Steve Milton: Déjà vu? Not this time — Ticats win in Calgary for first time in 18 years
Finally.
In soooo many ways.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have finally won a game in Calgary. They finally made the big, big plays as the rapidly ticking clock seemed to be condemning them to another heartbreaking loss. They finally did not crack after the kind of late-game situations - a sleepy disregard for a Calgary onside kick, a fumble lost by the star running back and a questionable failed third-down gamble deep in their own zone - which have contributed to most of their 10 losses again went against them in this one too.
And they have finally put their playoff chances in nobody else's hands but their very own.
The Ticats won a nail-biting 35-32 decision over the Stampeders in Calgary Friday night, by discarding the script which has made just about every autumn game a must-win.
They recovered from a late Calgary touchdown and 32-27 deficit with a minute to play, by taking the ensuing kickoff (Lawrence Woods) and Dane Evans completing a 42-yard deep pass into double coverage to Tim White who leapt, absorbed a thundering hit and came down with the ball at the Calgary seven-yard line. Next play Evans hit White again, this time in the end zone, and the Ticats had their first win in Calgary in 18, count em, years.
And at 6-10 they are tied with Saskatchewan Roughriders. But to cross over to third place in the CFL East, Saskatchewan has to finish ahead of Hamilton so the Ticats only have to match the Riders' record in the final two games. They play both against last-place Ottawa (who could still get in with a sweep of the Ticats) while Saskatchewan finishes with two against the Stampeders (10-6) who are heavily motivated to earn a home playoff game.
The Ticats have now won three of their last four games, as many as they won in their first 12, and it's fair to ask what's different.
Obviously we didn't want to lose 10 games but I think we've learned a lot of lessons in those games and learned about ourselves," Evans answered. I think we've learned, finally, enough from them to overcome things like that (the turnovers on fumble and downs, and Calgary's late touchdown).
This one is really sweet. As I said all first half, all we needed was the ball."
The Ticats led 14-10 at the half but had the ball for only nine of the 30 minutes, got only four first downs and 60 yards of offence against Calgary's imposing 21 minutes, 237 yards, and 18 first downs. But Hamilton survived because of three interceptions off Jake Maier (two by Richard Leonard, including one for a touchdown, and one by defensive end Julian Howsare), some costly Calgary penalties and three field goals from Seth Small, who hit a fourth for 57 yards in the second half.
Evans had a monster second half with 214 yards passing but his best moment was the 42-yard fling into a fierce wind that White snared in a crowd.
You're going to get hit. You're not going to get wide open they're in a deep zone," head coach Orlondo Steinauer said of the game-turning catch. I'm proud of him, he had opportunities earlier in the year for a couple of those that he didn't t come down with. This is another step for him and the timing obviously couldn't be better."
That final drive changed the conversation from the one that was likely going to rage like stomach flu through Ticat Nation. The Ticats faced third-and-one on their own 22-yard line and two minutes remaining, and instead of punting handed off to Wes Hills Calgary stuffed him and three plays later, Tommy Stevens' short sneak seemed sure to give the Stamps their 15th straight home win against Hamilton.
Steinauer explained, It was a playoff game for us" and felt that with a stiff wind, punting would have almost guaranteed a Stampeder field goal, or more. It wasn't the decision to go for it that bothered this corner as much as, the hand-off coming so deep in the backfield. But, in the end, it turned out well and as Evans implied, the Ticats subsequently showed that there's a lot more fight in the Ticat dog in recent games.
Leonard credited the pressure by the defensive front - which was without late-scratch Micah Johnson and Mo Diallo, was injured during the game - for his two picks. On the second, Calgary was mounting anther time-consuming drive but he stepped in front of a receiver and ran 64 thinking-man's yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
When I got it, all I thought of was scoring," Leonard said.
Steinauer said, What we weren't going to do was leave any bullets in the gun, and that includes mentally. We've found ways not to give ourselves the opportunity to come back earlier in the year and now we're giving ourselves the opportunity. We control our own destiny."
That destiny includes hosting the Redblacks Friday night and play in Ottawa the following Saturday.
NOTES: Both Seth Small, who's now hit 13 straight field goals, and Rene Paredes were 4-for-4 ... Dane Evans was 17 for 25 for 24 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions ... Jake Maier was 26-for-35 for 251 yards, with three picks and two touchdowns ... to counter the Ticat pressure Calgary ran a lot, amassing 183 yards with Ka'Deem Carey getting 64, Peyton Logan 51 ... Wes Hills had 52 rushing yards for Hamilton ... Tim White had 106 yards on six catches, Steven Dunbar 54 yards on three grabs and Felix Garand-Gauthier had a key 33-yard reception ... Julian Howsare and Malik Carney had Hamilton sacks.
Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com