On Friday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the BC Lions 26-18, which guaranteed them a spot in the playoffs. The game took place at Tim Hortons Field, and was memorable for a variety of reasons.

Veteran wide receiver Brandon Banks finally looked like himself, getting his first touchdown catch of 2021. He also led the team in receptions (6) and receiving yards (75). Banks has been dealing with a nagging injury for quite some time, so fans were happy to see him healthy. 

Running back Don Jackson was also a top performer, recording 136 total yards (80 rushing + 56 receiving). However, it was Sean Thomas-Erlington who scored the Tiger-Cats’ only touchdown on the ground. 

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox and cornerback Ciante Evans had a combined 19 tackles. Desmond Lawrence got 6 tackles of his own, in addition to an interception. 

As for the Lions, their offense gave Hamilton plenty to deal with, but the defense couldn’t get enough stops. Quarterback Mike Reilly completed 76.7% of his passes for 330 yards, however, he didn’t have a single touchdown through the air. 

The Tiger-Cats (7-5) have a big game against the rival Toronto Argonauts on November 12th, while the BC Lions (4-8) play the Calgary Stampeders on the same day. 

Box Score