Isaac Owusu
Ticats.ca
The Tiger-Cats will keep their claws dug into first place for another week after their dramatic 25-23 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos at Tim Horton’s Field.
Saturday’s win could very well be dubbed the ‘Eric Norwood show.’
The second year defensive end out of South Carolina was seemingly everywhere at every moment during the game, setting a new personal career milestone.
“I prepared pretty well this week and I did what the coaches asked,” he said.
“To be honest, it was actually harder going up against a guy like (Mike) Reilly, being the scrambler that he is, and him being able to throw it too so I just tried to play a controlled game,” he added.
Norwood finished with seven tackles and a career high four sacks, making it his first multi-sack game of his career.
“It was good. I’m happy we were able to pull it out and I played my role. This was a great team win,” he added.
Norwood was not the lone difference maker; cornerback Courtney Stephen made a number of major plays in the second half to keep his team in the game. He earned his second career interception and also contributed in earning the team a single point by tackling receiver A.J. Guyton in the end zone on a punt return.
The second year player out of Northern Illinois reflected on his role in the solid defensive effort.
“It’s a credit to my teammates because they’re flying around making things happen, and I just happen to be in the right place at the right time to catch a crumb,” Stephen said.
Brandon Banks showed once again why his nickname is ‘speedy’. This time he was torching defensive backs.
He set a new career high in yards and receptions with six catches for 111 yards, which included a 44-yard scamper that put the Ticats ahead for good in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve been out for the last three or four weeks so this game was real big for me personally. I wanted to come out and make a statement and make a difference for the last stretch of the season. So when my number was called I was able to catch some balls tonight,” Banks said.
