Latest news with #HamiltonTiger-Cats
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Ottawa Redblacks seek revenge in CFL rematch with Hamilton Tiger-Cats
OTTAWA - Sunday's game is as close to a must-win as you can get for the Ottawa Redblacks. Losers of their last three, the Redblacks (1-5) sit last in the East Division and seek to avenge last week's 23-20 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-2) in Sunday's rematch at TD Place.
Calgary Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
How much has play-calling played a part in the Ottawa Redblacks' offensive struggles?
Article content 'It's hard to say that we don't know what we're doing in those situations because we won like seven games last year in those situations,' he added. 'So it's not like we just up and forgot, right? But, yeah, it's definitely something we talk about and we emphasize, situational awareness and stuff.' Article content Asked about his thought process on the series of plays in question at Commonwealth Stadium, Condell explained that he was trying to get the Redblacks into field-goal range with a catch-and-go-down 'surrender play.' Article content Would he call the running play again if he had a chance for a redo? Article content 'We needed to get the first down, and we did,' he said after stating that he was 'confident in all calls, so I was good (with that one).' Article content 'Hindsight is 20-20 for all of us,' Condell added, 'but to me we have to be able to get down and get a chance to do it. We didn't get far enough, we didn't kick it, so we had to go on.' Article content Article content Condell took over as Redblacks offensive co-ordinator last season and guided the team to the second-most passing yards (5,445) in the nine-team league. Along with helping the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Grey Cup games in 2019 and 2021, he was quarterbacks coach of the Toronto Argos when they won the Grey Cup in 2017. Article content Condell has been questioned for his selection of plays in the past, but what OC hasn't? Article content Either way, he understands it comes with the territory. Article content 'I have to be able to always put these guys in the best position possible, and it's always evaluated from game in and game out,' Condell said. 'I've got to be able to do that for them, so I think that's the most important thing.' Article content Why has the Redblacks' offence struggled to make 'explosive' plays so far? Article content The easy answer is that they've been without Brown for three of five games. But the Redblacks have had their top gun for a couple of starts, and they've generated a league-low three 30-plus-yard passing plays. Hamilton, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg have had the next fewest with seven each, while Toronto, with backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle behind centre, leads the CFL with 11. Article content Article content Brown, who has accounted for two of the 30-yarders, says the hip injury that sidelined him for a couple of games is not preventing him from airing the ball out. Article content What is? Article content 'It's a better question for the defensive co-ordinators around the league than me,' Brown said. 'Because it seems like at times we get different coverages than some folks. I would do it, too. I would make us take 12 plays, string success together, and either get a stop on second-and-long or get an interception or a (Redblacks) penalty and the drive stalls. I can get down with that motive, that strategy. I think it's smart. But that's kind of where we're at.' Article content Article content 'I think if we have better first-down efficiency, it might organically happen,' Brown added. 'But I think we've been in a lot of second-and-longs … You're not dictating, you're kind of out of the mode of where you get to dictate, whereas you get to second and four (and) someone has to play man coverage. Man coverage with a waggle is tough. But they want to get more guys in the box to stop the run because there's a chance that you'll run. You're not running on second and 12.' Article content Ottawa also has the highest two-and-out percentage (42) in the CFL, which, of course, is not a good thing. Article content 'I think we're in way too many second-and-long situations, which make us a little more one-dimensional, completely one-dimensional,' Brown said. 'You don't get a ton of opportunities to dictate to the defence, being in second-and-long. I think everyone in the stadium or watching knows what is going to happen. Article content 'So why did that happen? Negative plays on first down, whether it's an incomplete pass, a poorly executed play or a penalty. We've got to get rid of those and stay on schedule, and we should be cooking.' Article content Said Condell: 'I think the biggest thing that we have to be able to establish is to have some rhythm in the whole game. What does that mean? Be able to get the play call in, out, make sure everyone gets it, and we don't have those penalties, anything of that nature. To be able to establish that, you get more opportunities. The explosive plays will come when those things happen. When you're not establishing that rhythm, it makes it a lot harder.' Article content Brown blamed himself for the missteps in Edmonton, which included a time-count violation and an illegal forward pass, as well as an offside call on wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton, a procedure call on guard Drew Desjarlais and a holding penalty on receiver Eugene Lewis. Article content The communication issues might be explained by the fact that Brown missed a month had he not practised all week leading up to the game and run Condell's offence for more than a season. Article content 'There are times when maybe you can do a little bit less,' Brown said. 'So we can have less responsibility and less thinking and just go. We don't want to necessarily put that ceiling on anyone because guys continue to improve and get better, and we feel like with our offence, we have a lot of guys that are not just good players, but good thinkers, and we want to take advantage of that. So you've got to balance that.' Article content Article content At the same time, Brown offered a little perspective when he conceded that offside and illegal-procedure penalties were 'a lack of discipline and a lack of focus.' Article content 'In that moment, it's hard, especially if you have other things going on,' he said, using the centre position as an example. 'Like if you're in charge of protection. He has 100 calls a week that he has to be prepared for, and he is, and then in the moment something happens and then he's communicating, and I'm talking. That's how those things happen. So those things we communicate in corrections, and we'll get fixed.' Article content Even the Argos, who have played one less game than the Redblacks, Tiger-Cats and Alouettes, have put 128 points on the board. Did we mention they've had to use their backup QB to date?
