HAMILTON — Mark’s Labour Day Weekend continues on Monday as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts meet in the annual Labour Day Classic at Tim Hortons Field in front of what promises to be a sellout crowd.

Both rivals will meet each other on the annual holiday for the 49th time in their respective histories, with the Argonauts looking to win their first Labour Day game since 2012.

These two teams last met June 22, when the Argos suffered a 64-14 blowout loss to their fellow divisional and provincial rival. But for this game, you can throw out everything that’s happened in the past.

“Anytime we lineup against the Argos, it’s a good rivalry,” Ticats lineman Mike Filer said. “(On) Labour Day, the atmosphere is so electric. We’re filling the stands. We’re getting the crowd into it. And for a lot of Hamilton fans, this is the biggest game of the season.

Records don’t mean anything at this point, this is the Labour Day Classic.”

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“It’s always a different game, that’s the thing about rivalry games,” Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson said. “No matter how good the records are, no matter how bad the records are, it’s always a fight from beginning to end. Everyone comes in with a different mentality. They’re always fun games to play.”

The Argos are battling for their playoff lives coming off a 28-22 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in Moncton. Even at 1-8 they’re still just eight points back of a playoff spot, but their hopes are fading fast.

The bright spot of late has been the offence, which has erased a difficult start to become one of the league’s more efficient units over the last month or so. With 2,256 yards, there’s a good chance McLeod Bethel-Thompson will be the CFL’s second-leading passer after this week, coming off a 464-yard performance vs. the Alouettes. Meanwhile, the Argo offence ranks third in the league with 359 yards per game.

On the other side, Ticats signal-caller Dane Evans will start Monday against Toronto, and he feels fortunate to be part of a game that carries so much importance.

“I feel really lucky that I’m in this position just to get to play in this game,” Evans said. “The fact that I’m the quarterback doesn’t mean anything. Just playing in this game at all is really cool. It’s really special. You can just feel it around this town, the buzz for this weekend.”

The Ticats have managed to keep winning even after their franchise quarterback, Jeremiah Masoli, suffered a season-ending knee injury back on July 26. Evans lost his first start but has since won three straight, including a hard-fought 13-10 win over BC on the road last weekend.

Evans, a 25-year-old sophomore, is the key to the Ticats’ success the rest of the way. Known for his strong arm, he’s completed 62 per cent of his passes with five touchdowns, six interceptions and 7.1 yards per attempt this season.

On Monday, a win would put the Ticats in the CFL driver’s seat with a league-best 9-2 record following Winnipeg’s loss on Sunday to Saskatchewan.

Both teams will have some key changes on the roster for Monday’s contest, including at the running back position. For the Argos, James Wilder Jr. is listed as the starting running back for the Boatmen after Brandon Burks was placed on the six-game injured list. Wilder Jr. last played in Week 6 and has 38 carries for 161 yards and no touchdowns so far this season.

Left tackle Roubbens Joseph will start Monday, ahead of the injured Isiah Cage who’s also on the six-game injured list. Defensively, Cleyon Laing will return from the six-game injured list to start at defensive tackle along with Davon Coleman. Toronto will also start Robert Woodson at halfback, replacing Kevin Fogg.

The Ticats are still without receiver Luke Tasker, but have also lost running back Cam Marshall to injury. Canadian receiver/running back Anthony Coombs gets the start in his place. Injuries have hit the position hard for the Ticats, with Marshall, Sean Thomas Erlington and Maleek Irons all on the shelf.

With receiver Jalin Marshall moved to the practice roster, the team will use Northern Michigan rookie Marcus Tucker. Defensive tackle Ted Laurent won’t start Monday, but he’s listed as a backup to Dylan Wynn. Linebacker Lukas Korol, receiver Justin Sumpter, offensive lineman Ryker Mathews, and defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin IV will draw into the lineup for Monday’s game.

Defensive end Adrian Tracy is also lost for the rest of the season with a triceps injury and has been placed on the six-game injured list.

BY THE NUMBERS

30 — Only one Labour Day Classic matchup between Toronto and Hamilton has ever ended in a draw. Both teams put up 30 points in a tie during the 2004 season.

5 — The Ticats have won the last five Labour Day games, outscoring their opponents 170-110.

7 — Monday’s game features the widest win-loss disparity between these two teams that favoured the Tiger-Cats. Hamilton has seven more wins.

311 – These two franchises have been battling each other since 1907; they’ve fought 311 times. Hamilton leads the all-time series 168-137 over Toronto.

Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on TSN and ESPN+, and followed live via CFL.ca Game Tracker.

– With files from Ticats.ca and Argonauts.ca

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