This Week 8 matchup featured East division rivals that were both in need of a win. Both teams experienced highs and lows with each team making key plays to keep them in the game, but also missing opportunities. The game began as a defensive struggle in the first half with both defensive units making plays. The Alouettes had several opportunities to have drives with a short field, but they were unable to capitalize on those opportunities and had to settle for field goals.
The Tiger-Cats offence struggled to get drives started and had to rely on their punter Michael Domagala. In the second half, the Tiger-Cats offence took control of the game in the 3rd quarter scoring two touchdowns and keeping Montreal out of the end zone. In the 4th quarter, the Tiger-Cats committed a turnover which allowed the Alouettes to put together a scoring drive and regain momentum in the game. The Alouette’s special teams were able to make several big plays and set up their offence. But in the end, the Alouettes were not able to consistently score in the red zone.
The Tiger-Cats defence was able to successfully pressure Alouettes quarterback Trevor Harris, but the Montreal special teams were able to make big plays. Throughout much of the first half, the Alouettes were able to control the field position and had several chances to score on a short field.
Hamilton’s defence was able to hold the Alouettes offence to field goals which in the end was the deciding factor in the game. In the final half of the 4th quarter, Montreal had all the momentum, but the Tiger-Cats defence was able to make the plays that allowed the Tiger-Cats to hold on for a 24-17 win at Tim Hortons Field.
1st Quarter
The first quarter was dominated by both defensive units and became a battle for field position. On the Alouette’s second possession of the game, the Tiger-Cats defence was able to pressure Trevor Harris with Dylan Wynn and Micah Johnson both sacking Harris.
Hamilton was unable to consistently get their offence going and that resulted in great field position for the Alouette’s offence. Defensively the Tiger-Cats made key plays and held Montreal to a 16-yard field goal by David Cote’ with 45 seconds left in the 1st quarter.
End of the 1st Quarter Montreal 3 Hamilton 0
2nd quarter
At the beginning of the 2nd quarter, the Tiger-Cats offence was able to finish a 65-yard scoring drive on four plays. Tiger-Cats backup quarterback Jamie Newton was able to score his 1st CFL touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak for 1 yard, and after a successful convert by kicker Seth Small the Tiger-Cats took their first lead of the game.
The Alouettes were able to respond with a 6-play drive, and David Cote’ was able to score on a 44-yard field goal. Both defensive units regained control of the game and both offensive units traded punts and battled for field position. On the last Hamilton drive of the 1st half, Dane Evans completed a 35-yard pass to Tyler Ternowski. That possession resulted in a successful 30-yard field goal by Tiger-Cats kicker Seth Small.
End of the first half Montreal 6 Hamilton 10
3rd Quarter
The Tiger-Cats started the second half by shutting down the Montreal offence. Hamilton’s offence was then able to produce explosive plays on their next possession, a 21-yard pass to Kiondre Smith, a 16-yard run by Sean Thomas-Erlington, and a 40-yard touchdown pass by Dane Evans to Steven Dunbar Jr. After a convert by Seth Small the Tiger-Cats had an 11 point lead.
On the next Montreal possession, the Tiger-Cats defence was able to get another quick stop, and the Hamilton offence took advantage with a 6-play 56-yard scoring drive that ended with a 2-yard rush by Don Jackson for a touchdown giving the Tiger-Cats a commanding lead. The Alouettes were able to put together a long drive that included a successful fake punt by Christophe Normand with a 21-yard run to keep their drive going after a Julian Howsare quarterback sack on Trevor Harris.
End of the 3rd quarter Montreal 6 Hamilton 24
4th quarter
The Alouettes were able to finish that drive to start the 4th quarter by scoring on a 17-yard field goal by David Cote’. On the next drive, the Tiger-Cats Dane Evans was able to connect on a 37-yard pass to Steven Dunbar Jr., but Alouettes defender Mike Jones force a fumble that was recovered by Marc-Antoine Dequoy. The Alouette’s offence responded with an 8-play drive that covered 87 yards, featuring a 45-yard pass to Eugene Lewis and a 12-yard pass to Jeshrun Antwi.
At 6:45 the Alouettes scored their first touchdown of the game with a 4-yard pass to Hergy Mayala and successfully scored 2 points on a convert with a 3-yard rush by Jeshrun Antwi. Hamilton was forced to punt on their next possession and Alouettes punt returner Tyson Philpot had a 58-yard punt return.
Montreal hit a 19-yard pass to Eugene Lewis to get into the red zone, but the Tiger-Cats defence was able to get a stop with a turnover on downs. The Hamilton offence did get a 1st down in an attempt to seal the win but had to punt. On the final drive by Montreal with 48 seconds left in the game, the Alouettes were able to overcome a quarterback sack by Julian Howsare with a 24-yard pass to Eugene Lewis and 2nd and 23.
With a 13-yard pass to Jeshrun Antwi, the Alouettes had a chance to steal the game. Trevor Harris scrambled for a 17-yard run, but at the end of the run, took a big hit by Stavros Katsontonis. Katsontonis was penalized for roughness for 15 yards, but Trevor Harris was ruled out of the game by injury. Back-up quarterback Dominique Davis ended the game by throwing an interception to Kameron Kelly at the Hamilton 1-yard line ending the game and giving Hamilton the win.
Final Score Montreal (2-5) 17 Hamilton (2-5) 24
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