ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – Finally returning home after a month on the road, the Argos played host to the Ticats with a chance to get one step closer to clinching the East Division. A Toronto win, paired with a Montreal loss and the Argos host the Eastern Final and get a bye through the semi-final round.
Hamilton struck first as on their first drive as Henry Burris marched down the field eventually finding Luke Tasker for the major. An early 7-0 lead for the Ticats.
With their first chance on offence, the Argos started with excellent field position as reigning Special Teams Player of the Week winner Trent Guy returned his first kick to midfield. The Argos could not turn the good field position into points and were forced to punt.
After the Ticats added a punt single on their second drive, the Argos and QB Zach Collaros finally got their mojo working. Collaros found CFL YAC leader Andre Durie on a quick out and he proceeded to break multiple tackles and bust down field for a 40-yard catch and run.
|
Related: Argos vs. Ticats |
|---|
|
|
The Argos would get a field goal out of the drive and bring the score to 8-3 in favour of Hamilton.
On the Ticats next drive, former Ticat Ricardo Colclough got some retribution against his former club, intercepting Burris for his first INT as an Argonaut. Unfortunately, the Argos could do nothing with the field position and punted.
During the punt, the snap came too early and K/P Swayze Waters was not ready for it. He was forced to scramble and punt a dribbler up the sideline giving the Ticats solid field position for their next drive.
Within six plays the Ticats were back in the endzone. This time on a 25-yard TD run for Ticats RB C.J. Gable giving Hamilton the 15-3 lead.
The Ticats kept coming as on the next Argos possession as Collaros had his pass batted and intercepted by LB Simoni Lawrence who returned the pick to the goal line. Short-yardage QB Dan LeFevour eventually plunged into the endzone pushing the Ticats lead to 22-3 and Argos fans all feeling a sense of déjà vu.
The Argos tacked on a late half field goal as Waters connected from 29-yards out to bring the score to 22-6.
That is how the half ended with the Argos once again needing to make a second half comeback, as usual.
Toronto opened the half driving all the way to the Ticats goal line. On 2nd down Chad Owens got his chance to score but couldn’t beat the final Hamilton defender and was stopped on the one.
Head Coach Milanovich elected to take the points and the Argos completed the chip shot field goal to bring the score to 22-9.
Then the Argos got their momentum swing.
Running Back Curtis Steele came off the edge free and blocked the Ticats punt. LB Marcus Ball recovered the ball and returned it to the 1-yard line.
On the next play, Collars called his own number and plunged into the end zone. Comeback kids on a roll but still trailing 22-16.
The two teams exchanged punts until the Ticats tacked on a single point on a missed field goal. Argos still down by one score, 23-16 a minute into the fourth frame.
Collaros once again went to work as the Argos drove down the field with connections to Durie and Barnes. The Ticats though would bend but not break and force the Argos into a field goal. Waters connected from 42-yards out and the Ticats lead was cut to four.
Henry Burris however, had a response. Driving the Ticats down the field and eventually hooking up with WR Bakari Grant for the TD, the Ticats stretched their lead back to two scores at 30-19.
The Argos would be forced to punt giving the ball back to the Ticats looking for a quick stop.
It would not come as Burris and the Ticats ate away at the game clock bringing it all the way to the 1:16 mark as Lauther connected on the 29-yard field goal.
Very little time on the clock for the Double Blue and a 14 point deficit would be too much to overcome.
No points on the final drive left it for the Ticats to just kneel down the game away and win it 33-19.
The Argos travel to Guelph in week 16 to play the Ticats once again with another chance to clinch first in the East.