Rogerio Barbosa/Montreal Alouettes
Justin Dunk
Ticats.ca
Nothing in life is ever guaranteed, at least not in Argo land.
The Ticats warned before Saturday nights contest with Toronto that they would guarantee nothing but all out effort, and that was certainly what they delivered. Operation Ticat takeover was in effect right from the opening introductions to the final whistle as the Tiger-Cats secured the season series over the Argos with a 27-12 win Saturday night at the Roger Centre.
Hamilton was introduced over the loud speaker at Rogers Centre and the Tiger-Cats trotted out of the visitors locker room, gathered at midfield amongst the Argo cheerleaders and stood over the boatmen’s logo at centre field.
Ticat support was even evident in the stands as many Black and Gold fans made the short trip from the Hammer.
Terry Grant infused life into the Ticats offence with an 89-yard touchdown jaunt for Hamilton’s first score of the night – he had 10 carries for 115 yards — making the score 7-3 Ticats.
“It was a simple read for the quarterback, he gave it and I just did what I did after he gave it to me,” Ticats running back Terry Grant said in a jovial visitors locker room at the Rogers Centre.
Chris Williams made the score 14-3 by capping a 76-yard scoring drive in the second quarter with an eight-yard scoring grab — he celebrated by bowling a strike in the end zone. Backup quarterback Quinton Porter would round out the Ticat touchdown scorers with a one-yard sneak in the fourth quarter.
As for the high talking Argos, Toronto running back Cory Boyd proclaimed before the game, if he got the necessary touches he could crack the 200-yard mark. When all was said and done he rushed for 60 yards.
“We’re not worried about that nonsense, that blabber during the week. They can do that stuff we’re just worried about putting our work in during the week and coming out and executing, that’s what we did tonight,” Ticats defensive end Justin Hickman, who registered one sack and two forced fumbles on the night, said
Hamilton pulled out some trickery against the Argos who are normally the team pulling out all the stops on special teams. Kicker Justin Medlock took the long snap in punt formation, stood tall like a passer and hit up-back Darcy Brown in the flats. Brown would head down the sidelines for a 30-yard gain, which setup a 37-yard Medlock field goal to stretch the Hamilton lead back to two possessions, 20-9 with 20 seconds left to go in the third frame.
Marcus Thigpen continued to produce explosive plays for the Cats. He made a beautiful catch, down the strong seam on a perfectly placed Kevin Glenn throw that netted 40 yards and set up Hamilton in the red zone.
Later on that same drive, the Ticats had a major bounce go their way. Inside Toronto’s five on second and goal Kevin Glenn was picked off by Lin-J Shell, on the ensuing return he coughed up the football and it bounced back into the possession of Glenn, who was trying to make the tackle on the play.
“Guys were hustling, Kevin was trying to make a tackle,” head coach Marcel Bellfeuille said. “When you hustle and run to the ball good things happen. We’ve had those things go against us earlier this year.”
Hamilton would get the final say walking away with the victory and all but squashing the Argos chances of making the post season. The win also gives the Tabbies a chance to be in the reach of the number one seed in the East division.
“We’re still in the mix. We just have to continue to play well and see where it falls for us,” Bellefeuille said.
Added Grant, “next week we’re playing for first place.”
Notes…Rookie receiver Liam Mahoney made his first ever CFL catch on the evening as well, a 7-yard pickup on an in route for a first down in the second quarter.ã
