The B.C. Lions (12-5) visited Tim Hortons Field on Friday night against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8-9) in their second meeting of the season. The two teams first met in Week 12 in B.C. where the Ticats won the game 30-12. Unlike their first matchup, this one came down to the final seconds of the game.
In the first quarter, it was all defense early in the game. Neither of them allowed the offenses to get going. Later in the first quarter, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw three passes for 33 yards. Next, the Lions ran two rushing plays for three yards which led to a Sean Whyte 46-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 3:07 left.
On the final play of the first quarter, Ticats running back James Butler rushed for a one-yard gain before getting tackled in their 50-yard line. The Ticats trailed 3-0 facing second down.
In the second quarter, Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell tried to dump a pass to Tyriek McAllister but Josh Woods was right there for a pick-six 46-yard touchdown. The Lions lead was now 10-0 with 14:15 left of the second quarter.
On the second play for Hamilton, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell threw a 21-yard pass to Tim White at the Lions’ 35-yard line. Four plays later, Mitchell completed a short pass to Terry Godwin for a gain of eight yards before he was brought down at the Lions’ eight-yard line. Two plays later, Mitchell threw a slant pass to Terry Godwin for a five-yard touchdown. It was now 10-7 Lions with 9:49 left of the second quarter.
B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed two passes for 22 yards to start the next drive. Two plays later, Adams threw a 13-yard pass to JaQuan Hardy before he was brought down on the Ticats’ 33-yard line. Five plays later, Adams Jr. threw a five-yard touchdown to Dominique Rhymes for a 17-7 lead with 4:14 left of the second quarter.
Late in the second quarter, Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tim White to cut the Lions lead once again to 17-14 with 43 seconds left. On the final play of the second quarter, B.C. kicker Sean Whyte kicked a 36-yard field goal to make it 20-14 at halftime.
B.C. had 189 yards on offense. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 14 of 19 passes (73.7%) for 182 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for one yard. Running back JaQuan Hardy had five carries for 26 yards and three catches for 40 yards. Wide receiver Jevon Cottoy made three catches for 43 yards. B.C.’s defense made one sack and one interception.
Hamilton had 128 yards on offense. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell played the entire first half completing 12 of 17 passes (70.6%) for 105 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Running back James Butler had seven carries for 27 yards and one catch for four yards. Wide receiver Tim White made three catches for 53 yards, and one touchdown. Hamilton’s defense made three sacks and the team did not commit a penalty.
In the third quarter, Matthew Shiltz was the new quarterback for Hamilton. On the second play, Shiltz threw a 30-yard pass to Kiondre Smith. After going two-and-out, the Ticats caught a huge break when punter Kaare Vedvik was run into by Mathieu Betts which gave the Ticats an automatic first down. They took advantage of the second chance when Matthew Shiltz threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tim White to give them a 21-20 lead with 8:17 left of the third quarter.
B.C. returner Terry Williams returned a kickoff for 49 yards before getting tackled on the Ticats’ 53-yard line. Next, Vernon Adams Jr. threw an 18-yard pass to Alexander Hollins. The drive would lead to a Sean Whyte 42-yard field goal for a 23-21 lead with 6:36 left of the third quarter.
Late in the third quarter, Hamilton took a 24-23 lead when kicker Marc Liegghio made a 27-yard field goal with 1:57 left. On the final play of the third quarter, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw an 18-yard pass to Alexander Hollins before he was tackled on the Ticats’ 21-yard line. The Lions led 24-23 with one quarter left to play.
In the fourth quarter, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Alexander Hollins for a 30-24 lead with 13:41 left. Later in the fourth quarter, it appeared that Hamilton quarterback Matthew Shiltz put the Ticats back up with a 16-yard touchdown but a penalty by Hamilton wiped it off. Hamilton kicker Marc Liegghio kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 30-27 B.C. with 6:20 left in the game.
Late in the game, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. injured his knee after taking a big hit. Hamilton went on to tie the game 30-30 on a 48-yard field goal by Marc Liegghio with 1:05 left of the fourth quarter.
The stage was set for former Ticats quarterback Dane Evans, who came in for Adams Jr. Evans threw four passes for 42 yards to get them at the Ticats’ 41-yard line with one second left. B.C. kicker Sean Whyte kicked the game-winning 48-yard field goal for a 33-30 win.
This was a good game for both teams. B.C.’s win still puts them in contention to win the West Division with Winnipeg off this week.
B.C. had 345 yards on offense. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 21 of 30 passes (70%) for 296 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and one carry for 1-yard. Running back JaQuan Hardy had eight carries for 26 yards and three catches for 40 yards. B.C. wide receiver Keon Hatcher led the receivers with six catches for 92 yards. B.C.’s defense made 48 tackles and two sacks.
Hamilton had 406 yards on offense. Quarterback Matthew Shiltz continues to make a case for a starting job next season. He completed 14 of 19 passes (73.7%) for 180 yards, one touchdown, and three carries for 26 yards.
Hamilton running back James Butler had 15 carries for 67 yards, and five catches for 47 yards, and wide receiver Tim White made seven catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Hamilton’s defense made 35 tackles, three sacks, and one interception.
Next Friday, the B.C. Lions host the Calgary Stampeders at 10 pm on CFL+, while Hamilton are on a bye week. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
