Dan LeFevour punched in two
TDs.
The home side also got some bounces. A
first-quarter fumble by receiver Luke Tasker was kicked through the end
zone by the Argos' Jalil Carter: Instead of a turnover, Hamilton was
credited with a safety and scored a touchdown off the ensuing
possession, as well.
And kicker Brett Lauther's struggles
continue: He missed his only field-goal attempt, a 28-yarder in the
third quarter that could have been costly. The rookie is now six-for-10
on the season and his inconsistency may prompt the return of veteran
Luca Congi.
The Ticats were, at times, sloppy on both sides of the ball.
"We made a lot of mistakes that we have to
clean up, but we made a lot of plays, too," Austin said. "I'm concerned
about everything: We have to get better."
The Ticats led 24-11 heading to the fourth
quarter but the Argo comeback — they have eight come-from-behind wins
this season — was almost inevitable. Ray, who finished with more than
300 yards and two touchdowns in his first game back after missing six
contests with a shoulder injury, took the Argo offence 92 yards and
finished it with a beautiful 12-yard rainbow to Jason Barnes in the back
of the end zone. That cut the lead to six midway through the final
quarter.
But Ticat punter Josh Bartel pinned the
double blue at the their own three-yard line with just under four
minutes to play and Ray moved them to the Ticat 37, dissecting the
Hamilton defence chunk by chunk. But, on the 11th play of the drive, and
on third down, Ray took his shot to the end zone and was intercepted by
Arthur Hobbs.
"To see our defence put the game away when
the pressure was on, that gives our team a lot of confidence," said
Burris. "It shows that we're becoming that team that can get the job
done when the pressure is on and we're going to need to be that way
going into the playoffs."
With the win, the Ticats improve to 8-7 and
pull within two points of the Argos for first place in the East — and
they now hold the tiebreaker over Toronto with the season series win.
Montreal's loss to Winnipeg earlier Monday means Hamilton is four points
clear of the Alouettes for second in the division, and the home playoff
date that comes with it. The Ticats travel to Montreal next Sunday in
the first of a key home-and-home set.
They'll head into those games brimming with confidence.
"It means a lot to us. We needed this," said
Gable. "We know we have a good team here and we show it some games and
some we don't. Now we're putting it all together."
NOTES: The Ticat scratches were linebackers Jamall Johnson and Frédéric Plesius, both of whom missed the game with injury, running back Chevon Walker
and Congi. ... Attendance was 13,362, the largest Guelph crowd of the
season. ... The Ticats set a new Purolator Tackle Hunger record at
Monday's game with fan and corporate donations totalling 220,500 pounds
of food.
