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Labour Day Classic Game Recap/Highlights: Argonauts Humbled By The Tiger-Cats

The 50th edition of the Labour Day Classic saw the Hamilton Tiger-Cats dominate the Toronto Argonauts 32-19. The victory for Hamilton is their 7th straight in this Eastern LDC series, and they now lead the all-time series over Toronto 36-13-1.

The Ti-Cats triumph over the Boatmen now creates a three-way tie at the top of the East. With Hamilton, Montreal, and Toronto at 2-2. Hamilton and Toronto will meet in a quick rematch this coming Friday at BMO Field. The Argonauts will be looking to get over this disappointment and avenge this humbling loss at the hands of their hated rivals.

EAST DIVISION

RKTEAMGPWLTPTSFAHOMEAWAYDIV
1 Hamilton4220473781-0-01-2-02-0-0
2 Montreal42204113970-1-02-1-01-1-0
3 Toronto4220479951-0-01-2-00-1-0
4 Ottawa41302671100-2-01-1-00-1-0

Labour Day Classic Game Recap/Highlights

The action heated up before the game even started, with both teams jaw-jacking at midfield. During warmups, tempers flared as both Hamilton and Toronto players had to be pulled apart.

Both defenses came to play in the early going. The Ti-Cats and Boatmen’s offense was limited early on. Hamilton and Toronto traded early field goals and some big hits along the way.

With the game tied at 3, heading into the second quarter. The Argos defense held for a while, putting consistent pressure on Dane Evans. But the Boatmen’s offense struggled to move the football. The team would generate a field goal and a single, thanks to Boris Bede. But it was Hamilton who started showing signs of life on offense as the game pressed.

Thanks to a roughness penalty on Jeff Richards, which set up the Ti-Cats in excellent field position. Hamilton raced down the short field quickly. And QB Dane Evans would find David Ungerer on a pass in the red zone. Ungerer would stiff-arm Treston Decoud and leap into the end zone to break the early 3-3 tie. Giving Hamilton a lead that they would not relinquish.

Toronto would go into the second half only trailing 10-4, despite their struggles on offense.

The 10-4 score would stay the same midway through the third quarter until the 2019 special teams player of the year, Frankie Williams, would completely change the game’s complexion with an electrifying 67-yard punt return for a touchdown. The major play by Williams would give his team a 17-4 lead.

Toronto’s offense would fail to respond to Hamilton’s game-changing score. And Hamilton would continue to bring the nail down at the Hammer on their next offensive series. In only three plays, The Tiger-Cats would drive the field’s length and strike on a 57-yard touchdown pass from Dane Evans to Tim White. Hamilton would cash in a two-point conversion to put extra salt in Toronto’s wounds. Hamilton would now vault ahead of the Boatmen 25-4.

Down 21, Toronto’s offense would continue to stall as the game went into the 4th quarter. Hamilton would extend their lead 26-4, picking up a rouge thanks to Whitford punt.

The Argos would finally mount their first touchdown scoring drive when Nick Arbuckle would connect with Eric Rogers on a twelve-yard touchdown. The ensuing extra point and a single on the kickoff would cut the Ti-Cats lead to 26-12.

The Argos defense would force Hamilton to punt on their next series. But a 57-yard punt would pin Toronto’s offense back near their end zone. And disaster would strike, as a pressured Nick Arbuckle pass would be picked off in the air and returned for a touchdown by Simoni Lawrence. The Ti-Cats would miss the extra point, but the back-breaking play would give them a 32-12 lead deep in the fourth quarter.

With the game out of reach. Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie would pull Nick Arbuckle, who had two interceptions on the day. Dinwiddie would turn to McLeod Bethel-Thompson to finish out the game at quarterback. MBT led the Argos on a TD drive, one that would see Eric Rogers score his second major of the game. The TD and extra point would get Toronto within 13 points at 32-19.

The Argos would fail to execute an onside kick after getting within two scores. However, Toronto’s offense would get the ball one more time but ended up turning the ball over on downs. The two heated rivals would nearly come to blows as the game ended. Hamilton comes out on top with a decisive knockout on the scoreboard on Labour Day. 32-19. The Argonauts will have to get up off the mat quickly and save their best counter punches this Friday at home.

2021 Labour Day Classic: Toronto Argonauts @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats Box Score

PASSING

PLAYERCP/AT%YDSTDINTLG
 ARBUCKLE, Nick18/3256.3%2071245
 BETHEL-THOMPSON, Mcleod8/1266.7%1111046

RUSHING

PLAYERCARYDSAVGLGTD
 WHITE, John9323.6110
 FOSTER, DJ3144.790
 ARBUCKLE, Nick351.720

RECEIVING

PLAYERRECATTYDSYACAVGLGTD
 GITTENS JR., Kurleigh68881414.7450
 BRAVERMAN, Daniel24604230.0460
 DANIELS, DaVaris61157229.5180
 FOSTER, DJ5738327.6120
 WHITE, John22262613.0130
 ROGERS, Eric2520110.0122
 BRISSETT, Dejon1212012.0120
 CROSS, Declan11969.090
 JEANPIERE, Damion12888.080
 NOEL, Llevi0100000

