CFL.ca
The Tabbies got a rude awakening on Thursday night, as they fell 33-10 to an experienced Montreal Alouettes club.
– The difference in the pedigree of the seasoned Als and the young Ticats showed early as Hamilton failed to convert a third and one, on a handoff, while Montreal faced a similar third and one on the next drive and made good on it with a QB sneak.
– Despite the loss, QB Casey Printers played well, completing 71 percent of his passes for 203 yards, adding another 33 yards on the ground. He relied on his athleticism several times as he evaded Montreal defenders, buying more time to make a throw.
– Printers favourite target on the night was WR Scott Mitchell who had his share of rookie mistakes early on, but showed an ability to get open on a consistent basis and finished the game as the Cats leading receiver with five catches for 72 yards.
– WR Pat Woodcock helped ignite the offence at the end of the first half hauling in three passes for 66 yards on one drive that resulted in a K/P Nick Setta field goal. Setta looked his usual all-star self completing his only field goal and averaging 45.6 yards on punts, with a his longest being a 62-yard blast.
– Providing the rest of the Ticats offensive points on the night was RB Tre Smith, who broke a 75-yard run in the fourth quarter. It’s tough not to route for the undersized tailback as he continues to provide a spark when the ball is in his hands.
– The defence was characterized by strong coverage downfield, which often forced Als QB Anthony Calvillo to scramble, but the spry pivot found lanes and kept plays alive.
– Calvillo was chased by a defensive linemen Darrell Adams and Nautyn McKay-Loescher, who had a sack each.
– While last year’s tackle leader LB Zeke Moreno kept up his ballhawk ways with seven takedowns, it was LB Markeith Knowlton who stole the show on defence with 14 tackles, the second highest single game total in Ticats history.
