Ticats.ca Staff
On Friday night, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-7) will travel to the Rogers Centre to take on their storied rivals, the Toronto Argonauts (5-8) in the first of a series of critical East Division games down the final stretch.
Last week, the Tiger-Cats clawed their way back from an early 10-0 deficit to beat the B.C. Lion 19-17 by way of five field goals from Justin Medlock to extend the teams winning streak to four games – the Ticats longest winning steak in four seasons. On the other hand, Toronto squeezed out a 33-32 victory thanks to Swayze Waters’ six field goals.
TIGER-CATS HISTORY vs. the TORONTO ARGONAUTS
The Hamilton vs Toronto head-to-head series is one of streaks as the Ticats have won the last 3 meetings; that followed a 4-game winning run by Toronto (2012-2013) and before that a Hamilton success run of 7 wins in 8 games (2009-2012). Here is a look at the matchup history:
| WINS | LOSSES | TIES | PTS FOR | PTS AGAINST | |
| ALL-TIME | 126 | 91 | 2 | 1,908 | 2,425 |
| LAST 10 (TOTAL) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 284 | 281 |
| LAST 10 (at Rogers Centre) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 275 | 248 |
| IN 2013: | 2 | 1 | 0 | 91 | 76 |
| IN 2014: | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 12 |
HEAD-TO-HEAD
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TIGER-CATS DEFENCE |
CHAD OWENS ARGONAUTS RECEIVER |
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In the last three games, the Tiger-Cats have held their opponents to under 60 yards rushing – that is the first time Hamilton has done that in a decade. The Ticats defence, which has drawn a recent comparison to the ‘Steeltown D’ of the late-80s and late-90s, is currently ranked the CFL best defence against the run, allowing just 78.9 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry. As shown in last week’s 19-17 victory over the B.C. Lions, the Ticats have continued to limit the success of opposing quarterbacks. Over the last six games, the Ticats have allowed an average of 186.6 passing yards per game and in those games only one quarterback has eclipsed 300 yards. The last time these two teams met, the Ticats allowed 146 net years on the day, recorded four sacks, forced a total of three turnovers. |
In the six games that he has appeared in this season, Toronto Argonauts receiver/kicker returner has been a reliable target for Argonauts gunslinger Ricky Ray. Owens has made at least 7 catches in all 6 games he has played in 2014 and no less than 78 yards in any game. The six-year CFL veteran currently leads the CFL in both receiving yards (109.0) and receptions per game at 8.7. The only player to average more than 8 receptions per game in a full season was Derrell Mitchell in his record-setting season of 1998. He caught 160 passes in 18 games for 8.9 per game. Owens, who missed the Labour Day matchup between the two teams, had nine catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the Argonauts 33-32 victory over Edmonton last week. In three regular season games vs. Hamilton in 2013, he had a total of 21 catches. |
THE FINAL STRETCH
The next five weeks in the East Division could make for some interesting football down the stretch. Here is a look at the schedules of the three top-ranked East Division teams.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Mossis Madu: Mossis Madu has played significant starting offensive role in only 6 games but has 4 games of at least 6 receptions and 5 contests with 48+ yards. Last week he had 56 rushing yards plus a single-game career high of 86 receiving yards. When the Ticats met the Argonauts in the Labour Day Classis, Madu had a total of 122 combined yards.
WR Andy Fantuz: Statistically, Andy Fantuz has had some of his best performances at the Roger Centre. In four of Fantuz’s last six trips to Toronto, including the 2013 Eastern Final, he has had at least six receptions for 100+ receiving yards.
QB Zach Collaros: Call him Mr. 300! Following his 367-yard performance last vs. B.C, Zach Collaros has now thrown for 300+ yards in four of his six starts since returning from injury on Labour Day. Collaros’ four 300-yard passing games rank him second in the league behind Winnipeg’s Drew Willy (6).
GAME NOTES:
- Hamilton has held their last three opponents to under 60 yards rushing – the first time Hamilton has done that in a decade. The lat time they limited opponents to less than 60 yards on the ground was June 25, 2004 to July 20, 2004. The Ticats have the #1 run defence in the CFL. The last time they finished with the best run defence was back in 2000 and before that in 1987.
- Former Argonaut Terrell Sinkfield has a kick return of 50+ yards in both games he has played with the Tiger-Cats (57 yard punt return TD in week 12, 52 yard kickoff return in week 15).
- Zach Collaros threw for a career-high 367 yards against BC week. In six games since returning from injury, has thrown for over 300 yards four times and is averaging 301.5 yards per game.
- During their four-game win streak, the Ticats defence has allowed an average of just 223.3 passing yards, 59.3 rushing yards and one TD per game.
- Since giving up an 83-yard punt return TD to Montreal on September 7, Ha
milton has allowed only one punt return of more than 10 yards (16 on September 14 vs SSK). - With a win, the Tiger-Cats would secure their first five-game win streak since 1998 (they won six straight from July 8 to August 13).
