The defending Grey Cup-champion B.C Lions overcame a slow start and survived a late Hamilton rally for their second straight CFL win.Friday night (July 6-12) But it was a bit of a different team for the Hamilton Tiger Cats who were entering B.C Place after loosing to the Saskatchewan Roughriders 43-16 in their home-opener (June 29-12) despite the loss, The Tiger-Cats came to BC with some improvement.
The Hamilton Tiger Cats started off very strong with Chevon Walker, who took off for a massive 89-yard touchdown in his CFL debut against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
One week later and Walker was at it again; this time transforming an innocent-looking screen pass from Burris into a 95-yard touchdown romp, giving Hamilton a 7-0 lead.
Hamilton’s lead was short-lived, as B.C’s Qb Travis Lulay led the Lions on a nine-play, 76-yard drive that was capped off by a six-yard touchdown pass to Canadian receiver Shawn Gore.
But the Ticats would answer right back, with Burris completing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Daryl Stephenson, giving Hamilton a 14-7 lead. B.C. overcame early 7-0 and 14-7 deficits before jumping into a big lead and then holding off Hamilton in a game that featured several electrifying plays, from both teams! The Tiger Cats were not quite able to recover from two B.C. touchdowns 14 seconds apart in the second quarter. Gore’s second touchdown of the game, on a 26-yard pass, put the Lions ahead first time at 16-14 and then Anthony Reddick’s 47-yard interception return set the stage for Harris’ touchdown, which gave B.C. a 23-14 advantage.
Following the interception, Hamilton head coach Cortez opted to take Burris out of the game in favor of backup QB Quinton Porter. Burris, however, would start the second half for the Tiger Cats. Things would only go from bad to worse for the Tiger-Cats and in a big hurry to start the third quarter, the Lions stretched their lead to 33-14 with the ever so dangerous kick returner Tim Brown who ran back a Bartell kick offering 81 yards for a major score midway through the third quarter before the Ticats rallied. Late in the third frame, last season’s Most Outstanding Rookie Chris Williams continued the night’s fireworks in the return game, bringing back a Paul McCallum punt 67 yards for a touchdown.
Hamilton continued to slowly chip away at BC’s lead, with Burris leading the offence on a 13-play, 79-yard drive that would conclude with a one-yard touchdown by Walker – his second of the night and third of the season.
The Tiger Cats refused to go away quietly, with Burris once again leading a strong charge down field, culminating with a six-yard touchdown pass to Williams. Burris would then connect with Andy Fantuz for the two-point conversion, bringing the Ticats within three.
But that would be as close as the Ticats would get, as the Lions would go on to eat up valuable time on the clock, thanks in large part to the work of Harris on the ground, and the Tiger-Cats unable to stop the Lions. BC Lions roared past the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 39-36.
Next game: @ Ivor Wynne Staduim The Toronto Argos.. (should be a great game!!!)
NOTES:
Chevon Walker and Chris Williams both scored two touchdowns for the Tiger-Cats, Andy Fantuz got the two point conversion.
Daryl Stephenson produced Hamilton’s other touchdown on a nine-yard reception.
The Ticats lost starting centre Marwan Hage to hamstring injury in the second quarter..
Shawn Gore had two touchdown catches, while Tim Brown returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown.
Shawn Gore left the game with a injury in the third and did not return.
Friday was the first time since 2008 that both teams returned a kick for touchdown in the same game…
-Laura Shea
