In the first game of the 2008 CFL season, the Tiger-Cats suffered a 33-10 loss at the hands of their East Division rivals, the Montreal Alouettes, at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Thursday.
The first play from scrimmage saw Jykine Bradley set the tone early with a huge hit on Alouettes receiver Danny Desriveaux. The Alouettes would post the game’s first points on that drive however, as kicker Damon Duval connected on a 31-yard field goal to give the visitor’s an early three point advantage.
After a failed third-and-one gamble gave the Als possession on Hamilton’s 45, veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo found Kerry Watkins for a nine-yard touchdown.
At the end of one quarter, the Alouettes led 10-0.
Following two more field goals by Duval, the Ticats made their first mark on the scoreboard. Casey Printers engineered an impressive 10-play, 99-yard drive that resulted in a 17-yard field goal. During that drive, Printers found veteran receiver Pat Woodcock, who made his Ticats debut on Thursday, three times for gains of 17, 18 and 31 yards.
After one half of play, the Black and Gold trailed 16-3.
The Ticats defence began to show its teeth in the second half, with Nautyn McKay-Loescher bringing down Calvillo for a big quarterback sack, followed by a forced two-and-out. Markeith Knowlton proved to be a force on the field as well, bringing down the opposition all over the field. Knowlton would finish with 14 defensive tackles in the game, the second highest single-game total in Ticats history.
Calvillo and the Als would eventually solve the Cats ‘D’ as the former Ticat pivot hit Watkins for their second touchdown combination of the game – this time from 32-yards out.
Tre Smith made the first of his two big plays on the ensuing kickoff, returning the ball 31 yards to the Ticats 49-yard line. Unfortunately for the 20, 587 in attendance, the Cats offence didn’t move the ball on the following possession.
After the Alouettes scored 10 more points courtesy of Duval’s fourth field goal and an Avon Cobourne touchdown run, the Black and Gold trailed 33-3.
Tre Smith would once again provide a spark in the fourth with a spectacular 75-yard touchdown run down the middle of the field. The rookie from Auburn’s efforts proved to be too little, too late, however, as the Ticats would suffer a 33-10 loss in the 2008 season opener.
