In a battle of the cats, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the BC Lions Friday night from Tim Hortons Field to clinch a playoff spot in the Eastern Division.
Tiger-Cats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli went 19/26 for 258-yards, one touchdown, and two carries for 18-yards. Masoli’s touchdown happened in the second quarter when he dropped back in the pocket and threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Banks, who blew by two Lions’ defenders for a 15-3 lead with 59-seconds left. Brandon Banks led the Tiger-Cats receiving with six catches for 75-yards and one touchdown.
Tiger-Cats running back Sean Thomas-Erlington had three carries for 14-yards and one touchdown. Erlington scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter with a four-yard run for a 26-12 lead with 7:47 left. Don Jackson led the Tiger-Cats in rushing with twelve carries for 80-yards.
Tiger-Cats kicker Taylor Bertolet made three-of-four field goals, with his longest being 39-yards. The defense recorded one sack and one interception.
For the Lions, quarterback Mike Reilly went 33/43 for 330-yards, one interception, and eight carries for 34-yards and one touchdown. Mike Reilly’s rushing touchdown happened in the fourth quarter on a one-yard quarterback sneak trialing the Tiger-Cats 26-18 with 1:25 left.
Lions running back James Butler had 14 carries for 51-yards and one touchdown. Butler’s touchdown happened in the third quarter when he went up the middle and stiffed arm a couple of Tiger-Cats players for an eight-yard run into the endzone trailing 18-9 with 5:17 left.
Wide receiver Lucky Whitehead led the receivers with nine catches for 98-yards. Kicker Nicholas Vogel was a perfect 2/2, with his longest field goal being 33-yards. The defense recorded one sack.
Next week, both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and BC Lions play on Friday, November 12th. First, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats clash with the Toronto Argonauts at 7:30 pm on ESPN+, followed by the BC Lions hosting the Calgary Stampeders at 10:30 pm on ESPN+.