FIELD GOALS

PLAYERFGAFGLGSYDSFG MISS
 BEDE, Boris1132032

PUNT RETURNS

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGTD
 BRAVERMAN, Daniel540.830

KICKOFF RETURNS

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGTD
 BRAVERMAN, Daniel38127.0440
 EDWARDS, Chris11818.0180
 CALVER, Brandon11313.0130

FG MISSED RETURNS

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGTD

PUNTING

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGSNETAVG
 BEDE, Boris834743.453122327.9

KICKOFFS

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGS
 BEDE, Boris315752.3801

DEFENCE

PLAYERDTSTQSINTFRFF
 MUAMBA, Henoc700000
 MCCOIL SR, Dexter510000
 RICHARDS, Jeff410000
 EDWARDS, Chris301000
 JUDGE, Cameron200000
 OAKMAN, Shawn201000
 HUGHES, Charleston200000
 BUTLER, Crezdon200000
 RICHARDSON, Shaquille200000
 SMITH, Robbie201000
 PETERS, Jamal200000
 DECOUD, Treston200000
 ACHEAMPONG, Samuel200000
 FEENEY, Travis100000
 PELLERIN, Dion010000
 HOYTE, Trevor010000

PASSING

PLAYERCP/AT%YDSTDINTLG
 EVANS, Dane21/2972.4%2482057

RUSHING

PLAYERCARYDSAVGLGTD
 BANKS, Brandon5316.2160
 THOMAS ERLINGTON, Sean5265.2100
 JACKSON, Don4112.850
 EVANS, Dane2105.080
 WHITE, Tim166.060

RECEIVING

PLAYERRECATTYDSYACAVGLGTD
 WHITE, Tim68933715.5571
 ACKLIN, Jaelon5656611.2350
 BANKS, Brandon3645215.0340
 UNGERER, David22301615.0231
 DUNBAR, Steven231346.570
 THOMAS ERLINGTON, Sean3311113.780

FIELD GOALS

PLAYERFGAFGLGSYDSFG MISS
 DOMAGALA, Michael1113013

PUNT RETURNS

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGTD
 WILLIAMS, Frankie48721.8671
 BANKS, Brandon122.020

KICKOFF RETURNS

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGTD
 JACKSON, Don166.060

FG MISSED RETURNS

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGTD

PUNTING

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGSNETAVG
 WHITFORD, Joel941646.267137741.9

KICKOFFS

PLAYERNOYDSAVGLGS
 DOMAGALA, Michael531262.4760

DEFENCE

PLAYERDTSTQSINTFRFF
 SANTOS-KNOX, Jovan800000
 WILLIAMS, Frankie500000
 LAWRENCE, Desmond410000
 ROLLE, Jumal310000
 DAVIS, Ja’Gared301000
 LAWRENCE, Simoni300100
 HOWSARE, Julian300000
 BROOKS, Cariel200100
 WYNN, Dylan201000
 LAURENT, Ted200000
 KELLY, Kameron200000
 BENNETT, Mason101000
 FREY, Chris110000
 ADELEKE, Tunde100000
 NEWTON, Curtis030000
 JACKSON, Don010000
 BENNETT, Jackson010000
 CROSS, Nick010000

Boxscore

TOR

Player Position Pass. CMP Pass. ATT Pass. YDS Pass. TD Pass. INT Rush. ATT Rush. YDS Rush. TD Rec. Targets Rec. YDS Rec. Rec. TD
Nick ArbuckleQuarterback1832207123500000
Mcleod Bethel-ThompsonQuarterback812111100000000
John White IVRunning back00000932022620
D.J. FosterRunning back00000314073850
Kurleigh Gittens Jr.Wide receiver0000000088860
Daniel BravermanWide receiver0000000046020
DaVaris DanielsWide receiver00000000115760
Eric RogersWide receiver0000000052022
Dejon BrissettWide receiver0000000021210
Declan CrossFull back000000001910
Damion JeanpiereWide receiver000000002810
Llevi NoelWide receiver000000001000
Total 2644318221551043318262

HAM

Player Position Pass. CMP Pass. ATT Pass. YDS Pass. TD Pass. INT Rush. ATT Rush. YDS Rush. TD Rec. Targets Rec. YDS Rec. Rec. TD
Dane EvansQuarterback21292482021000000
Sean Thomas ErlingtonRunning back00000526031130
Don JacksonRunning back0000041100000
Brandon BanksWide receiver00000531064530
Tim WhiteWide receiver0000016089361
Jaelon AcklinWide receiver0000000065650
David Ungerer IIIWide receiver0000000023021
Steven Dunbar Jr.Wide receiver0000000031420
Total 2129248201784028249212

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author avatar
Mike Mitchell Reporter
1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. David Tress

    September 7, 2021 at 10:50 am

    Toronto still hasn’t addressed its quarterbacking situation. Arbucle is unproven and Bethel Thompson is inconsistent. The Argos should sign up Tim Tebow or Johnny Manziel.

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