CANADIAN PRESS
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats needed every scoring play possible, eventually outlasting and ousting the two-time defending champion Montreal Alouettes in overtime, 52-44, in the Eastern Division semi-final, as the two teams combined to set the all-time CFL playoff scoring record.
The Tiger-Cats will now travel to Winnipeg for the East Final against the Blue Bombers.
Hamilton scored on their only possession in overtime, as Quinton Porter plunged in from one yard out. Glenn also connected with Chris Williams for the two- point conversion.
Montreal was not able to answer on their only drive in overtime, as a third-and-one pass from Anthony Calvillo to Brandon Whitaker fell incomplete.
It was Calvillo, who passed for over 500 yards, that brought the game to an extra frame, as he connected with SJ Green on a 44-yard catch and run for a TD late in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 44.
That was an answer to Avon Cobourne, who ripped off a 46-yard touchdown run to give the Tiger-Cats a 44-37 lead.
That was in response to Anthony Calvillo, who connected with Jamel Richardson for a touchdown to even the score 37-37.
On the previous possession, Quinton Porter – into the game because of an injury to starter Kevin Glenn – leaped in for a major from the one-yard line, giving the Ticats a 37-30 lead.
Previous to that scoring drive, Calvillo hooked up with Eric Deslauriers on a 75-yard catch and run major, trying the game at 30-30 amd wiping out an 11-point Hamilton lead they enjoyed early in the third quarter.
Justin Medlock’s third field goal of the game had just restored a touchdown spread for the Ticats to lead at 30-23.
Adrian McPherson’s one-yard plunge had cut the lead to 27-23 late in the third quarter.
Medlock’s second field goal of the game gave Hamilton their largest lead of the game at 27-16 in the third quarter.
A series of explosive big plays gave Hamilton the lead before the end of the first half.
Porter threw a touchdown pass from Dave Stala late in the second quarter to give them a 24-13 lead.
Stala’s score came courtesy of a Jamall Johnson interception off Alouettes pivot Anthony Calvillo, which Johnson returned to inside the Montreal five yard line.
Sean Whyte kicked a late field goal – his third of the half – as time expired to cut the lead to eight points.
On the previous possession, Kevin Glenn dropped in a perfect 29-yard strike with Bakari Grant to give the Ticats a 17-13 lead.
It was Glenn’s first touchdown pass since Oct. 1.
The drive was a quick answer after Anthony Calvillo drove the Alouettes to a touchdown. Brandon Whitaker punched in a score from two yards out, to momentarily give the Alouettes a 13-10 lead.
The Tiger-Cats first touchdown came off Marcus Thigpen’s spectacular 50-yard touchdown run.
