Justin Dunk
Ticats.ca
Swaggerville will bring their act to the Steel City on Friday night looking more like Staggerville these days — losing four of their last five games since Labour Day weekend.
Winnipeg blitzed through the league, jumping out to a very impressive 7-1 mark after eight regular season games. Two of those seven wins came against the Ticats, a 24-16 Canada Day and season opening win, and a back and forth 30-27 Bomber victory on August 26 in the ‘Peg. Obviously, both of those games were close, Hamilton actually had the lead heading into the final quarter in each of those narrow losses.
“We made some mistakes that were uncharacteristic of what we need to be as a championship defence in those games. They capitalized and won the game off of it. Those are things that can keep you from excelling and being one of the top teams in the league,” Ticats defensive end Stevie Baggs said after practice on Wednesday.
Unfortunately for Hamilton the season series is already owned by Winnipeg, winning the first two meetings, but regardless of any tiebreakers the Tiger-Cats still have a legitimate chance to capture the East Division regular season crown.
“First place is within reach, no doubt,” Baggs said. “They’re in a much needed win situation and so are we. That’s how we’re approaching this game.”
“We know this is a big game, we have to come out here and have a good showing,” Ticats receiver Chris Williams said.
Williams lit up the Bomber secondary in his first time ever facing the Bombers, to the tune of 162 yards on seven grabs, including a 49-yard touchdown reception, which kick started the Ticats offence on August 26 in Winnipeg. Because of that effort the 5-9 speedster is expecting some increased attention from the Bombers defensive backs come Friday evening.
“It’s a whole new situation and a whole new game, I expect them to do some things differently,” he said. “They will probably pay a little more attention to me, and that should allow some other guys to make some plays.”
A bunch of Ticats have been making plays in recent weeks, due in part to teams trying to keep Williams under control. The emergence of Terry Grant in the backfield and moving Marcus Thigpen to the slot back position has put a lot of pure speed on the field when Hamilton has the football.
“We have weapons and KG has played well,” Williams said. “Our line is keeping people off of him and opening up the run game.”
With all of Hamilton’s new weapons on offence and the many injuries Winnipeg has suffered throughout their entire roster, both teams will sport a much different look than when they clashed on August 26.
“They’re not swaggered out [because of all the injuries]. They’re still tied for first place,” Baggs said. “We still have the same respect for them that we’ve always had.”
Regardless of Winnipeg’s woes on the field of late and how the race in the East has tightened up, Baggs and his teammates are taking the steps to a possible division title, one at a time.
“What we can see is 1-0 — we can see that,” he said. “1-0 is more important than trying to get to first place cause you have to win this next one to be in contention for first.”
