Ticats 24 Riders 6

The Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-6-1) paid a visit to the Hamilton TigerCats (7-9) Saturday afternoon at Ivor Wynne Stadium in another pivotal Canadian Football League late-season encounter.

The situation for the Riders was simple; they needed a win to clinch at least second place in the West Division and homefield in a western semifinal. The Ticats were in a battle of their own, entering the game tied with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for second place in the East. It was must-win for the Tabbies as the third place team in the East probably won’t make the playoffs.

Here’s the summary of the game from the broadcast booth:

PREGAME NOTES: Rider DB Lance Frazier was a last minute scratch due to the flu. He was replaced in the secondary by LB Tad Kornegay. The initial plan was to move MLB Rey Williams to Kornegay’s outside spot and LB Mike McCullough would start in the middle. … There was a wind warning in effect for the Hamilton area leading up to kickoff, and it was blowing from the southwest at 60 km/h gusting to 80 km/h and it was cloudy and 11 degrees … The attendance of 24, 586 was the highest
crowd of the year in Hamilton.

FIRST QUARTER: The Ticats won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, however they ended up with the ball and the wind to open the game. Hamilton started their opening drive at their 39-yard line and went 2-and-out. The Riders started their first possession on their 15, going into the wind, and went 2-and-out as well. Hamilton’s second drive started at the Rider 31-yard line and they promptly turned it into a 34-yard Nick Setta field goal to go up 3-0. Ticats DT Garrett McIntyre then recovered a Darian Durant fumble at the Hamilton 51-yard line for the game’s first turnover. They later recovered another Durant fumble at their own 54. DE Justin Hickman came up with the gift. His Ticats turned it into a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Glenn to Arland Bruce to make it 10-0. It was a six play, 53-yard drive.

The Riders’ early struggles continued on their next series when Darian Durant was sacked for a five-yard loss at the Saskatchewan 23-yard line, and they were forced to punt again. Hamilton made it 11-0 on a 63 yard Setta punt single. A third Rider turnover came on the next Rider possession when Durant was intercepted by U of S Huskie grad Dylan Barker of the Ticats. The first quarter ended 11-0 for Hamilton and the Riders did not record a single first down.

SECOND QUARTER: Hamilton went up 18-0 with a 24-yard Deandra Cobb rushing touchdown on the second play of the quarter. Saskatchewan finally got on the board courtesy of a 57-yard punt single by Louie Sakoda with 11:35 to go in the half. Rider safety James Patrick then recovered a Kevin Glenn fumble at the Ticats 45 yard line for the first Rider takeaway of the day, but again the team went 2-and-out. The Ticats gave up a safety with 7:59 to go to make it an 18-3 game. They then marched the ball from their 33-yard line and ate 6:02 off the clock before Setta hit a 10-yard field goal to make it 21-3. The Riders got three more from a 33-yard yard Congi field goal on the final play of the first half to make it 21-6 Hamilton going into the break.

THIRD QUARTER: The Riders got the ball and the wind to open the second half. They lined up a 55-yard field goal attempt but Congi hit the crossbar and the Riders came away with no points. On the next Saskatchewan drive, Congi missed a 50-yard field goal attempt to the right, and it was returned out of the endzone by Hamilton’s Marquay McDaniel. The score remained 21-6 and in fact, the was the score after 45 minutes of play. Backup QB Steven Jyles started to warm up on the Rider bench at that point.

FOURTH QUARTER: Jyles started the first Rider drive of the fourth, from their 28-yard line 2:08 in but was unable to generate any points. The Ticats looked to seal the game with a Nick Setta 47-yard field goal with 5:38 left to make it 24-6. Jyles led the Riders on a late rally with 2:41 to go before the team turned it over on downs. Kevin Glenn mounted a drive long enough to grind the clock out and the Ticats took away the victory.

GAME OVER: Hamilton 24 Saskatchewan 6.

The Riders drop to 9-7-1 with the loss and face the possibility of finishing third while the Ticats take over second place in the East and have to wait for the outcome of this weekend’s Winnipeg at Montreal game.

The Riders’ final game of the regular season is next Saturday at Mosaic Stadium against the Calgary Stampeders in a 6:00 kickoff.

POSTGAME QUOTES:

HEAD COACH KEN MILLER
“It was a game we felt like we were gonna win going in. But we didn’t do anything on offense and hung our defense out there way too long. We had some good kicking plays but we really didn’t play consistently the way we need to.”

“The early turnovers really was a sign of how the offense was going to be all day. The wind was a factor but it blew both ways right? We didn’t do a good job of handling the windy situation.”

“Early on we were able to get a lot of pressure on Glenn but our defense was on for extended times early. They were on for 40 snaps in the first half. I don’t know how many in the second half but definitely way too many.”

“We know what lies before us now. We don’t need to change our focus. We need to get this game behind us and get ready for the next game.”

“I won’t make excuses about time or travel. We just didn’t play the way we’re capable of playing and the way we’re used to playing. The men are up for the challenge next week.”

KOR JASON ARMSTEAD
“It was a tough loss. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. They’re a new revived team and a team to be reckoned with. We have to tip our hats to them. We didn’t play as well as we could and sometimes it goes that way. We didn’t put enough points on the board.”

“The guys are blocking for me. They’re doing a great job. My job is to just use my legs and find the holes and combined with everybody’s talent, we’re doing a lot of great things on special teams.”

“It was one of those situations where it was all packaged up. We played well in spurts but we just didn’t get the rhythm going that we needed. We’ll regroup and play the way we’re supposed to as Riders.”

DT KEITH SHOLOGAN
“It was big time disappointing. You never like losing a game where you work your butt off which we did on defense, offense too. You have to put the turnovers out of your mind. It hurts your heart a bit when it happens, especially back to back, but we have to stop them on defense.”

“They’re a great offensive line. They work well together, all five of them, and they’re probably the best in the league. They’re big strong boys.”

“7:25 on the wakeup call doesn’t look bad on the itinerary but when it comes and it’s 5:25 back home it’s tough. But you have to get ready to go. That’s football.”

“The wind affected us in the back-end but not at all in the front end. We’re just up there knocking heads and trying to push ‘em back.”

“I don’t know who to cheer for tonight (Calgary at B.C.). I suppose it’ll be best if B.C. loses but we just have to get ready for Calgary next week and it’ll all take care of itself.”