THE CANADIAN PRESS
It might not have been the result the Ticats were looking for, but in an 18 game season all teams have their ups and downs. Hamilton will look to turn the page on a 33-17 loss to Winnipeg quickly, against the Alouettes next Sunday.
“We all have to take a long look at ourselves, we can’t be afraid to be great. It’s there for us we have to go out and demand the best out of each other and then go out there and do it on the field,” linebacker Jamall Johnson said. “We have to learn from the loss and move on from that and we see Montreal next week.”
Chris Williams was one of the bright spots for Hamilton on Friday night, he hauled in seven balls for 93 yards and one major. The rookie receiver is on pace to surpass the 1,200 yard mark on the season, which would be among the top seasons all-time for a first year pass catcher.
On the other side of the ball Ticats defensive end Justin Hickman continued his stellar season rushing the passer. Hickman recorded sack number 11 on the year on Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce in the first quarter.
Hickman’s running mate in the defensive front seven, Johnson had another strong effort for the Black and Gold. Number 28 made a number of plays on the evening recording six tackles, one sack and knocked down a pass as well.
“We have a great coaching staff, great players in this locker room and we believe in each other. I trust and believe in the guys in this locker room,” Johnson said. “It’s a loss, nobody likes losing, but we have to learn from it.”
“We can’t accept this and we need to put a stop to it right now, stay positive and move on from this point. We have four regular season games left so we have time to correct things before the playoffs.”
Starting pivot Kevin Glenn couldn’t be faulted for his effort on Friday night he completed 13-20 passes for 109 yards and one interception in just under three quarter of play before he gave way to backup Quinton Porter.
The Boston College product came into the game late in the third quarter and immediately led the offence down the field on an impressive drive, finishing it off with a 28-yard touchdown strike to Williams.
“I believe in our team, there is a lot of different ways to get to where we want to go,” head coach Marcel Bellfeuille said. ““We have to pick ourselves up off the mat tomorrow and move forward.”
Despite the loss Hamilton is still right in the race in the East division.
“We’re in the thick of things, we’re still in the hunt, we have four games left and if we take care of business who knows what will happen,” Glenn said.
Number five warns all of those outside the Ticats locker room to keep the faith because he still has it in his team.
“Sometimes it’s easy for people outside to write us off because of what happened tonight, but at the same time we see the bigger picture,” he said. “Sometimes outside the locker room they see what’s happening right now. They don’t look down the road and see what could be, as professional athletes we see that we have four more games left and anything can happen.”
