Argonauts.ca staff
TORONTO – The Argonauts didn’t have to travel far in week six, venturing down the QEW to Hamilton to take on their rivals, the Tiger-Cats. It was a welcome change for the boys in Double Blue, after a gruelling four-game Western road trip to start the 2015 season.
After a pair of two-and-outs to begin the game, the Tiger-Cats pulled out a bit of trickery to take the lead. A short punt from Ticats P Hugh O’Neill was recovered by DB Brandon Stewart, who was lined up behind the kicker when the ball is kicked, thus making his recovery legal. Amidst the confusion, Stewart strolled 23 yards untouched to the end zone for the touchdown.
The Tiger-Cats looked to be in prime position to extend their lead after a 52-yard reception from WR Terrence Toliver, but the play was called back due to offensive pass interference. Both sides struggled to string together drives in the early going, and the first quarter ended with the Ticats holding a slim 7-0 lead.
The second quarter opened with the Tiger-Cats driving, and a pair of defensive penalties on the Argos helped extend the drive, which was finished by a touchdown pass from former Argonaut Zach Collaros to WR Bakari Grant.
A 30-yard kickoff return by RB Henry Josey seemed to inject life into the Argos offence, and on the first play of the drive Trevor Harris found WR Vidal Hazelton for a 41-yard completion. FB Brendan Gillanders then recorded his first career CFL catch for a 15-yard gain, and WR Tori Gurley capped off the drive with some fancy footwork to score the Argos’ first major of the game.
The Argos’ momentum carried into the next defensive series, as DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah stripped Ticats WR Luke Tasker, with LB Brandon Isaac making his second fumble recovery of the season.
The Tiger-Cats regained possession following a short punt from Pfeffer and Collaros went back to work, orchestrating a five-play, 63-yard drive finished by a 39-yard touchdown pass to Toliver.
The game was delayed with just over five minutes remaining in the half with lightning in the area, as a sellout crowd scrambled to the concourses for some protection from the rain. After a 26 minute delay, the teams were back on the field.
A promising drive from the Argonauts ended with a Ronnie Pfeffer punt, and Brandon Banks found no room on the return as the Tiger-Cats began their drive inside their own 10 yard line. After a two-and-out, P Hugh O’Neill conceded the safety, cutting the Tiger-Cats lead to 12.
Harris and the Argonauts received the ball with just under two minutes remaining in the half, but again struggled to move the ball past midfield, forcing another punt from Pfeffer. With four seconds remaining in the half, The Ticats opted to kneel out the clock, making the halftime score 21-9 in Hamilton’s favour.
Argos QB Trevor Harris completed 14 of 19 pass attempts in the first half, throwing for 165 yards and a touchdown. Hazelton led all Argonauts with three catches for 66 yards while LB Greg Jones led the Argos defence with four defensive tackles.
A gamble from the Argonauts to go for it on third and short in their own territory failed on the first drive of the second half, turning the ball over on downs in their own territory. Collaros capitalized on the gift of good field position, finding Grant for his second touchdown catch of the game.
Down 19 points, the Argonauts went back to work on offence. Another catch by Gillanders brought the Argos into Hamilton territory and a roughing the passer penalty against the Tiger-Cats brought Toronto into the red zone. It was there that the drive stalled, however, and Toronto settled for a field goal from Pfeffer to cut the lead to 16.
The following Tiger-Cats drive resulted in a 33-yard field goal from K Justin Medlock, and Toronto trailed by 19 points once again.
Any hopes of an Argonauts comeback were vanquished with just under five minutes to play in the fourth, as DE Eric Norwood forced a Harris fumble in Argos territory.
WR Vidal Hazelton recorded his first career 100-yard game, leading all Argonauts with 134 yards receiving and a touchdown and becoming the first Argo to accomplish the feat in 2015. Harris eclipsed 300 yards passing for the fourth time in his young CFL career. Argos backup QB Mitchell Gale saw his first live action of the 2015 season late for the Argos, completing five of 10 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
The Argos fell to the Tiger-Cats by a final score of 34-18, bringing the two teams into a tie with the Ottawa REDBLACKS at the top of the East Division at 3-2. The Argos will finally end their season-opening road trip on Saturday, when they return to the Rogers Centre and take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their home opener.