The Tiger-Cats defeated the Montreal Alouettes in a 44-38 shootout at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Saturday. Rookie quarterback Quinton Porter threw for 429 passing yards and five touchdowns while receiver Prechae Rodriguez tied a Ticats team record with 12 receptions for 198 yards and three touchdowns.
The Alouettes game out of the gate firing on all cylinders, as Larry Taylor returned the opening kickoff 56 yards into Ticats territory. A few plays later, with the Alouettes scrimmaging from the Cats five-yard line and threatening to take an early lead, defensive back Geoff Tisdale forced the ball from veteran receiver Ben Cahoon’s hands and would eventually return the ball 87 yards the other way.
Two plays later, Ticats rookie pivot Quinton Porter found Earnest Jackson with a 13-yard touchdown pass on the rookie’s first catch as a pro, giving the Ticats a 7-0 lead with 2:27 elapsed from the clock.
Receiver Prechae Rodriguez helped the Ticats offence add to their totals on the team’s next possession, as the first-year receiver turned a Quinton Porter pass into a huge 86-yard gain. A few plays later, Porter would hit fullback Robert Pavlovic for a touchdown with one-yard out to put the Black and Gold up 14 with six minutes left in the first quarter.
Montreal would finish the opening frame’s scoring with a 12-yard field goal, making the score 14-3 after 15 minutes.
Jo Jo Walker provided the Ticats next big play on the opening play of the second quarter. The sophomore return man took a Damon Duval punt 78 yards the other way, all the way down to Montreal’s 13 yard line. A 25-yard Nick Setta field goal a few plays later extended the Cats lead to 14.
Quinton Porter continued his aerial onslaught on the Black and Gold’s next possession, as he led the Ticats on a nine-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Prechae Rodriguez, opening up a huge 24-3 advantage for the Ticats in front of 20,423 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
The Ticats offence sputtered on their next two drives, as Porter and receiver Scott Mitchell coughed up the ball on fumbles, leading to two Damon Duval field goals to close out the second quarter’s scoring.
After one half of play, the Ticats led 24-6.
Alouettes receiver Ben Cahoon made history in the third quarter. With his seventh catch of the game, the veteran receiver recorded his 831st career reception, allowing him to pass Ray Elgaard as the CFL’s top Canadian receiver. Cahoon would follow up his history-making catch by hauling in a seven-yard touchdown pass to bring the Alouettes within eight points.
Another Ticats fumble, this one by running back Tre Smith, gave the Als another opportunity to narrow the gap. Anthony Calvillo made the Black and Gold pay immediately, hitting Jamal Richardson with an 18-yard touchdown pass to make the score 24-23 with a little over four minutes left in the third quarter.
With momentum fully on Montreal’s side, Porter led the Ticats offence back onto the field looking to restore his squad’s lead. The Boston College would not disappoint, as he put together a prompt four-play drive that resulted in Rodriguez’s second touchdown of the game – this one a 23-yard toss.
Hamilton’s defence took the spotlight minutes later. Ticats defensive tackle Darrell Adams forced the ball from Montreal running back Avon Cobourne’s grasp, allowing Cameron Siskowic to recover near the end of the third quarter.
The Ticats extended their led a little over one minute into the fourth quarter. Porter connected with Rodriguez for the rookie from Auburn’s third touchdown reception of the game on a four-yard pass. Thanks to Porter’s five touchdown passes, the Cats took a 38-23 lead with 13:30 left in the game.
After the Alouettes responded with a six-yard Calvillo-to-Richardson major, Ticats defensive back intercepted Calvillo for his seventh reception of the game. Setta’s 11-yard field goal moments later gave the Ticats an 11-point cushion.
Calvillo continued the Alouettes torrid comeback on the Als next possession, completing an eight-play drive with a seven-yard touchdown to Cahoon. A two-point conversion made the count 41-38 with just 1:31 left.
Earnest Jackson recovered Montreal’s onside kick attempt, giving the Ticats the ball at mid-field. After a pass interference call against Alouettes defender Chip Cox on Ticats receiver Scott Mitchell, Nick Setta kicked his third field goal of the game to put the home side ahead by six with just eight seconds left.
The Ticats defenders were able to disrupt Montreal’s final two desperate passes to seal a hard-fought and entertaining 44-38 victory.
