The Tiger-Cats ran all over the Argonauts in Toronto on Thursday night, cruising to a 32-13 win at the Rogers Centre. Jesse Lumsden ran for 189 rushing yards, part of a dominating ground attack that racked up 311 rushing yards for the Ticats.
Defence set the tone in the first quarter, as the Ticats held reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player Kerry Joseph and the Argos offence to under 30 total yards in the game’s first 15 minutes. Unfortunately for the Black and Gold, the defence they were facing is regarded as the one of the CFL’s finest, and they entered the second frame trailing 3-0.
Argos Mike Vanderjagt posted the first quarter’s only scoring play with a 50-yard field goal while his counterpart, Ticats kicker Nick Setta, was wide on a 52-yarder of his own.
The Ticats seemed to take the lead early in the second but a 55-yard Casey Printers-to-Tony Miles passing touchdown was called back due a holding penalty. The Ticats legitimately took a 7-3 lead a few minutes earlier when Casey Printers finished off a 9-play, 59-yard drive by scrambling across the goal line after a beautiful fake to Jesse Lumsden. On the previous play, Lumsden cut through the Double Blue’s defence for 16 yards, putting the ball inside the Argos five-yard line.
Toronto replied right away with a 52-yard drive of their own, with Vanderjagt connecting on a 27-yard field goal to cut the Ticats lead to one.
Hamilton would increase their lead on the ensuing drive. Printers strung together a series of precise passes and Jesse Lumsden continued to shred the Argos defence, leading to Printers’ second major of the evening on a one-yard plunge with 1:31 left in the half. Argos head coach Rich Stubler would challenge the call, but the Black and Gold’s 14-6 lead would stand and remain until halftime.
The Ticats ground game dominated in the first half, racking up 145 rushing yards. Lumsden led the way with 86, with Printers and Tre Smith adding 27 and 26 yards respectively.
Hamilton began the second half right where they left off. Printers once again put together a stellar drive, which included a 43-yard toss to Scott Mitchell. That play set up a five-yard touchdown run by Lumsden, making the score 21-6.
The home side fought back, however, as Kerry Joseph marched the Argos down the field on a seven-minute, 16-play drive that concluded with Joseph running the ball in from the eight-yard line to cut the Cats lead to eight.
A 69-yard Nick Setta punt single would tack on another point for the Ticats, giving Hamilton a 22-13 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Setta supplemented the Cats lead 44 seconds into the fourth with his first field goal of the game – this one from from 18-yards out.
The Black and Gold’s defence once again came up with a big play on Toronto’s next possession. With Joseph and the Double Blue’s attack moving systematically down the field and into Ticats territory, Ray Mariuz separated the ball from the grasp of Argos receiver Arland Bruce. Cats cornerback Lawrence Gordon would pounce on the loose ball, handing possession back to Printers and the offence.
The Ticats were unable to take advantage of the Argos miscue as Nick Setta’s 39 yard field goal hit the left upright after a short drive. Lumsden put the game away on the first play of the Ticats next possession however, as the 2007 East All-Star split the Boatmen’s defence once again for 57 yards – his longest run of the evening – for a game-clinching touchdown.
When the final gun sounded, the Ticats had earned their first road win in Toronto since July 30, 2001 and more importantly, their first win of the 2008 season.
