To recap: the Ticats took an eight-point lead over the Lions into the final seconds of the game before giving up an unfathomable touchdown and two-point conversion with no time remaining. Hamilton went on to lose in overtime on a missed field-goal attempt.
Thankfully, no overtime was needed this time around. After scoring to open the game, the Tiger Cats were able to continue pouring the pressure on throughout the first half en route to a 30-3 lead at half-time and a 40-10 final.
On both sides of the ball, the Tiger Cats looked like an elite-level team. The defense, generally regarded to be amongst the best in the CFL, looked unstoppable. A secondary unit of Richard Leonard, Delvin Breaux, Jamal Rollo, Cariel Brooks and Mike Daly kept the Lions to just 215 yards through the air, while a linebacking crew of Don Unamba, Simoni Lawrence and Larry Dean kept the Lions other options in-check.
On offense, Jeremiah Masoli continued to prove he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. With wide receiver Brandon Banks return from injury, the Ticats looked unstoppable.
It’s been a Jekyll and Hyde act at times for this Ticats team. On weeks like this when they dominate both sides of the ball, we can’t help but wonder if this is finally the year that the Grey Cup drought ends and we win our first league championship since 1999. Then there are performances like what the Ticats put up two weeks ago against the Calgary Stampeders, getting beat 43-28 in a game that could have gone even worse where we wonder if the team is anywhere near the best in the league.
There are four games left in the regular season, two of which will take place against the East Division-leading Ottawa RedBlacks. With the two teams appearing to be on a collision course for the East Division championship in November, those games could be a preview of what’s to come.
Here’s hoping that the version of the Ticats who showed up against the B.C. Lions shows up for those two games, because this team can beat any team in the CFL.
