The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-2) visited B.C. Place Stadium on Sunday night against the B.C. Lions (3-5) to close out Week 8 of the CFL season. This was their first meeting of the season. Hamilton got back running back Greg Bell, who missed the last three games with a calf injury.
The Lions were missing several players on defense, including defensive back Jalon Edwards-Cooper, Marcus Moore, Tibo Debaillie, and Tomasi Laulile.
First Quarter:
In the first quarter, Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed a pass to Keaton Bruggeling. B.C. defensive back Ronald Kent Jr. stripped Bruggeling of the football, and there was a scramble for it. B.C. defensive back Travian Blaylock fell on top of the football at the 19-yard line.
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke completed a six-yard pass to Stanley Berryhill III. Rourke and James Butler combined to rush for ten yards to the three-yard line. On the next play, Rourke handed the ball to James Butler, who fought off a couple of tackles to score the touchdown. The Lions took a 7-0 lead with 9:34 left to cap off a four-play drive for 19 yards.
Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed a pass to Tim White for 35 yards, and Greg Bell rushed for four yards to the 32-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Marc Liegghio made a 40-yard field goal. The Tiger-Cats trailed the Lions 7-3 with 6:56 left.
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke threw two passes for 21 yards and rushed for 21 yards, while James Butler rushed for 23 yards to the five-yard line. On the next play, Rourke handed the ball off to Butler, who got a good block upfront on his way to scoring the touchdown. The Lions extended their lead to 14-3 with 3:52 left to cap off a five-play drive for 70 yards.
Late in the first quarter, Hamilton’s offense was driving down the field. On the last play, running back Johnny Augustine rushed for 11 yards to the two-yard line to end the first quarter. Hamilton trailed B.C. 14-3 heading into the second quarter.
B.C.’s offense had 104 yards (42 yards passing, 62 yards rushing), and Hamilton’s offense had 94 yards (66 yards passing, 28 yards rushing).
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Hamilton was stopped at the one-yard line and went for it on third down. Third-string quarterback Jake Dolegala scored the touchdown, and the Tiger-Cats trailed the Lions 14-10 with 12:47 left to cap off a nine-play drive for 53 yards.
On the second play for B.C., quarterback Nathan Rourke completed a pass to James Butler. Hamilton linebacker Devin Veresuk forced the ball out, and Jonathan Moxey recovered it. He returned it for 18 yards before getting tackled at the 25-yard line.
However, a holding penalty on Reggie Stubblefield placed the ball on the 40-yard line. Hamilton’s offense would move the ball to the four-yard line before kicker Marc Liegghio made a 12-yard field goal. Hamilton trailed B.C. 14-13 with 7:40 left.
Late in the second quarter, B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke threw a pass to Keon Hatcher. Hatcher ran for 73 yards before tripping himself at the 15-yard line. The drive stalled, and kicker Sean Whyte made a 21-yard field goal. The Lions led the Tiger-Cats 17-13 with 1:46 left.
Hamilton’s offense moved the ball to the 39-yard line. On the next play, in what could be described as the play of the year or catch of the year. Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell threw the ball intended for Brendan O’Leary-Orange. B.C. defensive back Robert Carter made a leaping one-handed interception in the endzone.
B.C.’s offense moved the ball to the 25-yard line. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 33-yard field goal, and the Lions led the Tiger-Cats 20-13 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
B.C. had 257 yards on offense (150 yards passing, 107 yards rushing), 12 first downs, 2 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized one time for five yards. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 10 of 13 passes (77%) for 150 yards and three carries for 27 yards.
Running back James Butler had nine carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Keon Hatcher made five catches for 117 yards. The defense made one tackle for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Hamilton had 205 yards on offense (133 yards passing, 72 yards rushing), 12 first downs, 1 for 2 in the redzone, and the team was penalized two times for 20 yards. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 11 of 15 passes (73%) for 133 yards, one interception, and two carries for 16 yards.
