Ticats.ca Staff
The Tiger-Cats kickoff week 17 of CFL action as they return home on Friday night to host the Ottawa REDBLACKS in hope of extending their four-game winning streak at Tim Hortons Field.
Tied for first in the East Division, Hamilton looks to secure a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Ottawa arrives in Hamilton after a one-sided 40-3 loss to the B.C. Lions at B.C. Place in week 16.
TIGER-CATS HISTORY vs. the OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Friday night’s matchup between the Ticats and Ottawa REDBLACKS will mark the second meeting between the teams since Ottawa’s return to the CFL.
| WINS | LOSSES | TIES | PTS FOR | PTS AGAINST | |
| ALL-TIME | 96 | 69 | 2 | 3,669 | 2,497 |
| IN 2014: | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 23 |
HEAD-TO-HEAD
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TIGER-CATS RUN GAME |
JASPER SIMMNOS REDBLACKS LINEBACKER |
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With C.J. Gable and Mossis Madu out of the Ticats lineup due to injuries, the Cats will call on a pair of rookies, Sam Ojuri and Delone Carter, to share the work load. Ojuri, signed by the Ticats on July 14, played three seasons at North Dakota State where had compiled 3,594 yards and 33 touchdowns on 616 carries. The Barrington, Illinois native rushed for 1,000+ yards in all three season at NDSU. Carter, who arrived in Hamilton last Tuesday, will get his first taste of CFL action after stints with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts four seasons. The 2011 NFL draft pick had 133 carries for 499 yards and five touchdowns during his NFL tenure. In week five against Ottawa, the Tiger-Cats put together their best rushing performance of the season rushing for a total of 197 yards on the night. |
Linebacker Jasper Simmons has been one of the bright spots of the Ottawa REDBLACKS inaugural season. Simmon currently leads the East Division and ranks fourth in the CFL in defensive tackles with 64. The third-year CFL veteran has also added three interceptions to his impressive season statline. Although Simmons season totals have created a buzz from him, as of late he has struggled. In the last two weeks, Simmons has compiled just two defensive tackles in each game – his lowest single-game tackle totals of the season. Ottawa’s defence currently sits at the bottom of the CFL in a number of categories. Against the pass the REDBLACKS have allowed a league worst 273.7 yards per games and 8.7 yard per pass play, while also allowing an average of 123.6 rushing yards per game. |
A LOOK AT SAM OJURI’S COLLEGE DAYS:
Rookie running back Sam Ojuri will play in his first professional football game on Friday night vs.the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Here’s a look at what he did in college at North Dakota State University…
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DL Eric Norwood: Defensive end Eric Norwood has continued to bring down opposing quarterbacks at a rampant pace. After recording three of the Tiger-Cats four sacks in Toronto last week, Norwood now leads the East Division and the Tiger-Cats with a total of 11 quarterback sacks – the most any Ticat defender has recorded since Justin Hickman (13) in 2011.
LB Rico Murray: LB/DB Rico Murray is having a solid campaign, registering 47 tackles, four special teams tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 11 games this season. Murray has been recorded five defensive tackles in each of the Ticats last four games, and needs just seven tackles to surpass his career-high of 53 set last season.
DL Ted Laurent: Ted Laurent set a new career-high with his seventh quarterback sack of the season last week. Laurent has now registered at least one sack in his last four starts.
GAME NOTES:
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Kick returner/receiver Terrell Sinkfield has recorded kick return of 50+ yards in each of his three appearances as a Ticat – 57-yard punt return TD in week 12, 52-yard kickoff return in week 15 & 51-yard punt return in week 16. Sinkfield registered a total of 210 return yards in Toronto last week en route to being named the CFL’s Special Teams player of the week, his second nomination.
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In week five, the Ticats offence put together 551 net yards and 197 rushing yards in their 33-23 victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS.– their highest totals in each category this season.
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Hamilton has held their last four opponents to under 60 yards rushing – the first time Hamilton has done that in a decade. The last 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.
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Since missing a 55-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter vs. Winnipeg in week 14, Justin Medlock has hit 10 straight field goals.
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Linebacker and special teams ace Marc Beswick will appear in his 100th CFL game on Friday night vs. the REDBLACKS.
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In CFL East Division history back to 1945 (when schedules became more than just 6 games), before 2014 there has NEVER been a three-way tie for first place with four games to play. This is the first situation of its kind, though in 1951 three teams did end up at 7-5 (two were at 5-3 with 4 to play). In the West, there have been four three-way ties for first place with 4 games to play (1991, 1997, 2008 & 2011).
- Over the last 20 games dating back to Sep 12/14, home teams have won 16 of the last 20 games.
