Ticats.ca Staff
The Tiger-Cats continue their hunt for a playoff spot as they kickoff week 19 of CFL action in the Nation’s Capital on Friday night. Hamilton’s trip to Ottawa will mark the team’s final regular season road trip of the season.
Last week, the Tiger-Cats suffered a nail-biting 26-24 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Centre and hope to get back on track with a victory at TD Place. On the other hand, the REDBLACKS will host the Ticats in the final home game of the team’s emotional inaugural season. Ottawa has played some of its best football at home and will be looking to end their season on a high note.
TIGER-CATS HISTORY vs. the OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Friday night’s matchup between the Ticats and Ottawa REDBLACKS will mark the season series finale between the two teams. In the two previous games, the Tiger-Cats have outscored the REDBLACKS 18-7 in the first quarter and 19-3 in the fourth quarter, while Ottawa has marginally put up more points in the second (11-9) and third quarter (8-3). Here is a breakdown of the matchup history:
| WINS | LOSSES | TIES | PTS FOR | PTS AGAINST | |
| ALL-TIME | 97 | 69 | 2 | 3,685 | 2,503 |
| IN 2014: | 1 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 28 |
TIGER-CATS HISTORY vs. the OTTAWA REDBLACKS
HEAD-TO-HEAD
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TIGER-CATS RUN DEFENCE |
JEREMIAH JOHNSON REDBLACKS RUNNNIG BACK |
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Last week in Toronto, the Argonauts ended the Tiger-Cats five-game streak with less than 60 rushing yards allowed. Toronto accumulated a total of 115 yards in the Argonauts week 18 victory.
Even after having an off day last Saturday, the Tiger-Cats D still ranks at the top of the CFL in rushing yards with an average of 76.7 yards allowed per game – 15 yards less than the CFL’s next best defence.
The Tiger-Cats D will best tested by a new face in the REDBLACKS backfield on Friday, rookie running back Jeremiah Johnson. In each of the last two meetings, Ottawa has started a different ball carrier, Chevon Walker in week 5 and Jonathan Williams in week 17, both of which were limited in terms of production.
The Ticats have given up a total of 116 rushing yards on 28 attempts to the Ottawa REDBLACKS this season, an average of 4.1 yards per rush attempt.
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The Ottawa REDBLACKS have seen some movement in their backfield this season due to injury. On Monday, the REDBLACKS announced that starting running back Jonathan Williams will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a knee injury last Friday vs. the Montreal Alouettes. With Williams out, Ottawa will call on rookie running back Jeremiah Johnson to lead the REDBLACKS run game in week 19. Johnson, who previously spent time with the Toronto Argonauts earlier this season, has seen limited action since arriving in Ottawa. In three games with the REDBLACKS, Johnson has contributed 19 carries for 88 yards, an average of just 4.6 yards per carry. He’s also added three catches for 23 yards and a touchdown. His best game as a REDBLACK came on September 23 vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders, when he registered 67 yards on nine touches.
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TICATS SET FOR CLASH IN NATION’S CAPTIAL:
CFL.ca takes a look at the Ticats season series with the Ottawa REDBLACKS at TD Place on Friday night.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
WR Luke Tasker: Last week vs. Toronto, Ticats receiver Luke Tasker had a career-high nine receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. Following his performance in week 18, Tasker ranks seventh in the CFL and leads the Ticats in receiving with 62 catches for 795 yards and five touchdowns. Over the course of the 2014 season, it has become clear that Tasker is one of Collaros’s favourite targets. In the six games Collaros has thrown for more than 300 yards, Tasker has averaged of 4.5 catches for 66.5 yards.
DL Ted Laurent: After being listed on the Tiger-Cats one-game injured list last week vs. Toronto, defensive tackle Ted Laurent will return to the lineup this week. Laurent has been a force in the trenches for the Ticats D, registering 21 defensive tackles and seven quarterback sacks in 12 games.
GAME NOTES:
- In two games vs. the Ottawa REDBLACKS, the Tiger-Cats have complied 404 rushing yards – 197 yards on July 26 & 207 yards on October 17.
- The Tiger-Cats defence leads the CFL with an average of 76.7 rushing yards against per game. In the previous two meetings between Ticats and REDBLACKS, the Ticats D has allowed an average of 58 rushing yards per game – 75 yards on July 26 & 41 on October 17.
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Over the last two weeks & one game (9 games), a team with a poorer record in the standings has won ONLY ONCE. Last week, 6-9 Toronto defeated 7-8 Hamilton to tie the Ti-Cats with a W-L record of 7-9.
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In 69 games thus far, the team with more rushing yards has now gone 63-10, winning 86% of the time. Similar results apply for Turnovers as teams with even or fewer giveaways are also 63-10. In 2013, teams with even or fewer turnovers went 61-11 (.847) in the 72 games.
- In week 17 vs. the REDBLACKS, WR/KR Terrell Sinkfield had eight touches for 108 combined yards and one touchdown, an average of 13.5 yards per touch. 81 of his 108 combined yards came on the ground as he led the team in rushing in week 16.
- Defensive back Rico Murray is having a career year. The second-year Tiger-Cat currently has 55 tackles, and now ranks second in the CFL in interceptions after recording his fifth of the season last week in Toronto.
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Over the last two weeks & one game (9 games), a team with a poorer record in the standings has won ONLY ONCE. Last week, 6-9 Toronto defeated 7-8 Hamilton to tie the Ti-Cats with a W-L record of 7-9.
