Johany Jutras/The Canadian Press
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats dropped a 19-13 contest against the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday night at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Rookie receiver Prechae Rodriguez led the way offensively with 10 receptions for 155 receiving yards while Jykine Bradley made five tackles and one interception.
Each team put three points on the board in the opening frame thanks to a 47-yard field goal by Hamilton’s Nick Setta and a 10-yard triple off the foot of Edmonton’s Noel Prefontaine.
Defence continued to dominate in the second quarter. A 36-yard field goal by Prefontaine would mark the second frame’s only scoring, as each team would combine for just 184 offensive yards through one half of play while punting 14 times collectively
The Ticats offence came out of the gate on a mission to begin the second half. Printers led the Cats deep into Eskimos territory, supplementing strong runs by Lumsden with passes to Jo Jo Walker, Prechae Rodriguez and Chris Bauman. Unfortunately for the former Most Outstanding Player, he was forced out of the game with the ball on Edmonton’s 14-yard line with a minor injury to his throwing hand. With Richie Williams ttaking over at quarterback, Nick Setta finished the drive with a 16-yard field goal to knot the score at 6.
Edmonton would put together an impressive drive on the following possession, as Eskies quarterback Ricky Ray picked apart the Ticats defence down to Hamilton’s 15-yard line. With the Eskimos threatening to score the game’s first major, Jykine Bradley would step in front of a potential touchdown pass for his first interception of the season.
The quarter ended on an unsettling note. After making a reception, Eskimos receiver Jason Tucker was hit hard by Bradley, leaving both men motionless on the field. Bradley would walk off the field on his own power but Tucker would have to leave via ambulance.
Prefontaine’s third field goal of the game would give the Eskimos a 9-6 lead moments later.
Seeing his first meaningful action of the season with Printers still on the sidelines, Richie Williams made his presence felt on the Cats next possession. On the first play, Williams hit Rodriguez with a 46-yard pass to put the ball on the Eskimos 29. Jesse Lumsden would take a Williams handoff the rest of the way, scoring the evening’s first touchdown on a 29-yard run to put the home side ahead by four.
The Green and Gold would respond when the ball returned to their hands, however, as Ray put together a 6:21, 14-play which finished with a 11-yard touchdown pass to Kelly Campbell.
Now leading 16-13, the Eskimos added to their lead in the game’s final minute. Prefontaine connected on his fourth field goal to finish off a time-consuming drive and put the Eskimos up 19-13.
Needing a touchdown with just 38 seconds remaining, Williams hit Rodriguez with two more receptions – the second one for a 46-yard gain to put the Cats on Edmonton’s 27. Unfortunately for the 21, 402 in attendance, that’s as close as the Black and Gold would get to the end zone as Bradley Robinson picked off Williams’ last second pass to send the Ticats home with their third consecutive loss.
