The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-3) visited Commonwealth Stadium on Thursday night against the Edmonton Elks (0-6). The Ticats came into this game looking for their second consecutive win.
On the other side, the Elks were looking to snap a 19-game home losing streak. Their last win came on October 12, 2019, against the B.C. Lions when they were known as the Eskimos.
The Ticats did not get off to a good start in the first quarter. On the kickoff, Tyler Ternowski fumbled the ball that was recovered by Edmonton’s Jordan Reaves. Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius with running backs Kevin Brown, and Shannon Brooks combined for four carries for 22 yards which led to a Dean Faithfull 24-yard field goal that made it 3-0 with 11:31 left. Both offenses did not do much production-wise as the Elks led 3-0 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Dean Faithfull converted a 40-yard field goal for a 6-0 lead with 3:40 left. Then, Hamilton’s offense woke up. Quarterback Matthew Shiltz threw a deep pass to Tim White for 54 yards. The Ticats got an additional eight yards for a roughing the passer penalty on Noah Curtis.
On the next play, Shiltz handed the ball off to James Butler, who muscled his way to break a couple of tackles before scoring an eight-yard touchdown. It was 7-6 Ticats with 2:39 left.
Hamilton’s defense came up with a huge play when Javien Elliott intercepted Taylor Cornelius’s pass intended for Steven Dunbar Jr. Just before halftime, Hamilton kicker Marc Liegghio kicked a 29-yard field goal that extended the Ticats lead to 10-6 at halftime.
The turning point of this game happened in the third quarter. After Taylor Cornelius threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Kyran Moore which made it 13-10 with 13:31 left, Hamilton took control of the game. Hamilton running back James Butler got the drive started with an 11-yard run. Two plays later, Matthew Shiltz threw a deep pass to Tim White but it was incomplete. However, a defensive pass interference penalty on Edmonton gave the Ticats a first down.
Then, James Butler picked up 13 more yards before Matthew Shiltz ran in for a four-yard touchdown that made it 17-13 with 10:44 left. Next, Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius made a boneheaded play when Ja’Gared Davis had him wrapped up before he tossed the ball up in the air and it was intercepted by Stavros Katsantonis for a 33-yard touchdown.
It was now 24-13 with 9:53 left. Later in the third quarter, Marc Liegghio made a 36-yard field goal for a 27-13 lead with 3:30 left. On the next Hamilton series, Matthew Shiltz injured his left knee on the first play. Taylor Powell was the new Hamilton quarterback.
Two plays later, Powell connected with Tim White for a 17-yard touchdown and a 34-13 lead with 25 seconds left. Edmonton had the ball to begin the fourth quarter down 34-13.
In the fourth quarter, Edmonton changed quarterbacks with Jarret Doege replacing Taylor Cornelius. Doege led the Elks on an eight-play drive which resulted in a Kevin Brown four-yard touchdown. Edmonton kicker Dean Faithfull missed the extra point. It was now 34-19 with 11:30 left. Later, Hamilton made it 37-19 on a 22-yard field goal by Marc Liegghio with 7:30 left.
Later in the fourth quarter, Hamilton’s Tyreik McAllister returned a punt for a 79-yard touchdown but it was called back due to a holding penalty. After Hamilton’s offense stalled, Edmonton quarterback Jarret Doege threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Steven Dunbar Jr. It was now 37-26 with 57 seconds left.
After Edmonton recovered an onside kick, kicker Dean Faithfull made a 45-yard field goal with 16 seconds left. The Ticats defeated the Edmonton Elks by the final score of 37-29. For Edmonton, they have tied the longest home-losing streak in North American sports history with their 20th home loss. The last team to lose 20 straight home games was the St. Louis Browns in 1953.
This is not a fun time to be an Edmonton fan. The Elks have a lot of problems that need to be addressed now. The team has disciplinary issues, not covering their guys, and making mental mistakes. These guys need extra practice because they are playing sloppy football. While many want head coach Chris Jones fired, Jones is the least of the team’s problems.
Even with the loss, the Edmonton players showed no emotion and that is a problem. You want the players to be ticked off and use that as motivation to work harder to end this losing streak. Chris Jones needs to change up the roster by putting guys in who want to play. Edmonton needs someone to step up and be a leader and right now, they have no leaders in the locker room.
Before getting benched for the second time this year, Taylor Cornelius completed 11 of 20 passes (55%) for 177 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and five carries for 14 yards. The mistake he made that led to his benching might have been his last as a starting quarterback. He is due $100,000 next season and the Elks have a decision to make.
They can either keep Cornelius as a backup or buy out his contract and release him. As for Jarret Doege, he has earned another shot to be the starter. Doege completed 14 of 21 passes (66.7%) for 201 yards, and one touchdown. The other option for the Elks is to start 2022 first-round pick Tre Ford. Eventually, the Elks will have to see what he has to offer before making any other moves.
Edmonton running back Kevin Brown led the rushers with 11 carries for 77 yards, one touchdown, and two catches for eight yards. Wide receivers Kyron Moore and Steven Dunbar Jr. combined with nine catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Edmonton’s defense allowed 369 yards, with 38 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.
For Hamilton, the concern is on quarterback Matthew Shiltz. Before the injury, Shiltz completed 10 of 17 passes (59%) for 184 yards, two carries for ten yards, and one touchdown.
Taylor Powell had a nice debut for the Ticats completing 2 of 4 passes (50%) for 47 yards, and one touchdown. The Ticats do have Kai Locksley as a backup option but Powell earned a chance to start in Hamilton’s next game.
Hamilton running back James Butler had a great game with 14 carries for 127 yards, one touchdown, and three catches for 40 yards, and wide receiver Tim White led the receivers with two catches for 71 yards and one touchdown. Hamilton’s defense allowed 473 yards, with 57 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions.
Next Thursday, the Edmonton Elks visit IG Field against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 8:30 pm on CFL+, while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats host the Toronto Argonauts on Friday at 7:30 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
