On Saturday, the Tiger-Cats defeated the Roughriders 24-3. Although the score would indicate an uneventful blowout, it turned out to be quite the opposite. The regular season finale for both teams was more of a player showcase than anything, as multiple backups and even third-stringers got their fair share of playing time.
The game featured four different quarterbacks, reinforcing the idea of talent evaluation. For the Roughriders, it was Isaac Harker and Mason Fine. Harker threw two interceptions, and Fine only completed 5 passes. It’s safe to say that both of these guys were mediocre. The Tiger-Cats started the game with Jeremiah Masoli, who has been the face of the franchise for a few years now. After throwing for 223 yards and a touchdown, Dane Evans took over in the second half once a sizable lead had been created. Evans also threw a touchdown, but had two interceptions that went to Riders cornerback Elie Bouka.
The run game for these teams was noticeably different, as the only ball carrier for Saskatchewan was Jamal Morrow. He finished the game with 9 rushes for 41 yards in addition to 3 catches for 29 yards. Meanwhile, the Tiger-Cats had six different players record a rushing attempt, with the most efficient being Dane Evans (8.2-yard average).
As for the receivers, their performance varied by team as well. Steven Dunbar led the way for Hamilton (5 catches, 89 yards), with Tim White following closely behind him (6 catches, 83 yards). Brandon Banks and Don Jackson were responsible for the Tiger-Cats’ two touchdowns through the air. For Saskatchewan, it was the Regina native Mitchell Picton who led the team in receptions (8). Justin McInnis had the most yards with 54, and did so on only 2 catches.
Both teams had a fun day on defense, with 8 different players accounting for 8 total sacks. Tunde Adeleke and Jumal Rolle had interceptions for Hamilton, while Elie Bouka got both picks for Saskatchewan as mentioned before.
The Tiger-Cats (8-6) will get to play at home against the Montreal Alouettes for the East Division Semifinal. The Roughriders (9-5) also have home-field advantage for the West Division Semifinal, a matchup against the Calgary Stampeders. Both games will take place on Sunday, November 28th.
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