Hamilton Spectator
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Veteran Bo Levi Mitchell throws five TD strikes to lead Ticats past Argos 51-38
TORONTO - Bo Levi Mitchell threw five touchdown passes to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats past the Toronto Argonauts 51-38 on Friday night. Mitchell cemented the win with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Kiondre Smith at 4:29 of the fourth quarter that put Hamilton ahead 44-26. It came after Toronto had pulled to within 37-26. Mitchell completed 19-of-24 passes for 332 yards with no interceptions and became the 11th player in CFL history to crack the 40,000-yard plateau. The 35-year-old native of Katy, Texas, improved his career record against Toronto to 16-2. Toronto pulled to within 44-32 on Khalan Laborn's one-yard run at 8:01. Following consecutive procedure penalties, Nick Arbuckle's pass for the two-point convert was incomplete. Then Hamilton's Isaiah Wooden Sr. returned the kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown at 8:47. Hamilton (2-2) has won its last four games against Toronto (1-4) after going 3-0 last year against the defending Grey Cup champions. The Argos also dropped to 0-3 at home, to the dismay of a BMO Field gathering of 12,701. Hamilton earned its first road victory of 2025 and only its second win in its last eight visits to BMO Field. Arbuckle finished 27-of-38 passing for 339 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Arbuckle's six-yard TD pass to Kevin Mital at 14:08 rounded out the scoring as the two-point convert was unsuccessful. Kenny Lawler, with three, Tyler Ternowski and Greg Bell had Hamilton's other touchdowns. Marc Liegghio booted six converts and a field goal. Kevin Brown, Janarion Grant and Damonte Coxie scored Toronto's other touchdowns. Lirim Hajrullahu added two converts and two field goals. One play after Toronto punter John Haggerty was flagged for an illegal kick, Mitchell hit Lawler on a 46-yard touchdown pass at 11:08 of the third. That put Hamilton ahead 37-19 as the convert was unsuccessful. Arbuckle countered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Coxie at 14:57 to cut Hamilton's lead to 37-26. Bell capped Hamilton's opening possession of the third with a six-yard TD run at 6:34. But Grant returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for the touchdown at 7:09, cutting Hamilton's advantage to 31-19 as the two-point convert was unsuccessful. Mitchell's three first-half TD passes staked Hamilton to its 24-13 halftime lead. The Ticats averaged nine yards per play in the opening half and were a stellar seven-of-10 on second down. Mitchell was 11-of-14 passing for 186 yards as Hamilton's offence amassed 207 net yards (compared to 132 for Toronto). Hajrullahu's 53-yard field goal at 12:42 of the second cut Hamilton's lead to 24-13. Mitchell ended a nine-play, 70-yard march with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ternowski at 7:06 to put the Ticats ahead 24-10. Hajrullahu's 50-yard field goal at 1:40 had pulled Toronto to within 17-10. Mitchell found Lawler on a 79-yard TD strike at 13:31 of the first that put Hamilton ahead 17-7. It followed Liegghio's 44-yard boot at 10:13, which was set by Wooden Sr.'s 51-yard punt return. Lawler made it 7-7 with a 25-yard TD catch at 6:21 that immediately followed former Argo DaShaun Amos's interception. Brown opened the scoring with a two-yard run at 3:21 that capped a six-play, 68-yard drive to start the contest. UP NEXT Tiger-Cats: Host the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, July 12. Argonauts: Visit the Montreal Alouettes on July 17. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Veteran Bo Levi Mitchell throws five TD strikes to lead Ticats past Argos 51-38
