Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
The Ticats sure were hummin’ on Saturday in Guelph.
Hamilton’s defence once again held their own against the Blue Bombers, forcing four turnovers and allowing only one touchdown in the 37–14 victory on Saturday. The Ticats defensive line accounted for three sacks on the game, continually bringing pressure on whichever of the three Bombers’ quarterbacks happened to be in the game at the time.
“We got a lot of pressure on the quarterback today,” said Head Coach Kent Austin. “We played really well defensively.”
Winnipeg quarterbacks completed only 56% of their passes against the Ticats, and Jamall Johnson believes that the pressure exerted on them by the Ticats front four is a key reason why.
“The defensive line is playing lights out,” he said after the win. “Those guys up front are playing great ball.”
Johnson also made note of the Ticats recent success in forcing turnovers, especially in the last two games.
“We’ve been able to take the ball away more than once or twice a game, so we need to keep that rolling,” he said. “When you put the ball in our offence’s hands, good things will happen.”
Offensively, the Ticats scored 30 points for the third consecutive week – the fact that all three games have been wins is certainly no coincidence. Hamilton wasted no time in putting points on the board, as quarterback Dan LeFevour scored on a 29 yard catch-and-run, on a pass from receiver Onrea Jones.
LeFevour – who has seen an increased role of late as a change-of-pace behind centre – handed the ball to Jones before heading downfield and receiving the pass, before breaking a few tackles on his way to the end zone.
“(Dan) is a good football player,” said Austin. “We’re trying to find a lot of ways to utilize him, and we were able to do that again today.”
Starting quarterback Henry Burris was also full of praise for the 26-year old LeFevour, who has now scored a touchdown in back-to-back games.
“It’s probably what has made us so successful in these past three games,” said Burris of the matchup problems LeFevour has caused for opposing defences. “It was good to see Dan go out there and make some things happen… he’s having fun out there, making good things happen. It’s a good change-up when defences have to prepare even more for when Dan comes out there.”
Also finding success for the Ticats on offence was C.J. Gable, who scored his team-leading sixth and seventh touchdowns on Saturday in Guelph.
“I came out here just to show what I can do, no one would give me a chance,” he said. “I wanted to show everybody what I could do, and I think I’m doing it.”
With the win, the Tiger-Cats move to 4–4 on the season, and once again take sole possession of second place in the East, only one game back of the division-leading Argonauts. The Ticats are finding their stride after a shaky start to the 2013 season, and the good vibes around the team are infectious.
“Everybody’s happy, excited, nobody’s knocked down,” said Gable. “That’s how it should be. We need to keep this going, stay on track.”
The Tiger-Cats next action will be in Vancouver, as the team takes on the B.C. Lions in the first game of back-to-back next Friday.
