HAMILTON - DeAndra Cobb and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence blew past the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday afternoon.
Hamilton effectively countered gusting winds with Cobb's 159-yard
rushing performance and six sacks by its defence to dispatch
the Riders 24-6 before an Ivor Wynne Stadium gathering of 24,586
spectators.
Hamilton's defence held Saskatchewan to just six points with the
wind, which gusted between 59 and 81 km/h throughout the
contest. The unit forced four turnovers (two fumbles, one
interception, once on downs) and its sack total was the most by the Ticats since
registering five against Toronto in September 2005.
"The defence was dominant," head coach Marcel Bellefeuille
said. "I had a feeling they could play that type of football game.
"They've
been poised for a big game like that. I thought the front seven did a
great job and the secondary as well in coverage. We played good
situational defence."
Hamilton scored 14 points with the wind at their backs, but their ability to control the ball with a solid rushing attack and
short passing game when marching against it was most telling. The
Ticats ran for 196 yards and amassed 433 total yards in snapping an
11-game losing streak against Saskatchewan.
Hamilton's best offensive showing came in the second quarter
when quarterback Kevin Glenn marched the unit 74 yards on 13 plays
before Nick Setta capped it off with a 10-yard field goal for a 21-3
lead at 14:26. The Ticats kept the ball away from the Riders' offence
for 6:05.
Bellefeuille said the weather conditions forced him to
change his special-team alignments to include more players capable of
handling shorter kicks. It also made him re-jig the offensive gameplan to incorporate more running plays, putting the onus on Hamilton's
front wall to control the line of scrimmage.
"It (offensive line play) was critical, especially when you get
these windy games," he said. "You're trying to eat up clock going
against the wind.
"In the fourth quarter when we could've been more aggressive we had
a lead so we were back in the same boat again where we had to eat clock
up and keep them off the scoreboard."
Hamilton (8-9) moved into second in the East Division with its
second straight win. The Ticats can cement the No. 2 spot - and home
field for the conference semifinal - with a win next weekend against
Winnipeg. The Blue Bombers (7-9) can grab a share of second with a win
Sunday over Montreal, but regardless of that outcome they'd still secure
second with a home victory over Hamilton.
The Ticats haven't played in a playoff game since '04 and last hosted a post-season contest in 2001.
Saskatchewan (9-7-1) could've clinched a home playoff game for the
third straight year with a win. The Riders, who have at least five
players battling the flu, remain tied atop the West Division standings
with Calgary, pending the result of the Stampeders' game against the B.C.
Lions on Saturday night.
"We weren't able to generate anything with any consistency on
offence and we left our defence on the field too long," said Riders
head coach Ken Miller. "We're not going to make an excuse of any kind
(due to flu bug)."
"We got our fannies beat by a team that was well prepared and executed well."
Regardless of what happens at B.C. Place, the Riders and Stamps will square off next
weekend with first place and home-field
advantage on the line.
"We all knows what lies before us," Miller said. "We all know what
needs to be done so its incumbent on every one of us to do the very
best we can to be successful in that game next week."
Hamilton's defence harrassed Riders starter Darian Durant, who was
just 8-of-20 passing for 66 yards and an interception before giving way
to Steven Jyles in the fourth.
Arland Bruce III scored Hamilton's other touchdown. Setta booted three field goals, two converts and a single.
Glenn finished 22-of-35 passing for 237 yards and a touchdown.
Slotback Dave Stala was Glenn's favourite target with nine catches for
126 yards.
Glenn said dealing with the wind was difficult.
"It was pretty bad," he said. "I actually thought I was going to throw a pass to myself, let the wind blow it back to me.
"The offensive line and Cobb did a good job running the ball."
Glenn will certainly be a pivotal figure this week as he prepares to
lead the Ticats into Winnipeg. He spent five seasons with the Bombers
before being released this off-season.
Glenn has repeatedly stated he's not a vengeful person
and isn't bent on redemption when he faces his former team. But the
nine-year CFL veteran understands he's going to provide the most
compelling storyline heading into the contest.
"I'm not looking forward to it, but you know that's what's going to
happen," he said. "I've been here a while to understand the
significance of the game.
"You don't get caught up in all that. You let the media do what they
do best; create the stories and we just go out and play football."
Saskatchewan's Luca Congi had a field goal but missed attempts of 55
and 50 yards with the wind at his back in the third. He also conceded a safety. Louie Sakoda added a single.
NOTES: Cobb went over 1,000 yards rushing with his TD
run, the first Ticat to do so since Troy Davis in 2004 - the last time
Hamilton made the playoffs. Cobb is the seventh player
to break the barrier in '09, setting a new CFL record … At halftime, the Ticats honoured the '99 squad that
won the club's last Grey Cup title … The first quarter had been a
problem this season for Hamilton. Coming into Saturday's game, the
Ticats had been outscored 131-58 in the opening frame. Fortunately, they've outscored opponents in quarters two through four… Glenn began his CFL career with
Saskatchewan, signing with the club as a free agent in 2001 …
Saskatchewan has seven players on its active roster who were selected
in the first round of the CFL's Canadian college draft … Durant
surpassed the 4,000-yard passing plateau on the season, becoming the fourth Riders
quarterback to do so. He joins Kent Austin, who did it four times, Henry Burris (twice) and
Kerry Joseph.
