The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts started the Mark’s Labour Day Weekend doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Tim Hortons Field.
The Tiger-Cats offense clawed and scratched to a commanding 32-19 win to put them in a three-way tie for first place in the Eastern Division.
The Tiger-Cats offense got off to a good start early in the first quarter. They moved the ball towards the Argonauts’ six-yard line before settling for a 13-yard field goal that was good by kicker Michael Domagala. This put the Tiger-Cats up 3-0 with 9:37 left in the first quarter.
Late in the first quarter, the Argonauts drove down to the Tiger-Cats 37-yard line as time expired. The Tiger-Cats led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Argonauts’ offense stalled but managed to tie the game 3-3 on a 32-yard field goal by kicker Boris Bede with 14:04 left.
Midway through the second quarter, Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans got to work. After throwing three straight passes, Evans scrambled out of the pocket to find David Ungerer, who muscled his way for the touchdown, and the Tiger-Cats broke the tie 10-3 with 9:35 left.
Both defenses made crucial stops, keeping one another from adding any more points. After a two-and-out on the Tiger-Cats 44-yard line, Argonauts punter Boris Bede punted the ball that went into the endzone and out of bounds, giving them a single point 10-4. The Tiger-Cats led 10-4 at halftime.
Early in the third quarter, The Tiger-Cats offense were in control before stalling. After the Tiger-Cats defense stopped the Argonauts, the game’s turning point came on a punt return. Argonauts punter Boris Bede punted a 53-yarder that Tiger-Cats returner Frankie Williams took. He dodged a couple of Argonauts players, then sped his way to the endzone for a 67-yard touchdown and a 16-4 lead with 7:19 left in the third quarter.
On the next possession for the Tiger-Cats, quarterback Dane Evans nailed a 57-yard touchdown pass to Tim White. The Tiger-Cats went for a two-point conversion and got it for a 25-4 lead with 2:25 left in the third quarter. The Tiger-Cats led 25-4 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter with 10:48 left, Tiger-Cats punter John Whitford booted a 67-yarder that went into the endzone and out of bounds for a single point, making it 26-4.
On the Argonauts next possession, Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the team down to the Tiger-Cats’ 12-yard line before throwing a touchdown to Eric Rogers. This cut the Tiger-Cats lead 26-11 with 7:04 left in the game.
On the kickoff, Argonauts kicker Boris Bede put the ball in the endzone that was not returned, and the Argonauts got a single point 26-12.
After the Argonauts’ defense stopped the Tiger-Cats offense, they seemed to have gained momentum. However, on the Tiger-Cats eleven-yard line, quarterback Nick Arbuckle’s pass was intercepted by Simoni Lawrence. He then took it to the house for a touchdown to seal the game 32-12 with 5:14 left in the game.
On the next possession for the Argonauts, McLeod Bethel-Thompson was the new quarterback. He led the offense down to the Tiger-Cats eight-yard line before throwing an eight-yard touchdown pass to Eric Rogers. The score was now 32-19 Tiger-Cats.
With 1:20 left in the game, the Argonauts had one more chance to get points. Unfortunately for the Argonauts, their drive stalled. The Tiger-Cats offense went into a victory formation to end the game. The Tiger-Cats defeated the Argonauts 32-19.
Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans finished the day 21/29 for 248-yards, two touchdowns, ten yards rushing. Brandon Banks led the team in rushing with five carries for 31-yards. Tim White led the receiving category with six receptions for 93-yards and one touchdown. The defense record three sacks and two interceptions.
For the Argonauts, quarterback Nick Arbuckle finished the day 18/32 for 207-yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and five rushing yards. His backup, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, went 8/12 for 111-yards and one touchdown. John White led the team in rushing with nine carries for 32-yards. Kurleigh Gittens Jr. led the team in receiving with six receptions for 88-yards, and the defense recorded three sacks.
Both of these teams will go at it again this Friday, September 10th, from BMO Field at 7:30 pm on ESPN+