TORONTO – Bo Levi Mitchell threw five touchdown passes to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats past the Toronto Argonauts 51-38 on Friday night. Mitchell cemented the win with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Kiondre Smith at 4:29 of the fourth quarter that put Hamilton ahead 44-26. It came after Toronto had pulled to within 37-26. Mitchell completed 19-of-24 passes for 332 yards with no interceptions and became the 11th player in CFL history to crack the 40,000-yard plateau. The 35-year-old native of Katy, Texas, improved his career record against Toronto to 16-2. Toronto pulled to within 44-32 on Khalan Laborn's one-yard run at 8:01. Following consecutive procedure penalties, Nick Arbuckle's pass for the two-point convert was incomplete. Then Hamilton's Isaiah Wooden Sr. returned the kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown at 8:47. Hamilton (2-2) has won its last four games against Toronto (1-4) after going 3-0 last year against the defending Grey Cup champions. The Argos also dropped to 0-3 at home, to the dismay of a BMO Field gathering of 12,701. Hamilton earned its first road victory of 2025 and only its second win in its last eight visits to BMO Field. Arbuckle finished 27-of-38 passing for 339 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Arbuckle's six-yard TD pass to Kevin Mital at 14:08 rounded out the scoring as the two-point convert was unsuccessful. Kenny Lawler, with three, Tyler Ternowski and Greg Bell had Hamilton's other touchdowns. Marc Liegghio booted six converts and a field goal. Kevin Brown, Janarion Grant and Damonte Coxie scored Toronto's other touchdowns. Lirim Hajrullahu added two converts and two field goals. One play after Toronto punter John Haggerty was flagged for an illegal kick, Mitchell hit Lawler on a 46-yard touchdown pass at 11:08 of the third. That put Hamilton ahead 37-19 as the convert was unsuccessful. Arbuckle countered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Coxie at 14:57 to cut Hamilton's lead to 37-26. Bell capped Hamilton's opening possession of the third with a six-yard TD run at 6:34. But Grant returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for the touchdown at 7:09, cutting Hamilton's advantage to 31-19 as the two-point convert was unsuccessful. Mitchell's three first-half TD passes staked Hamilton to its 24-13 halftime lead. The Ticats averaged nine yards per play in the opening half and were a stellar seven-of-10 on second down. Mitchell was 11-of-14 passing for 186 yards as Hamilton's offence amassed 207 net yards (compared to 132 for Toronto). Hajrullahu's 53-yard field goal at 12:42 of the second cut Hamilton's lead to 24-13. Mitchell ended a nine-play, 70-yard march with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ternowski at 7:06 to put the Ticats ahead 24-10. Hajrullahu's 50-yard field goal at 1:40 had pulled Toronto to within 17-10. Mitchell found Lawler on a 79-yard TD strike at 13:31 of the first that put Hamilton ahead 17-7. It followed Liegghio's 44-yard boot at 10:13, which was set by Wooden Sr.'s 51-yard punt return. Lawler made it 7-7 with a 25-yard TD catch at 6:21 that immediately followed former Argo DaShaun Amos's interception. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Brown opened the scoring with a two-yard run at 3:21 that capped a six-play, 68-yard drive to start the contest. UP NEXT Tiger-Cats: Host the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, July 12. Argonauts: Visit the Montreal Alouettes on July 17. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
What does Ticats vet have in common with NBA superstar SGA?
