The Hamilton Tiger-Cats played two games in five days to end a gruelling stretch of four in 17.
During a downpour at TD Place the Ticats gutted out a 24-7 win to finish with a 3-1 record in the most physically demanding part of their 2021 season.
“I’m extremely happy that we are all done playing our fourth game in 17 days,” head coach Orlondo Steinauer said.
Hamilton beat Toronto on Labour Day Monday at home, lost to the Argos on the road by one point four days later, used a full preparation week to grab a victory off Bo Levi Mitchell and battled the elements and a rested Redblacks team to leave the nation’s capital with a victory.
“Definitely gruelling. These guys were banged up and sore, but their mindset was not tired and their hearts weren’t sore, I’m just so proud of them. It comes from within, there’s no speech I can give them,” Steinauer said.
“There’s going to be times out there when they’re going to be sore, they’re going to be tired and they’re going to have to make a choice at that point: push through or concede. I thought they pushed through — it’s a mindset to me.”
David Watford was the quarterback of record for the Ticats and improved to 2-0 as a starter. Steven Dunbar Jr. and Jumal Rolle scored touchdowns while the defence forced six turnovers in a dominant performance. The only points allowed by Hamilton came on a DeVonte Dedmon punt return touchdown which covered 63 yards in the fourth quarter with the Tabbies leading 21-0.
“Everything in life is about choice and they chose to give it everything they had. That’s all we ask for in this situation. There’s no magic potion, this was a credit to everybody in that locker room. I feel really good, I feel proud — I’m just so happy for them,” Steinauer said.
“As a coach you’re always pushing so you’re not going to be completely satisfied. It’s been a tough stretch, we battled quite a bit of adversity, quite a few injuries, and I can’t really say enough about the organization as a whole.”
At the halfway point of the shortened 14-game regular season, due to the pandemic, Steinauer and his Hamilton squad have lost as many games as the 2019 edition of the Tiger-Cats, but the four wins put the Tabbies first place in the East Division. Hamilton holds the tiebreaker over Toronto through point differential in head-to-head match-ups.
“We have a lot of will power and great fighting spirit. This team is a real family, we play together. Coach O always preaches that every situation is perfect — no matter the situation or the elements, it’s always perfect. As long as we play together and do our jobs, we’ll get it done,” Watford said.
Watford completed 15-of-25 passes for 115 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while leading the team in rushing 11 times for 54 yards. The 28-year-old dual-threat QB produced 169 yards of total offence as the Ticats controlled the football for 33 minutes and 34 seconds in the wet conditions.
“It was tough in the elements, I can’t lie. There’s been a lot of adversity, but we’ve been able to face it head on and not shy away from it and it’s worked in our favour. It feels amazing to be able to have this time to rest and recover our bodies,” Watford said.
The Tiger-Cats have 10 days to recuperate and prepare for playing the Montreal Alouettes in Week 9 at Tim Hortons Field.