Running back Greg Bell had eight carries for 42 yards. Wide receiver Tim White made three catches for 52 yards, and Kenny Lawler made one catch for 21 yards. The defense had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Third Quarter:
Hamilton got the ball to start the third quarter at the 45-yard line. Hamilton’s offense moved the ball to the nine-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell took before shoveling the pass to Kiondre Smith for the touchdown. The game was tied 20-20 with 9:40 left to cap off a seven-play drive for 65 yards.
B.C.’s offense moved the ball to the 11-yard line. On the next play, Hamilton defensive end Philip Ossai sacked Nathan Rourke for a seven-yard loss. Rourke would later complete a 13-yard pass to Stanley Berryhill III to the five-yard line.
On third down, kicker Sean Whyte made a 13-yard field goal. The Lions took a 23-20 lead with 4:04 left. It was Whyte’s third field goal of the night.
Late in the third quarter, Hamilton’s offense moved the ball to the 16-yard line. On the last play, Mitchell’s pass to Kenny Lawler was incomplete. Hamilton trailed B.C. 23-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Hamilton kicker Marc Liegghio made a 24-yard field goal. The game was tied 23-23 with 14:43 left. It was his 32nd consecutive field goal made.
Later in the fourth quarter, B.C. running back James Butler had four carries for 28 yards helping the offense move the ball to the 37-yard line. Kicker Sean Whyte made a 45-yard field goal for a 26-23 lead with 5:59 left.
B.C.’s defense made a play. Hamilton running back Greg Bell rushed for nine yards before Ronald Kent Jr. punched the ball out, and it was recovered by Sione Teuhema at the 49-yard line. B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke threw two passes for 47 yards, including a 43-yarder to Ayden Eberhardt to the two-yard line. Then, backup quarterback Jeremiah Masoli scored the touchdown. B.C. extended its lead to 33-23 with 3:55 left.
Late in the fourth quarter, Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell threw two passes for 18 yards, and running back Greg Bell rushed for two yards to the 44-yard line. B.C.’s defense was double-teaming Kenny Lawler all night long, and it allowed someone to get open.
On the next play, Kenny Lawler drew two players toward him. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell found Brendan O’Leary-Orange open for a 44-yard touchdown. Hamilton trailed B.C. 33-30 with 2:50 left to cap off a four-play drive for 64 yards.
After Hamilton’s defense forced a two-and-out, the offense was back out on the 23-yard line. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell led the offense down to the one-yard line. On the next play, Mitchell quickly threw a touchdown pass to a wide-open Kiondre Smith. Hamilton took a 37-33 lead with 16 seconds left to cap off a 13-play drive for 87 yards.
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke’s pass intended for Jevon Cottoy was incomplete. On the final play of the game, Rourke completed a pass to Ayden Eberhardt. Eberhardt kicked the ball down the field hoping it would reach the endzone, but Hamilton recovered it, and the game was over. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the B.C. Lions 37-33 to win their fifth straight game.
Final Stats:
Hamilton had 486 yards on offense (389 yards passing, 97 yards rushing), 29 first downs, 3 for 5 in the redzone, and the team was penalized eight times for 60 yards. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed 34 of 41 passes (83%) for 389 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and four carries for 23 yards.
Running back Johnny Augustine had two carries for 14 yards and two catches for 18 yards, while Greg Bell had 11 carries for 56 yards and three catches for 26 yards. Wide receiver Kiondre Smith led the receivers making 14 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns, and Brendan O’Leary-Orange made three catches for 63 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 39 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
B.C. had 433 yards on offense (289 yards passing, 151 yards rushing, 7 yards lost), 23 first downs, 3 for 5 in the redzone, and the team was penalized four times for 31 yards. Quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 20 of 27 passes (74%) for 289 yards and four carries for 34 yards.
Running back James Butler had 16 carries for 115 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver Keon Hatcher led the receivers making five catches for 117 yards, and Ayden Eberhardt made two catches for 58 yards. The defense made 48 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Next week, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit the Edmonton Elks on Saturday at 3 pm on TSN, CTV, and CFL+. The B.C. Lions are on a bye week.
