The Tiger-Cats finished the preseason undefeated with a come-from-behind 28-21 win over the Argonauts in Toronto on Thursday night.
Quinton Porter scored the game winning touchdown on a nine-yard run with a little over a minute left, and RB Jesse Lumsden also scored a touchdown in his first game action of 2008.
The Argonauts offence began the game on a mission, needing only three plays and 55 seconds to travel 80 yards, where RB Dominique Dorsey scampered into the end zone from nine yards out to give the home side an early 7-0 lead.
The Ticats cut into the Argos lead with five minutes left in the first frame when the defence forced the Argos to a quick two-and-out possession after Nick Setta pinned them deep, making the count 7-2.
The quarter’s other big plays, a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown by Dorsey and an interception by Cats DB Chris Thompson, were erased by a penalty and instant replay respectively.
The early portion of the second quarter featured several missed opportunities for the Ticats, as Nick Setta missed a 52-yard field goal and a few defenders dropped potential interceptions. The Argonauts would make the Black and Gold pay for their missteps with a 105-yard touchdown drive with a little over five minutes left in the half, as Kerry Joseph found paydirt with a 10-yard run.
Down 14-2, shifty RB Terry Caulley responded immediately with a 60-yard kickoff return which set up a 21-yard field goal by Setta. Momentum continued to shift Hamilton’s direction on the Argos next possession, with the defence forcing another Toronto into another quick punting situation, where the Cats special teams stepped up to nearly block a punt, then smother Argos kicker Noel Prefontaine at the home side’s nine-yard line.
RB Jesse Lumsden found the end zone on the very next play, closing the Ticats gap to two points.
The Ticats offence finished the second quarter deep in Argos territory, but were unable to add to their score before time elapsed, ending the half with Toronto leading 14-12.
2007 CFL All-Star Zeke Moreno made the first big play of the second half, jumping in front of a Michael Bishop pass to intercept the ball at the Argos 28. A few plays later, Nick Setta gave the Cats their first lead of the game with a 20-yard chipshot field goal.
Ticats Running back hopeful Tre Smith made his presence felt on the final play of the third quarter, taking a handoff from Richie Williams 44 yards up the middle to Toronto’s 32-yard line. Smith displayed tremendous speed but was unable to beat the final defender to score. That run set up Setta’s third field goal of the contest, giving the Black and Gold an 18-14 lead with a little over 14 minutes left in the game.
That lead was short-lived, however, as Argos receiver/returner Bethal Johnson took a Setta punt 76 yards the other way for a touchdown to restore the Double Blue’s lead. The Argos defence turned up the heat soon after, forcing two turnovers (a Richie Williams interception by Orlondo Steinauer and a Willie Ponder fumble) to put the ball – and potentially the game — in Michael Bishop’s hands
Cats linebacker James Kinney would end the home side’s threat with an interception, giving Hamilton possession of the pigskin with 7:42 remaining.
After NickSetta tied the game at 21 with 2:11 to go, the Ticats defensive unit once again forced the Double Blue to punt. Tre Smith would once again show off his quickness on the punt return, running the ball back inside the Argos 10-yard line.
Rookie pivot Quinton Porter would take over from there, scrambling 10 yards into the end zone to put the Ticats up 28-21 with just over a minute left in the contest.
The Argonauts took the ball to midfield, but Bishop’s long pass intended for receiver Patrick Johnson was snatched by Cats safety Sandy Beveridge to seal a 28-21 win for the Tiger-Cats.
After finishing the preseason undefeated, the Ticats will host the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL season opener next Thursday, June 26 at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
The Ticats will also be hosting the second annual TigerTown Street Fest presented by Turtle Jack’s this Sunday, June 22 outside of the team’s downtown office at 1 Jarvis Street from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, click here.
Notes: Casey Printers exited the game in the third quarter after completing 15 of 24 pass attempts for 143 yards and rushing for 17 yards…RB Terry Caulley returned a kickoff 62 yards in the second quarter…S Dylan Barker left the game with a left leg injury in the first quarter…DB Chris Thompson had an intercepted overturned by instant replay in the first quarter…five players did not dress for the Ticats; WR Chris Bauman, LB Michael Botterill, DB Jykine Bradley, DL WR Earnest Jackson and DL Jermaine Reid.
