Ticats outscore Alouettes in second half to capture 24-17 home victory
HAMILTON — This time, Dane Evans and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats averted one other second-half collapse.
Steven Dunbar Jr. and Don Jackson scored second-half touchdowns as Hamilton held on for a 24-17 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night time. It was a victorious begin to a stretch that may see the Ticats (2-5) play six straight (and seven-of-eight general) in opposition to East Division competitors.
Dunbar Jr. and Jackson helped Hamilton outscore Montreal 14-11 within the second half. It marked the primary time this season the Ticats had outscored an opponent over the ultimate two quarters, delighting a Tim Hortons Discipline gathering of 20,932 on a stunning summer season night.
Hamilton had been outscored 106-36 within the second half over its earlier six video games however its fourth-quarter woes continued. Montreal outscored the Ticats 11-0 within the ultimate body to make the competition shut.
Hamilton has been outscored 77-26 within the fourth this season.
“No (nothing comes simply within the second half for the Ticats), however you recognize what? We gained,” Evans mentioned. “It is a four-point swing in opposition to the East, two for us, not two for them.
“A win is a win, it is rather a lot simpler to educate off a win.”
The competition definitely follows a seasonal development. It was the ninth sport this yr to be determined between five-and-10 factors.
Of the 28 contests performed so far, 9 have been determined by 4 or much less factors whereas the opposite 10 have been determined by 11 or extra factors.
Evans linked with Dunbar Jr. on a 40-yard TD strike at 5:10 of the third to increase Hamilton’s result in 17-6. Then following an incompletion in the long run zone, the Ticats efficiently challenged a questionable move interference name, giving them possession on the Montreal one-yard line.
Two performs later, Jackson scored from two yards out at 10:06 to place Hamilton forward 24-6. Satirically, the profitable problem got here after two others on seemingly extra blatant move interference performs, have been overturned.
“Truthfully, I really feel like that (third quarter) is how we are able to play on a regular basis,” Evans mentioned. “I believe the largest factor was, and it’ll sound so silly, simply no person was pondering.
“That is what I have been making an attempt to inform guys, there is no magic speech. You have simply bought to go and do it. We do it on a regular basis in follow and we lastly went and did it within the third quarter.”
Montreal (2-5) definitely made it attention-grabbing within the fourth.
After David Cote’s 17-yard discipline purpose at 1:41, Trevor Harris hit Hergy Mayala on a four-yard TD move at 8:41 arrange by Marc-Antoine Dequoy’s restoration of Dunbar Jr.’s fumble on the Montreal 23-yard line. Then Jeshrun Antwi ran within the two-point convert to chop Hamilton’s result in 24-17.
Harris drove Montreal to the Hamilton 27-yard line with simply over two minutes remaining however might solely run for a six-yard acquire on third-and-10. The Alouettes bought the ball again at their 38-yard line with below a minute to play and drove to the Ticats’ 21-yard line earlier than Kameron Kelly intercepted Dominique Davis’s move on the ultimate play.
Davis was within the sport as a result of a play earlier, a concussion spotter dominated Harris needed to come out and enter concussion protocol following a 17-yard rush. Not surprisingly, Harris mentioned he ought to’ve been allowed to complete the sport.
“I believe it was fairly tousled that they pulled me off the sector,” Harris mentioned. “I want somebody would come up and ask the participant what is going on on?
“That actually sucks in that state of affairs as a result of that clearly was the pivotal second of the sport.”
Evans was 13-of-18 passing for 206 yards and a TD, with Dunbar registering 5 receptions for a team-high 102 yards. Former Alouette Matt Shiltz accomplished seven-of-10 makes an attempt for 44 yards whereas speeding for a game-high 42 yards as Hamilton rotated quarterbacks.
“Proper now, the distinction is we discovered a strategy to win after we have not discovered a method up so far, fairly often,” mentioned Hamilton head coach Orlondo Steinauer. “We bought some crucial first downs. we’re enjoying higher complementary soccer.
“We have not arrived however we’re rising and we’re constructing.”
Shiltz admitted he was energized going through his former group.
“I am unable to lie, it undoubtedly does a little bit bit and anyone that claims it would not will not be telling you the reality,” Shiltz mentioned. “Once more, it goes again to simply not letting the second get greater than it’s.
“On the finish of the day it is a anonymous, faceless opponent. Now we have a stretch right here in opposition to East opponents . . . it is one thing to construct on, for certain. We’re shifting in the proper path.”
Evans mentioned he is greater than good with splitting time with Shiltz if it means extra wins.
“I believe Matt is a incredible quarterback simply as nicely and this can be a group sport, it is the last word group sport,” he mentioned. “I do not care.
“I am going to sit there and sign every part in for him and if we win the sport I am the happiest man ever.”
Harris was 25-of-41 passing for 288 yards and a landing. Eugene Lewis had eight catches for 154 yards.
Jamie Newman scored Hamilton’s different landing. Seth Small added the converts and a discipline purpose.
Cote booted three discipline targets for Montreal.
Small’s 30-yard discipline purpose at 14:17 of the second gave Hamilton its 10-6 lead on the intermission of a lacklustre opening half. The Ticats amassed 157 whole offensive yards, 23 greater than Montreal.
Cote’s 44-yard discipline purpose at 5:52 pulled Montreal to inside 7-6. It got here after Hamilton went forward on Newman’s one-yard TD run at 1:39, capping a 70-yard, five-play drive that included a 30-yard run by Shiltz.
Cote opened the scoring with a 16-yard discipline purpose at 14:30 of the primary. Nevertheless it was a misplaced alternative for Montreal contemplating Chandler Worthy’s 39-yard punt return put the Alouettes on the Hamilton 25.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed July 28, 2022.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
