Posted: September 27,2014 09:00PM
Updated: September 27,2014 09:53PM
WINNIPEG –Mossis Madu’s first half touchdown, combined with a
defensive stand on a furious game-ending drive helped lift the Hamilton
Tiger-Cats to a 16-11 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Saturday night
at Investors Group field.
Drew Willy, who was questionable for most of the week of preperation coming off a shoulder injury, finished 27 of 40 for 303 yards in the loss. Zach Collaros did just enough to allow the Ticats defence to hold off the Blue and Gold, completing 20 of 36 passes for 182 yards in the fourth Tiger-Cats win in five games.
Coming off his most impressive game of the year, Collaros led the Tiger-Cats offence after a win over Edmonton which saw him pass for 318 yards and a touchdown en route to earning Offensive Player of the Week honours.
The Bombers moved the ball well in the first quarter but found their drives stalling near midfield. As the second quarter got underway, they left it to their defence to put the first points on the board. After Winnipeg pinned Collaros and the Ticats at their own 9 yard line, the Bombers sent the blitz after the young QB, forcing a safety. Defensive ends Bryant Turner and Ejiro Kuale teamed up to get the ball back for a Bombers squad that was not only in need of points but field position.
Winnipeg couldn’t capitalize on the balance and were forced to kick the ball away on the ensuing series. An errant snap, however, led to a blocked punt by Ticats DB Ed Gainey, recovered by Sam Giguere and Hamilton took over at the Winnipeg 31 yard line.
Collaros then handed off to running back Mossis Madu who did the rest. The Oklahoma product ripped off a run of 9-yards before extending the ‘Cats lead on the next play. The first-year ‘Cat bolted to the right side of the formation, found a seam and then reversed field charging 22-yards to the end zone to give Hamilton a 10-2 lead with just under 7 minutes remaining in the half.
Madu is now the feature back in the Tiger-Cats attack after starter CJ Gable was ruled out until the end of the season with an injury sustained against the Eskimos last Saturday.
Looking to get some more traction on offence, the Bombers finally got into the red zone for the first time on the ensuing possession; leaning on running back Nic Grigsby for a pair of runs and a roughing the passer call to set up a 19-yard Lirim Hajrullahu field goal to cut the lead to five.
As the second half got underway, the Bombers were looking to catch the ‘Cats napping out of the gate. Hajrullahu squibbed an onside kick which he tried to recover himself but the Ticats recovered the ball at the Winnipeg 45 yard line. A completion from Collaros to SB Luke Tasker set up a 37-yard Medlock field goal to increase the lead to 13-5.
As the second half drudged along, yards became
more difficult to come by. With the third quarter in the books,
Collaros slowly led the Ticats up the field, hitting Andy Fantuz, Tasker
and Giguere for first downs. A monstrous hit by Teague Sherman on Greg Ellingson halted the drive and forced Medlock to hit a 39-yarder to put the score at 16-5 Hamilton.
Two possessions later, however, the Bombers began to mount what they hoped would be a fourth quarter comeback. Armed with decent field position, Willy completed a 34-yard pass over the middle to veteran Romby Bryant. He got Grigsby involved for a big gain before finding Cory Watson in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.
The 6-play, 66-yard touchdown drive cut the Hamilton lead to 16-11 with just over five minutes left. Winnipeg was unsuccessful in trying a two-point conversion.
Two months ago, the Bombers were able to stage an unbelievable last-second comeback over the Ticats and looked to repeat once again and they almost did.
Willy and the Bombers offence took over possession at their own 23-yard line with 2:13 left in the game. In what would be a furious set, Willy found seven different receivers as he marched 84 yards to scrimmage from the Hamilton 3 yard line with 16 seconds left.
A costly time count violation put the Bombers at third-and-goal with the game on the line. Willy sailed the ball to the back of the end zone only to have it fall incomplete as it looked like a pair of Winnipeg receivers got their signals crossed.
The Tiger-Cats hung on to the 16-11 win a temporarily take over first place in the East Division.
Hamilton returns home to take on the BC Lions next week while the Bombers re-focus and task preparation for the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
Drew Willy, who was questionable for most of the week of preperation coming off a shoulder injury, finished 27 of 40 for 303 yards in the loss. Zach Collaros did just enough to allow the Ticats defence to hold off the Blue and Gold, completing 20 of 36 passes for 182 yards in the fourth Tiger-Cats win in five games.
Coming off his most impressive game of the year, Collaros led the Tiger-Cats offence after a win over Edmonton which saw him pass for 318 yards and a touchdown en route to earning Offensive Player of the Week honours.