They look so young in the team photo that was snapped right after they won the junior boys city basketball championship. A little over a decade later, the guy with the giant smile in the back row has gone on to become the best basketball player in the world. Meanwhile, the guy in the front row is starting at slotback Friday night for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. 'It is surreal to me,' Tyler Ternowski says of the fact that at one time he was a teammate of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver and special teams 'demon' Tyler Ternowski. The latter has been widely celebrated lately for winning the NBA championship, the scoring title and being named league MVP. But heading into Friday's game against Toronto, the former's been getting plenty of plaudits, too. Last week, in a massive win over Montreal, Ternowski caught a pass on a fake punt that led to a Ticats field goal and made a huge special-teams tackle late in the game that earned special praise from head coach Scott Milanovich in the dressing room when it was done. 'He can play any position on offence,' the coach says. 'He's a spark plug for our special teams. Homegrown kid that just loves to compete. So you can't have enough Tylers on your team.' The five-year vet has become a fan favourite. Big hits on special teams and a gritty persona in a town like this will do that. Especially when you're not the biggest guy on the roster. But he's also become a favourite in the room. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell raves about him. Offensive lineman Jakub Szott talks about how humble he is. 'Every time I ask him to call it up after practice, you can tell by the response from his teammates how much they love him,' Milanovich says. 'How much they respect him. And that's because of the way he plays. Because of the effort.' His is a tough role to play. Especially for a guy who was the receiver at Waterloo. And the star on the football field at MacNab. Going from that to being a player who isn't usually the first option is an adjustment. One that can be frustrating. But once or twice every game, you notice him. Because of his intensity and the fact that he's a special teams 'demon,' as his coach calls him. Considering the familiarity Mitchell and Ternowski have — in off-seasons past they'd work out together and the latter would throw to the former every day — it wouldn't be at all surprising to see him have a huge receiving game one of these days as defences key on some of the bigger-name targets. He's shown he can do it. In both his sophomore and junior years at university, he led the country in receiving, with 141 yards per game and then 144.9. Before that, he was dominant on the field for MacNab. And in the winter, a member of that team with Gilgeous-Alexander. Ticats tight end Jevoni Robinson is the team's resident basketball expert, having played at North Carolina State and then a year of pro in Europe. Did he know Ternowski had been a teammate of the world's best player? 'He never mentioned it,' he says. OK, so what kind of player does he think Ternowski would've been on the court. 'Probably a pest,' he says with a big smile. It may have been a quip and a friendly jab at a teammate, but it's bang on. Just ask Ternowski. He'll tell ya. That high school team was stacked. Seven — including SGA — went on to play college ball in the States. Two others played at the university level in Canada. That year, it went 38-2 and won SOSSA. It was such a powerhouse that 12 times the Lions won by at least 40 points and once it won by 69 and held its opponent to just seven points. The six-foot guard had more to do with the defensive side of things than any high-flying, highlight-reel buckets. 'They just asked me to be, not an enforcer, but a guy that would throw his body around,' Ternowski says. 'Play good defence and let those guys go do their thing.' Tim Francis was the coach. He seconds that. He says the future Ticat didn't do much scoring that year but he was athletic, worked hard and did whatever was needed. And what does the 27-year-old remember most about playing with his now-world-famous teammate? The locker room stuff, he says. Hanging out together. SGA was serious on the court but a jokester in the locker room. Which might resonate so strongly because it sounds more than a little autobiographical. 'I'm a huge locker-room guy,' he says. 'Just the conversations you have with guys, the interactions you have. It's closed off that no one else can see and you're just a bunch of people that have the same mindset as you. It was a very good space to be in.' Notes: Argos QB Chad Kelly remains on the one-game injured list, so Nick Arbuckle will get the start for Toronto … Don't expect a whole lot of rushing in this one. The Argos are last in the league in rushing yards per game (46.5), average gain per rush (3.6) and second-last in rush attempts (51). Second-last in rush yards per game (52.7) and yards per rush (3.7)? That would be the Ticats, who are last in rush attempts with just 43 … Toronto and Hamilton have squared off 251 times over their histories. Hamilton leads the series 143-106 with two ties … WR Brendan O'Leary-Orange and DB Robert Panabaker enter the lineup this week. RB Treshaun Ward , OL Jakub Szott and WR Keaton Bruggeling come out … RB Greg Bell is a game-time decision … It appeared WR Drew Wolitarski might have made his Ticats debut this week but he remains on the one-game injured list … The Ticats have a three-game winning streak going over the Argos. But the combined margin of victory is just eight points … Teams that are leading after the third quarter are 16-0 so far this season … With 90 yards passing, QB Bo Levi Mitchell will hit 40,000 for his career. He is also just 625 yards away from leapfrogging Tracy Ham and moving into the top-10 in all-time passing yards. With a solid season, he could realistically then eclipse Doug Flutie (41,355), Matt Dunigan (41,857) and Ron Lancaster (43,857) before the year is out. After that, the jump goes to 52,867, which is held by Kevin Glenn … Hamilton's next two games after this one are against Ottawa (that's three in a row against the East), which makes this a key stretch for playoff positioning. When Friday, 7:30 p.m. Where BMO Field TV TSN Audio Y108 and Ticats Audio Network Weather 24 C and clear Last week Hamilton beat Montreal 35-17 and Toronto beat Ottawa 29-16 — the first win of the year for both clubs. Last year The Tiger-Cats beat the Argos in all three meetings in 2024, winning 27-24, 31-28 and 33-31 The Quote 'I still always have that chip on my shoulder when I play them. That's just me. I just have this killer mindset whenever I play them.' — former Argo and now Ticat DB Jamal Peters on rivalry games with Toronto
