The Hamilton Tiger-Cats lost a thrilling 33-28 contest on Saturday afternoon at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Jesse Lumsden ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns while Chris Bauman made eight receptions for 90 yards for the Ticats.
The first quarter saw little scoring due to strong defence from both teams, as the Roughriders finished the opening frame with a 3-1 lead.
Scoring picked up in the second quarter. The visitors added to their score when quarterback Darian Durant, making his first career start, found fullback Neil Hughes with a three-yard touchdown pass to stretch their advantage to nine.
The Ticats answered that score on their next possession, as Casey Printers led a lengthy drive that ended with a Jesse Lumsden touchdown from two yards out.
Hamilton began a strong driver later in the quarter, only to see RIDERS PLAYER force the ball from Jesse Lumsden’s hands, allowing RIDERS PLAYER to recover. Saskatchewan took advantage of the turnover as Durant led a long drive deep into Ticats territory. Riders RB Wes Cates would find the end zone in the half’s final minute to give the Roughriders a 17-8 halftime lead.
The Black and Gold took the ball for the first possession of the third quarter. Saskatchewan quickly extinguished the Ticats scoring threat with a Lance Frazier interception.
The Ticats defence wouldn’t be outdone on the ensuing possession. With the Roughriders employing a trick play, Chris Thompson picked off a long pass by receiver Andy Fantuz. The Ticats would use their next possession wisely, as Jesse Lumsden’s second major of the game would cut the Roughriders lead to just two points.
After the Riders expanded their lead to nine thanks to a 30-yard Weston Dressler touchdown reception, Jesse Lumden scored his second touchdown on the game to cut the Ticats deficit to two points once again.
After each team traded field goals to make the score 27-25 Saskatchewan, Casey Printers hit Pat Woodcock with a 50-yard pass to set up a 41-yard field goal by Nick Setta to give the Cats their first lead of the game with 4:08 left to play.
The final minute would feature a controversial and heartbreaking finish for the Ticats.
With just 1:21 remaining in the game, Durant and the Riders offence took the field for what would almost certainly be their their final possession. After a pair of first downs, Durant connected with Dressler for a 67-yard catch-and-run play which saw Cats defender Jykine Bradley chase down the rookie receiver and knock the ball loose from his grasp.
The play was initially ruled a touchdown by the official on the field but was quickly challenged by Ticats head coach Charlie Taaffe. The play would be overtuned, as the replay clearly show Dressler fumbled prior to reaching the goal line. The Black and Gold’s celebration of the call would be short-lived, however, because the referee determined Saskatchewan would be awarded possession at the one-yard line after the ball rolled through the back of the end zone.
Wes Cates proceeded to score an anticlimatic touchdown on the following play, giving the Roughriders a now-legitimate 33-28 lead.
Down by five with only 32 seconds left, Printers and the Ticats offence were unable to generate any Ivor Wynne Stadium magic, sending the 20,874 in attendance home after an interception with two seconds left gave the Roughriders a 33-28 victory.
