THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ticats.ca
HAMILTON — Kevin Glenn threw two TD passes to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 34-15 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Monday.
Hamilton (5-4) snapped a six-game home losing streak against Toronto (2-7). The two teams don’t have the luxury of time to mull over this one. The Argos host the Ticats on Friday night.
The win was important for Hamilton, which moved four points ahead of third-place Winnipeg (3-6) in the East Division standings and to within four points of first-place Montreal (7-2). Toronto remains last in the conference.
Hamilton receiver Arland Bruce III, facing the Argos for the first time since they dealt him earlier this summer, didn’t score but made an impact. He finished with six catches for 115 yards – including grabs for 44 and 43 yards that set up Ticats’ TDs.
And Toronto fell to 0-5 since trading Bruce. The Ticats are now 3-2 since acquiring Bruce.
Hamilton controlled the contest with a stout defence that registered three sacks and forced three turnovers, thrilling the noisy sellout gathering of 30,293. But the Ticats’ offence had trouble putting the game away with its struggles in the red zone.
On three separate occasions, Hamilton drove inside the Toronto 10-yard line, but could only muster seven points (two field goals, single). But third-string quarterback Adam Tafralis’s one-yard TD run at 13:40 of the third gave the Ticats a 28-13 lead and cemented the win.
Nick Setta connected from 29 yards out at 8:07 of the fourth to make it 31-13 after Hamilton’s Dylan Barker recovered Will Poole’s fumble off a punt return at the Toronto 22-yard line.
The contest was a tame one, that is, until late in the third when a melee ensued, resulting in Toronto offensive lineman Taylor Robertson and Hamilton defensive lineman Justin Hickman both being ejected.
Hamilton’s first possession of the second half began at the Toronto 40-yard line thanks to Markeith Knowlton’s recovery of Cody Pickett’s fumble. But after driving to the Argos’ two-yard line, the Ticats settled for Setta’s nine-yard field goal at 6:48.
Toronto wasn’t much better. After Andre Durie’s sparkling 83-yard kickoff return put the Argos at the Hamilton 16-yard line, they could only muster a 15-yard Justin Medlock field goal at 8:23 to cut the home team’s lead to 21-13.
Dave Stala and DeAndra Cobb scored Hamilton’s other touchdowns. Setta added the converts, four field goals and a single.
Jamal Robertson had Toronto’s touchdown. Medlock booted the convert, two field goals and a single. Eddie Johnson also had a single.
Hamilton led 18-10 at halftime, a score that flattered Toronto as the Ticats mustered just four points on two late possessions inside the Argos’ 10-yard line.
Chris Thompson blocked Medlock’s punt to give Hamilton possession at the Toronto eight-yard line with seven seconds remaining. After an incompletion, Setta missed a 16-yard field goal try that went for a single.
Earlier, Bo Smith’s interception put Hamilton at the Toronto seven-yard line. But again, the Ticats couldn’t punch it in and settled for Setta’s 20-yard field goal at 14:03 for the 17-10 lead.
Cobb’s 14-yard TD catch at 11:16 gave Hamilton a 14-10 advantage, capping a smart five-play, 78-yard drive.
Medlock connected from 47 yards out at 8:55 to put Toronto ahead 10-7.
Robertson opened the scoring with a three-yard TD run at 5:18 of the first. Hamilton countered with Stala’s 14-yard touchdown grab at 13:52.
NOTES – Cornerback Willie Middlebrooks, fullback Jarrett Payton, linebacker Alphonso Hodge and defensive tackle Adrian Davis didn’t dress for Toronto while tailback Terry Caulley, linebacker Dennis Haley, offensive lineman Cedric Gagne-Marcoux and defensive lineman Jermaine Reed were Hamilton’s scratches. Middlebrooks had been a starter since joining the Argos last season but gave way to Byron Parker . . . Toronto came into the game with a dismal 0-4 home record but a respectable 2-2 road mark.
