Well, there are two reasonable explanations for the 33-3 shellacking the Hamilton Tiger-Cats laid on the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday afternoon. Either the Ticats are really good and finally showed it. Or the Riders really – really – suck.
Both teams came into this game 0-2 and facing pressure from public and pundits alike but only the Ticats played like it. The Hamilton offence, led by quarterback Kevin Glenn's 203 yard, two touchdown, zero interception passing day, put together a number of solid drives and the defence forced Darian Durant and company in six turnovers and just 238 total yards of offence.
“That was good, we needed that,” said centre Marwan Hage. “Now the young guys know the blueprint works and we can get on a roll.”
The rout got started early. The Ticats opened the scoring when linebacker Rey Williams picked off Durant and rumbled 30 yards to the Rider six-yard line. But the Ticat offence couldn't punch it in and Hamilton settled for a Justin Medlock field goal and an early 3-0 lead.
The Ticats squandered two more good scoring opportunities in the first quarter but came away with Medlock field goals each time while the Hamilton defence limited the Riders to just four total yards in the opening 15 minutes and the Cats entered the second quarter up 9-0.
One of a series of excellent Marcus Thigpen punt returns – he had 93 yards in the first half alone - gave the Ticats good field position and they finally capitalized with Glenn hitting Chris Williams from four yards out to make the score 16-0 early in the second frame. Another Glenn to Williams hook up on the next drive – this one from 13 yards out – gave Hamilton a whopping 23-0 lead.
Williams – who finished with five catches and 38 yards to go along with two scores – was only in the game because Maurice Mann suffered an 11-stitch cut on his foot courtesy of a locker room door on Thursday and couldn't play.
“I told the players it doesn't matter who we play if we play the right way, we'll have success,” head coach Marcel Bellefeuille said. “To their credit, those guys did. It gives you confidence when the young guys come in and make plays.”
Saskatchewan looked to get a late break when Thigpen fumbled a Glenn handoff and the Riders recovered deep in Ticat territory. But the Green Riders gave the ball right back with a fumble of their own and Hamilton went into half time with their shutout intact.
Things went from worse to apocalyptic for the Riders in the third. After Durant was picked for a second time – this one courtesy of Bo Smith - the Ticats put together a nifty eight-play, 73 yard drive that finished with a five-yard Thigpen scamper to paydirt. That made it 30-0.
The Riders finally got on the board with just under two minutes to play in the third stanza when Eddie Johnson squeaked a 50-yard field goal over the bar.
The Ticats got that back when Medlock hit another trey from 32 early in the fourth and Ryan Dinwiddie, on in relief of Durant, couldn't capitalize on a couple of good scoring chances late in the game.
The Ticats improve to 1-2 and head to B.C. next week for a Friday night date with the Lions. The Riders, meanwhile, head east to Montreal for a tough match up against the Alouettes.
Rider coach Greg Marshall, a former Ticat defensive coordinator, was unhappy with his team after the dispiriting loss.
“I obviously have to do a better job coaching and they got to do a better job playing, but it really doesn’t matter what we’re doing if we can’t go out and play with some effort, play with some heart and execute,” Marshall said.
Glenn looked exhausted after the game as he signed autographs on the field for fans – game was played in scorching heat – but still had a smile on his face.
“We've gotten better from week to week and you want to make sure that you're climbing that ladder,” he said. “It was a lot more fun – it was hot too – but it was fun.”
Notes: Offensive lineman Jason Jimenez was injured in the first quarter and did not return, while running back Avon Cobourne (foot) and receiver Marquay McDaniel (back) went down in the third quarter and did not return... Quinton Porter took over for Kevin Glenn in the fourth quarter... attendance was announced at 22,245.
Sorry, but that wasn't a 'great' game. Riders didn't show up tonight. TiCats Offence didn't show it can compete with the league's better Defences. Let's see how the July 29 game goes before declaring anything great.
Posted by: Glen | 07/16/2011 at 09:29 PM
Great Game Cats! Players, Coaches, Box J Boys, et al!
Posted by: Smoke | 07/16/2011 at 09:16 PM
Great game ... it was great to see some rhythm in the offense and the defense played great as did ST. LOVE seeing the Thigpen from last year and the pre-season again! I was nice seeing Marquay McDaniel out there again too! It seemed after connecting with him that Glenn got some sharpness back.
As for the riders ... well ... 'nuff said.
Posted by: hammergirl | 07/16/2011 at 08:33 PM
Congratulations to players and coaches alike. Are Riders really that bad? They seem to have the 13th man problem solved, however.
Posted by: Eagle 1 | 07/16/2011 at 08:31 PM
Great game Cats!@#
Posted by: Jeff - TiCat fan in Vancouver | 07/16/2011 at 08:20 PM
Finally!! It feels great to finally break the goose egg and get a notch in the win column. But before we start planning our Grey Cup parties, let's ackowledge that the Ticats earned this victory against what is quite evidently a terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE Roughrider team this year. I'm stunned actually at how bad they are.
So....we'll take this win and the momentum from it on the road to BC next week. If the Ticats can win that game too, and we have a streak going, maybe then I'll at least start polishing my chili crock pot in anticipation of a Grey Cup party! :)
Posted by: Steve In Bowmanville | 07/16/2011 at 07:42 PM
A great team victory. Congratulations to the coaching staff for making subtle adjustments, and for the players for executing and playing hard. Nice to see Thigpen run hard north/south, Cobourne was solid, Glenn proficient, and the defense terrific. Medlock is like money in the bank with field goals.
A balanced attack, a commitment & success to the run game early in the game, great special teams play, and mixing up the defensive look. Much improved blocking schemes too. A great game to build.
Posted by: Ticat Mike | 07/16/2011 at 07:17 PM
Great to see a complete game from all 3 teams.
Posted by: Wcf | 07/16/2011 at 07:16 PM