Ticats Celebrate Ivor Wynne’s Final Game With A Win

Fraser Caldwell

Ticats.ca

The Blue Bombers rejuvenated offence was the talk of the CFL as it entered Saturday’s game at Ivor Wynne Stadium. But the Ticats defenders locked down the visitors early and often, en route to a 28-18 victory.

“The defence played very well,” said Hamilton Head Coach George Cortez simply. “We had no turnovers and they had five. That probably was – as it has been in several games this year – the difference in the game.”

Cortez credited his defensive line as the catalyst in his team’s shutdown effort.

“It’s a lot harder in the passing game if the quarterback has to be moving around when making throws,” said the coach.

“The other thing – which is one of the most underappreciated things – is that we batted at least two passes down. It might have been more. Those just drive offensive linemen and quarterbacks crazy and they are very key plays.”

Both offences sputtered to begin Saturday’s contest, but the Ticats would open the scoring on their second possession.

A pass interference penalty assessed to Winnipeg extended Hamilton’s drive, and Chris Williams capped the possession with a 19-yard catch and run for a touchdown.

The major was Williams’ 15th of the season, tying the Ticat single-season record for touchdowns originally set by Tony Champion in 1986 and matched twice by Ronald Williams in 1999 and 2000.

The Ticats quickly doubled their lead when defensive end Brandon Boudreaux forced a fumble from Buck Pierce, and fellow lineman Greg Peach recovered the loose ball in the end zone.

“It was my first touchdown since the eighth grade, when I was a tight end,” said a laughing Peach of his trip to the end zone.

“The guys were making fun of me, because I looked like I was in a full sprint. I was definitely digging to get there before that offensive lineman.”

“That’s a drill that you work on, and you might think that it’s tedious to work on, but it actually happens in the game.”

Hamilton added a single late in the quarter when a Luca Congi field goal attempt unsuccessfully landed in the end zone, stretching the hosts’ advantage to 15-0.

The Ticats defence held the Bombers off of the scoreboard for much of the second quarter, and cornerback Geoff Tisdale notched the team’s first takeaway with an interception of Joey Elliot three minutes in.

Tisdale was playing with exceptional energy, and the defensive back suggested that his effort was founded in the fun he has playing alongside his Ticat teammates.

“I like playing on this defence,” said Tisdale. “The guys that I’m out there with – our whole secondary, Rey (Williams), that defensive line – it’s fun.”

“They get you energized, and when the line is getting pressure on that quarterback, it makes my job easier. When DBs start making plays, it boosts them up more and more.”

Hamilton extended its lead late in the half, engineering a 68-yard drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown reception by Andy Fantuz that set a single-season career high of eight for the slotback.

The Blue Bombers broke their goose egg with 26 seconds remaining in the half, as Justin Palardy hit a 22-yard field goal to make the score 22-3 in the Ticats favour at the break.

Congi added a routine 18-yard field goal three and a half minutes into the third quarter to extend the hosts’ lead to 25-3.

But Elliot and the Blue Bombers would finally find the end zone at the 13:01 mark, when the quarterback scampered for a five-yard touchdown to reduce his team’s deficit to 15.

The Ticats defence took over in the fourth, holding the Bombers off the board and forcing a turnover on downs during a crucial Winnipeg drive with three minutes remaining.

Congi added his second field goal of the afternoon with 2:22 left to play, draining a 36-yarder to make the score 28-10 and seal the result for the hosts.

The influential Tisdale would strike again, intercepting the Bombers Alex Brink for his second pick-off of the contest.

“I’ve been waiting for them to come,” said the defensive back of the interceptions.

“I’ve had some opportunities that I let get away.”

“I let another get away today that I should have had, but I capitalized on two of them. I couldn’t let it get away from me, I need these.”

Winnipeg scored a touchdown as consolation in the final minute, as Terrence Edwards hauled in a 41-yard reception and the Bombers made good on the two-point conversion. But the game would end 28-18 in the Ticats favour after a failed onside kick.

The victory provided a storybook ending to Ivor Wynne Stadium’s final regular season game.

Peach spoke of his pride in the result, and in being able to reward the Ticat legends and Hamilton faithful on hand.

“It was so special for us, and it was great to have the all-time greats to be here and see that, to see us closing it out with a ‘W’,” said the defensive lineman.

“For the fans who stuck with us and packed the house tonight even though things haven’t gone as planned, it was great for them too.”