The Tiger-Cats were defeated 38-33 by the Edmonton Eskimos in a turnover-filled game at Commonwealth Stadium. Markeith Knowlton and Geoff Tisdale each made two interceptions for the Black and Gold while receiver Prechae Rodriguez scored the first two touchdowns of his career.
Marcel Bellefeuille’s debut as interim head coach didn’t begin the way he had envisioned. Ticats quarterback Casey Printers was intercepted by Jason Goss on the second play from scrimmage, and the Eskimos defensive back returned the ball 49-yards to give Edmonton an early 7-0 lead.
Printers and the Ticats bounced back on their next possession, constructing a 56-yard drive that ended in a 38-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 a little over five minutes into the game.
Printers picked up right where he left off on the Cats next drive. The former Most Outstanding Player used his legs and his arm to put together an eight play, 97-yard drive that culminated with Printers hitting Prechae Rodriguez with an 18-yard touchdown pass – the first touchdown of the rookie receiver’s career – to make it 10-7 for the Black and Gold.
The defence would once again snuff out the Eskimos next drive, this time with linebacker Markeith Knowlton picking off a Ricky Ray pass.
The first quarter would end with the Cats ahead 10-7.
Hamilton struck again early in the second quarter, as Printers would connect with Rodriguez on the rookie’s second touchdown reception of the game, this one a 10-yard toss, to give the Ticats a 17-7 advantage.
The Eskimos would mount a furious comeback in the next few minutes, however.
First, quarterback Ricky Ray would end a long drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. Then, after Esks defensive back Jonte Buhl picked off a tipped Printers pass, Ray threw a 41-yard bomb to receiver Kelly Campbell, who found the end zone to put Edmonton up by four with 9:26 left in the half.
Neither team would add to their totals before halftime, resulting in a 21-17 Eskimos lead.
The Ticats secondary would continue their opportunistic play early in the second half, as Markeith Knowlton would intercept a Ricky Ray throw and return the ball 30 yards down to the Eskimos’ six yard line.
Three plays later, Nick Setta would split the uprights from nine yards out to make it a one-point contest.
With the Ticats poised to retake the lead inside Edmonton’s 20-yard line, former Ticat Jason Goss intercepted Printers again, and returned the ball 94 yards to Hamilton’s end zone to make the score 28-20 in favour of the home side.
The fourth quarter began with the Eskimos holding an eight-point lead, which was quickly reduced by Geoff Tisdale. The rookie defensive back continued the Ticats impressive defensive play by stepping in front of a deflected Ricky Ray pass. Tisdale would return the interception 59 yards for a touchdown. The point after would cut the Cats deficit to a single point with 14:35 remaining.
After a Noel Prefontaine field goal extended the Esks’ lead to four, the Cats defence came up with yet another turnover. Markeith Knowlton stripped the ball from Edmonton receiver Kamau Peterson’s grasp, allowing Ticats defensive end Terrence Patrick to recover the fumble.
A few minutes later, a 45-yard field goal by Nick Setta made it a one-point game once again at the midpoint of the final frame.
Following a failed Eskimos drive, the Ticats were given the ball back with a little over five minutes remaining. Printers would guide the Black and Gold into Eskimos territory, where Nick Setta’s fourth field goal of the game gave the Ticats a 33-31 lead with 2:05 left.
Edmonton wouldn’t roll over and die, however, as Ricky Ray and the Eskimos offence marched 75 yards down the field, allowing running back Calvin McCarty to run 21 yards for a touchdown and a 38-33 advantage.
Unfortunately for the Black and Gold, any chance for a victory in this turnover-filled contest would be ended by yet another turnover. This time, Casey Printers fumbled while scrambling, and Edmonton defender Kenny Onatolu pounced on the ball to end the Ticats potential game-winning drive.
When the gun sounded, the Ticats would leave the field on the wrong end of a 38-33 final.
