Hamilton Tiger-Cats hold off Toronto Argonauts for first win of season

HAMILTON — Bo Levi Mitchell was respiration an enormous sigh of aid Saturday evening.

James Butler and Destin Talbert scored touchdowns arrange by turnovers as Hamilton held on to beat the Toronto Argonauts 27-24 for his or her first win of the season.

“Reduction is a superb phrase,” Mitchell mentioned. “That makes us 1-1 within the East.

“I do know we’re 1-5, it isn’t fairly. I instructed the blokes to go rejoice however nonetheless understand what the state of affairs is. Study from what we did, there have been some good issues that occurred … there’s loads of issues we are able to clear up and attempt to make it the place these video games do not find yourself shut.”

Hamilton (1-5) earned simply its second win in 12 video games in opposition to its longtime rival. The Ticats narrowly averted dropping to 0-6 for the primary time since 2017 (0-8 begin).

Hamilton’s defence got here into the sport having compelled a CFL-low three turnovers. However the Ticats put the Tim Hortons Discipline gathering of twenty-two,910 by means of the ringer late.

Janarion Grant’s 96-yard punt-return TD at 12:34 of the fourth pulled Toronto to inside 27-24. Grant contributed to a wild end by fumbling a punt return the Argos recovered at their very own 21-yard line with 26 seconds remaining.

On a third-and-seven cross, Hamilton was flagged for cross interference that put Toronto at its 50-yard line with 14 seconds to play. However Nick Arbuckle’s cross to Damonte Coxie on the ultimate play was incomplete.

“Should you’re 5-0 at that time I believe you are fairly assured,” Mitchell mentioned. “Whenever you’re 0-5, it is fairly tense.

“To make it that shut proper there in entrance of the followers once more, it simply feels harmful letting it get like that.”

Mitchell accomplished 20-of-29 passes for 270 yards with a TD and interception. However in contrast to his starter, head coach Scott Milanovich did not categorize the win as a aid.

“I do not know if aid is the fitting phrase, I really feel completely happy for them (Ticats gamers),” he mentioned. “The actual fact they acquired it tonight, despite the fact that it was tense (that) would possibly make it even sweeter.

“I am pleased with the way in which they struggle, the way in which they work. They should win and now we have got to start out stacking them.”

Butler ran for 50 yards on 11 carries whereas including 4 catches for 53 yards.

Milanovich mentioned the result was particularly candy for the six Ticats gamers and plenty of crew officers — together with Milanovich — who performed or had been beforehand related to Toronto. Milanovich guided the Argos to the ’12 Gray Cup in his first season as a CFL head coach.

Toronto (3-3) had its six-game win streak in opposition to Hamilton snapped and suffered its third loss in 4 contests total. Starter Cameron Dukes completed 20-of-27 passing for 180 yards earlier than giving strategy to Arbuckle within the fourth.

Arbuckle accomplished eight-of-14 passes for 118 yards with a TD and interception. He hit DaVaris Daniels on an 18-yard scoring strike at 10:18 of the fourth however the two-point convert was unsuccessful.

“We’re not a adequate soccer crew to have these errors,” mentioned Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “Good soccer groups haven’t got these errors so we have got to get higher.

“Too many errors on the incorrect time … We did not play successful soccer tonight.”

Dinwiddie mentioned it was too early to say whether or not Dukes will stay Toronto’s starter.

“We’ll take a look at it,” he mentioned. “I am not going to make a judgment till I watch the movie.”

Hamilton moved to inside 4 factors of third-place Toronto within the East Division. Idle Montreal (5-1) stands first forward of the Ottawa Redblacks (4-2).

“Truthfully I am not likely trying, and I hope our gamers aren’t both, on the East Division standings at this level,” Milanovich mentioned. “We would have liked to get a win, interval, in opposition to anyone, any time.

“Clearly it coming in opposition to Toronto makes it a little bit bit extra particular.”

Luther Hakunavanhu had Hamilton’s different landing. Marc Liegghio added the converts and two area objectives.

Ka’Deem Carey scored Toronto’s different landing. Lirim Hajrullahu kicked two converts and a area aim whereas John Haggerty added a single.

Haggerty’s 50-yard single at 4:27 of the fourth made it 27-11 for Hamilton.

Mitchell’s 23-yard TD strike to Hakunavanhu with eight seconds left within the third staked Hamilton to a 27-10 benefit.

Liegghio’s 29-yard area aim at 10:57 of the third stretched Hamilton’s result in 20-10. Toronto opened the second half with Hajrullahu’s 43-yard boot at 3:00.

Hamilton transformed the Toronto turnovers into touchdowns to take a 17-7 halftime benefit.

Butler opened the scoring with a nine-yard TD run at 3:51 of the primary. It adopted Ante Litre’s blocked punt that gave Hamilton possession on the Toronto nine-yard line.

Following Liegghio’s 20-yard area aim at 1:09 of the second, Talbert scored on a 31-yard fumble restoration to place Hamilton forward 17-0 at 5:05. Talbert recovered Dukes’ fumble on a second-and-one keeper and ran in untouched.

Carey reduce Hamilton’s result in 17-7 with an 11-yard TD run at 9:18.

UP NEXT

Argonauts: Host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-5) on Saturday.

Tiger-Cats: Go to the Edmonton Elks (0-6) on Sunday, July 28.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed July 20, 2024.