Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach Kent Austin rejects the concept of the ugly victory.
“Every win is a pretty win,” Austin said after Brett Maher kicked a game-winning field goal with zeroes on the clock as the Ticats beat the Montreal Alouettes 20-17 on Friday night.
“Guys had to battle and they had to fight. I’m proud of how the guys played, how they responded.”
There were certainly moments of quality football. The Hamilton defence held Montreal without an offensive touchdown with defensive back Emanuel Davis registering an interception and two fumble recoveries. Running back Ross Schuerman had 119 all-purpose yards behind a rebuilt offensive line featuring two players making their first career CFL start.
And Andy Fantuz made a spectacular diving catch on the final drive, leaping into empty space to find a football that seemed destined for the turf.
It was not a dominant or spectacular performance but when the Ticats needed to make a key play – a long catch on third-and-one, a timely punt return, an interception, a catch – they made them.
“A close ball game like this, it’s always going to be five, six seven plays that make the difference,” Austin said. “Zach made some key throws especially on second down.”
Collaros was subdued after the win, irritated by his spotty execution. He had an uneven night, throwing for 292 yards and two interceptions (along with a touchdown), but was money when it mattered, engineering the last drive.
The Alouettes, meanwhile, overcame a tumultuous week to put up a spirited, if flawed, effort. Quarterback Rakeem Cato, who was involved in spats with teammates and the media in the days leading up to the game while also dealing with the shooting death of a close friend, threw for 147 yards and an interception, but couldn’t lead the Alouettes into the end zone.
The first half featured much of the same malaise that has plagued the Ticats for much the season. Collaros threw two interceptions — including one late in the second quarter with Hamilton in field goal range — as the offence managed to post just a single touchdown in the opening 30 minutes.
And there was, almost unbelievably, yet another blocked punt — the fourth straight game the Ticats have surrendered one. This one was costly, as Duron Carter got his hands on the Brett Maher kick, then scooped it up and scampered into the end zone.
“It was a heck of a play, a big time play,” Austin said of Carter, while struggling to explain the string of blocks. “It’s a real mystery.”
The game could be a costly one on the injury front. Both receiver Chad Owens (foot) and Canadian safety Courtney Stephen (knee) left the game in the third quarter and did not return. The Ticats, incidentally, were playing their third game in 12 days.
With the win, the Ticats move to 6-6 and take over sole possession of first place in the East Division, pending the result of Ottawa’s game against Calgary on Saturday.
