Steve Milton: Ticats did what they had to do in 32-3 win against Redblacks. Now they can take a run at first place
Sometimes what didn't happen can be as important as what did.
Yes, it is big that after Saturday's 32-3 mauling of the Ottawa Redblacks, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are back to as many wins as losses, have moved to within a game of first place, and sense that quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is carving out a deeper, smoother groove.
But it is also big - the adjective huge' popped up in postgame interviews - that they didn't let a last-place team entertain any realistic thoughts of beating them at this critical phase in the CFL season; that they didn't permanently misplace their home-field swagger; that they didn't let recent history repeat itself.
No furball in the Hamilton throat this time. A third straight home game with double-digit lead at into the fourth quarter, yes, but instead of watching it disappear like it was a movie, the Ticats added 14 points to their 18-3 lead.
Masoli, who went 25-for-28 for 320 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, agreed that cutting off a two-game (Montreal, Toronto) losing streak at Tim Hortons Field was a priority.
We definitely were talking about that, getting our mojo back at the Donut Box. We've worked too hard not to finish these games," he said. It was huge, definitely, for our team. We're in a race coming down the home-stretch."
Yes, we know it was Ottawa and this is not the Redblacks' year. Which might be like saying it is not the Green party's year. The Redblacks fielded a fatally-inexperienced offensive line and two CFL-new quarterbacks in, first, Caleb Evans then former NFLer Devlin Duck" Hodges, but the Ticats defence did what they were required to do, and then some. Three interceptions, three sacks, a pair of third-down stops, just 239 yards allowed and no signs of fourth-quarter remission.
When you have two games when you lead the entire game and you don't close, it stings," admitted Tiger-Cat wide-side cornerback Desmond Lawrence, who contributed a sack and his first interception since he was a North Carolina Tar Heel five years ago.
We took it on ourselves not to let it happen this time. We put the nail in the coffin."
On the play after Lawrence's pick, Masoli hit Steven Dunbar for the don't-look-back touchdown which made it 14-3 early in the second half.
Head coach Orlondo Steinauer said Masoli's efficiency was extremely high" as five receivers had 48 or more yards. He stretched the field enough to influence the way the Ticats' final four opponents will analyze game film, particularly with a 61-yard completion to Bralon Addison late in the first half. And Steinauer showed faith in Masoli and his offence, as he had them go for it on 3rd-and-2 late in the game when a field goal would have put things away. Masoli, who completed a seven-yard pass that led to the final touchdown, appreciated the confidence and agreed that could have an energizing effect down the road.
Masoli won the game but lost a lot of blood when a tackle crashed his face mask into his nose in the third quarter, and Dane Evans had to take over for a few plays. Otherwise Evans' role in his first game since Sept. 10 was to punch the ball into the end zone from short distance, which he did twice.
While Masoli was able to return, other Ticats' casualties were not. Addison, with 95 yards already, hurt his hamstring on his long catch-and-run and was pulled. Sean Thomas Erlington was scratched right before the game, leaving the Ticats a player short and his replacement, Maleek Irons, also went down. Centre Darius Ciraco, nursing a sore back, played only one series before redonning his civvies. The domino effect played havoc with several special teams units and if Thomas Erlington, Irons and Ciraco are out for any significant time, the Ticats could be facing a Canadian-content issue. And Ticat Nation shudders at what it would mean for Addison to be out again for any significant stretch.
But, that will be for early-week medical evaluations to determine. Over the weekend, Steinauer just wanted his team to savour the taste of victory in a game he conceded afterward was extremely important to win."
The difference between victory and defeat was massive. Squaring their record at 5-5, the Ticats now trail Montreal and Toronto, tied for first in the CFL East at 6-4, by only a game and they have one date left with the Argonauts. They don't play the Als again, but do have the tiebreaker edge should they make up two points on them over the final four games.
The first arrives early: this Friday night in Edmonton and the Ticats have got to do to the western cellar-dwellers what they did to the eastern ones. Remind them often of why they're in last place.
NOTES: Jackson Bennett, coming off special teams to replace Maleek Irons, had 58 yards in 12 rushes ... Jeremiah Masoli ran for 33 yards on just two carries ... With the loss, the Redblacks were officially eliminated from post-season contention.
Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com