| Tiger-Cats (0-2) vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-1) Regular Season Game 3 Friday, July 16 @ 7:00 p.m. Ivor Wynne Stadium – Hamilton, Ontario |
BROADCAST INFORMATION
| TV BROADCAST: |
Wendy’s Friday Night Football on TSN |
| Play by play: Chris Cuthbert / Colour: Glen Suitor |
|
| RADIO BROADCAST: | AM 900 CHML, simulcast on Y108 (Listen Live) |
| Play by play: Rick Zamperin / Colour: John ‘Coach Sal’ Salavantis / Sideline Reporter: Matt Holmes |
THE MATCH-UP
Friday night’s game will be the second of four regular season meetings between the Tiger-Cats and Blue Bombers in the 2010 season. The Blue Bombers defeated the Tiger-Cats 49-29 in week one. The match-up will be the 97th meeting between the two teams since 1950. The Blue Bombers hold the edge in the series (54-42) and also in the last 10 meetings (7-3). In the last 10 meetings at Ivor Wynne Stadium, the Blue Bombers have won six times, while the Ticats have won four times.
In the week one meeting between the two teams, the Ticats took an early 8-0 lead on the first two plays of the game. Marcus Thigpen returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and Sandro DeAngelis tacked on a single point on the ensuing kickoff. The Blue Bombers would rally, however, scoring 24 points in the half and taking a 24-9 lead into the break. The Ticats would get to within eight points after Marcus Thigpen returned an Alexis Serna missed field goal for a touchdown, but the Bombers scored a touchdown on their next drive killing the Tiger-Cats momentum. The Blue Bombers went on to close out a 49-29 victory.
Both teams will be looking for a win after losing close games in week two. The Blue Bombers dropped a 36-34 decision to the Toronto Argonauts, while the Ticats lost 23-22 to the Calgary Stampeders on a late Rob Maver field goal.
This will be the second meeting between head coaches Marcel Bellefeuille and Paul LaPolice. Bellefeuille has a career record of 10-18 as a CFL head coach in the regular season and holds a 2-4 record against the Blue Bombers. LaPolice has a career record of 1-1 after two CFL games.
2010 STATISTICAL RANKINGS
 |
 |
|
|
Total Offence Per Game |
286.0 (8th) | 482.5 (2nd) |
| Rushing Offence Per Game | 71.0 (8th) | 179.0 (2nd) |
| Passing Offence Per Game | 276.5 (5th) | 328.5 (2nd) |
| Total Defence Per Game | 428.5 (7th) | 261.5 (1st) |
| Rushing Defence Per Game | 175.0 (8th) | 112.5 (3rd) |
| Passing Defence Per Game | 274.0 (5th) | 193.5 (1st) |
| Points Per Game | 25.5 (6th) | 41.5 (3rd) |
| Opponents Points Per Game | 36.0 (7th) | 32.5 (5th) |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Marcus Thigpen / KR/RB / Hamilton
Thigpen has found the end zone four times in 2010, each time a different way. Thigpen became the 6th player in CFL history to score a touchdown four different ways in one season on Saturday, adding a punt return and a touchdown catch to his kickoff return and missed field goal return. Tonight, Thigpen could become the first player in CFL history to score a touchdown five different ways in one season. He would need to score a rushing touchdown in order to do that.
Marquay McDaniel / WR / Hamilton
McDaniel has proved to be a reliable option for quarterback Kevin Glenn after two games. McDaniel leads the Ticats in receptions and receiving yards so far this year. Along with Thigpen, McDaniel has caught one of Glenn’s two touchdown passes this season in the week one meeting between the Ticats and Blue Bombers. Look for McDaniel to be called upon in key passing situations, especially second down plays.
Fred Reid / RB / Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers rushed for 211 yards as a team in their victory over the Ticats and Reid had 98 yards rushing on 13 carries (7.5 yard average) in that game. Running the football has been a big part of the Blue Bombers offence in the first two weeks of the season and the Ticats will need to shut down the run to be successful.
Phillip Hunt / DE / Winnipeg
Hunt was a frequent visitor to the Ticats backfield in week one as he sacked Glenn three times. The Blue Bombers pressure from the defensive line was a big reason why the Ticats struggled offensively in week one. For the Ticats to win, they will need to keep Hunt and the other Blue Bomber defensive lineman away from Glenn.
KEY MATCH-UP
Tiger-Cats Offensive Line vs. Blue Bombers Pass Rush
The key match-up in tonight’s game will be the Ticats offensive line against the Blue Bombers pass rush. The Bombers lead the league in sacks and the Ticats have given up the most sacks of any team in the league. One reason for both of these rankings is the fact that the Blue Bombers were able to sack Glenn seven times in the week one game between the two teams. The Ticats offence will need to be better against Winnipeg tonight and this will start with the offensive line. If the offensive line can give Glenn plenty of time to throw and can open holes for running back DeAndra’ Cobb, it could be a big day for the Ticats offence.
CFL.ca will host a live Friday Night Football chat tonight. To participate, visit http://www.cfl.ca/fnf
