On Thursday night from Tim Hortons Field, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosted the Montreal Alouettes looking to tie them for second in the East Division.
In the first quarter, the Alouettes took a 3-0 lead on a 16-yard field goal by David Cote with 45-seconds left. Hamilton had the ball heading into the second quarter, facing a 1st and nine from Montreal’s ten-yard line.
Hamilton quarterback Matthew Shiltz completed a nine-yard pass to Bralon Addison to get to the one-yard line. Then, third-string quarterback Jamie Newman scored the touchdown with a quarterback sneak, putting Hamilton up 7-3 with 13:21 left in the second quarter.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris threw several short passes to get to Hamilton’s 36-yard line, where kicker David Cote made his second field goal for 44 yards, bringing Montreal within one, 7-6, with 9:25 left.
Late in the second quarter, Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans threw a 35-yard pass to Tyler Ternowski, followed by two short passes to Steven Dunbar and Tyler Ternowski to get the Ticats at the Alouettes’ 23-yard line. Kicker Seth Small made a 30-yard field goal, extending Hamilton’s lead 10-6 with 1:05 left. Montreal tried to get it back to a one-point game just before halftime, but David Cote missed a 51-yard field goal. Hamilton led 10-6 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans threw two passes along with Sean Thomas-Erlington’s 16-yard run that got them to Montreal’s 40-yard line. Then, Dane Evans threw a short pass to Steven Dunbar, and Dunbar took care of the rest, running for a 40-yard touchdown, extending Hamilton’s lead 17-6 with 9:50 left in the third quarter.
After the Alouettes went three-and-out, Hamilton got the ball back. Dane Evans’s initial pass to Steven Dunbar for 26 yards was incomplete. Hamilton challenged for defensive pass interference and won, placing the ball on the one-yard line.
The Ticats could not get into the endzone on their first try and lost a yard, but Don Jackson got in on the second try for a two-yard touchdown, making it 24-6 with 4:54 left in the third quarter. However, Jackson had to fight off an Alouettes’ defender to get into the endzone. Montreal was facing a 2nd and 4 to begin the fourth quarter.
Montreal kicker David Cote made a 17-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, cutting Hamilton’s lead 24-9 with 13:34 left. On Hamilton’s next possession, Dane Evans completed a pass to Steven Dunbar, but Alouettes’ secondary Mike Jones knocked the ball out of Dunbar’s arm, and Montreal’s Marc-Anthony Dequoy recovered it.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris threw a 45-yard pass to Eugene Lewis. Then, Harris threw to four different receivers for 35 yards. Finally, Harris threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Hergy Mayala. Montreal went for a two-point conversion, and Jeshrun Antwi rushed for a three-yard touchdown while losing a shoe that made it 24-17 with 6:19 left in the game.
Montreal had one more opportunity to tie the game. After Trevor Harris got rocked on 2nd and 15, he had to be removed from the game due to an injury, and Dominique Davis came in. Unfortunately, Davis threw an interception that ended the game, and Hamilton won 24-17. The Ticats have now tied Montreal for second in the East Division standings at 2-5.
As the East teams continue to play each other, we’ll find out who is the best in that division. Right now, Toronto is on top, and if Hamilton can get that groove back as they’ve had for the last two seasons, they may be able to catch Toronto to take back first place.
Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans was 13/18 for 206 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and one carry for six yards. Meanwhile, backup quarterback Matthew Shiltz was 7/10 for 44 yards and led the rushers with four carries for 42 yards.
Ticats’ running back Don Jackson had six carries for 24 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Steven Dunbar had five catches for 102 yards and one touchdown. Hamilton’s defense allowed 378 yards, 55 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, 12 pass breakups, and one interception. Hamilton plays Toronto next Saturday at 7 pm on ESPN2.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris went 25/41 for 288 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and led the rushers with four carries for 39 yards. Alouettes’ backup quarterback Dominique Davis was 0/1 with one interception.
Montreal running back Jeshrun Antwi had six carries for 22 yards, while wide receiver Eugene Lewis had eight catches for 154 yards. The Alouettes’ defense allowed 352 yards, 42 tackles, one forced fumble, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Montreal host Winnipeg next Thursday at 7:30 pm on ESPN+.