The Bombers moved the ball well in the first quarter but found their drives stalling near midfield. As the second quarter got underway, they left it to their defence to put the first points on the board. After Winnipeg pinned Collaros and the Ticats at their own 9 yard line, the Bombers sent the blitz after the young QB, forcing a safety. Defensive ends Bryant Turner and Ejiro Kuale teamed up to get the ball back for a Bombers squad that was not only in need of points but field position.
Winnipeg couldn’t capitalize on the balance and were forced to kick the ball away on the ensuing series. An errant snap, however, led to a blocked punt by Ticats DB Ed Gainey, recovered by Sam Giguere and Hamilton took over at the Winnipeg 31 yard line.
Collaros then handed off to running back Mossis Madu who did the rest. The Oklahoma product ripped off a run of 9-yards before extending the ‘Cats lead on the next play. The first-year ‘Cat bolted to the right side of the formation, found a seam and then reversed field charging 22-yards to the end zone to give Hamilton a 10-2 lead with just under 7 minutes remaining in the half.
Madu is now the feature back in the Tiger-Cats attack after starter CJ Gable was ruled out until the end of the season with an injury sustained against the Eskimos last Saturday.
Looking to get some more traction on offence, the Bombers finally got into the red zone for the first time on the ensuing possession; leaning on running back Nic Grigsby for a pair of runs and a roughing the passer call to set up a 19-yard Lirim Hajrullahu field goal to cut the lead to five.
As the second half got underway, the Bombers were looking to catch the ‘Cats napping out of the gate. Hajrullahu squibbed an onside kick which he tried to recover himself but the Ticats recovered the ball at the Winnipeg 45 yard line. A completion from Collaros to SB Luke Tasker set up a 37-yard Medlock field goal to increase the lead to 13-5.
| Ticat-Tough Defence |
|---|
 Unlike the last time these two teams met, the Tiger-Cats got stops at the most critical of times Saturday night, holding the Bombers on the game's last play ... Read More. |
Two possessions later, however, the Bombers began to mount what they hoped would be a fourth quarter comeback. Armed with decent field position, Willy completed a 34-yard pass over the middle to veteran Romby Bryant. He got Grigsby involved for a big gain before finding Cory Watson in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.
The 6-play, 66-yard touchdown drive cut the Hamilton lead to 16-11 with just over five minutes left. Winnipeg was unsuccessful in trying a two-point conversion.
Two months ago, the Bombers were able to stage an unbelievable last-second comeback over the Ticats and looked to repeat once again and they almost did.
Willy and the Bombers offence took over possession at their own 23-yard line with 2:13 left in the game. In what would be a furious set, Willy found seven different receivers as he marched 84 yards to scrimmage from the Hamilton 3 yard line with 16 seconds left.
A costly time count violation put the Bombers at third-and-goal with the game on the line. Willy sailed the ball to the back of the end zone only to have it fall incomplete as it looked like a pair of Winnipeg receivers got their signals crossed.
The Tiger-Cats hung on to the 16-11 win a temporarily take over first place in the East Division.
Hamilton returns home to take on the BC Lions next week while the Bombers re-focus and task preparation for the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
GoTi-Cats
Yeah I know a win is a win but I was sorry to
see a reappearance of the "old" Ti-Cat tendency to run out of gas and
not score and not be able to stop a driving opponent in the 4thQ.
They're going to have to play a lot better than this to get where they
and I want them to go.
September 28, 2014 - 12:34am
tabbiefanmcb
The Ticats offense struggled to put together
sustained drives leaving the defense on the field more than they have
been lately, so the defense was bound to run out of gas and allow the
Bombers to continue their drive. I wouldn't push the panic button yet -
the offense has been gaining traction - just not last night. That
being said, the D did keep the team in the game for most of it and did
enough at the end to secure the W.
September 28, 2014 - 1:17pm
GoTi-Cats
tfmcb, I get you but "Willy sailed the ball
to the back of the end zone only to have it fall incomplete as it looked
like a pair of Winnipeg receivers got their signals crossed." That's
luck not good D play. Of course it's good to be lucky but luck has a way
of turning.
September 28, 2014 - 2:09pm
tabbiefanmcb
I wasn't necessarily referring to the
Bombers' last play when I said the D did enough. As for luck, Ticats
know how quickly luck turns and for a change it turned their way.
They've had plenty of the other kind of "luck"!
September 28, 2014 - 6:43pm
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