Isaac Owusu
Ticats.ca
An incredible second-half comeback was extinguished by a last-second touchdown by the visitors as the Tiger-Cats dropped a heartbreaking 27-26 decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night.
It came down to the the 11th play of the game’s final drive, on second and goal with zero seconds left on the clock. Blue Bombers’ running back Nic Grigsby caught the game winning score from quarterback Drew Willy.
“They made more plays than we did and we had penalties that kept us in second and long situations on offence in the first half,” head coach Kent Austin said following the game.
“We’re not a good enough football team right now to overcome that,” he added.
Return man Quincy McDuffie didn’t hesitate to break the game wide open and provide hope for the team in the final frame.
He cut up field, changed directions, broke tackles and shifted into his final gear down the left sideline to finally put the Hamilton Tiger Cats up with his 66-yard punt return touchdown with 13:17 left in the final quarter.
“It was a great feeling for the simple fact that coming up I was never a punt returner. In college I was always a kick returner,” McDuffie said
“I finished my senior season in college at a high level and now I’m at the professional level at punt return, my first game in over a year and half, and to get out here and do what I did I give credit to my teammates. It was great blocking and a great play call and I’m very thankful for all that,” he added.
McDuffie finished with a total of 166 yards via receiving and return yardage. His touchdown was set up by defensive lineman Ted Laurent, who earned his first sack of the season, taking Willy down to force the punt.
The second half also saw quarterback Dan LeFevour finally settle into a groove. He connected with Luke Tasker twice and Bakari Grant on route to his two-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter, bringing the team behind by just a field goal.
LeFevour finished with 189 yards on 19 of 33 passes completed with a touchdown, in addition to 15 yards on five rush attempts and a score.
“I felt good about our game plan. I felt good about what we had to attack their defence. We just weren’t consistent enough, and give them credit, they did well,” LeFevour said.
Earlier in the game while down 20-3, Hamilton’s star running back came up large for the team. A wide-open C.J. Gable caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from LeFevour over the middle. Gable finished with a total of 65 yards through the air and ground.
Defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer’s unit was resilient until the end.
Returning linebackers Simoni Larence and Rico Murray made sure they caught up for lost time. They collected 10 and seven tackles respectively, including a forced and recovered fumble by Murray late in the fourth quarter.
