GAME RECAP: TIGER-CATS 53 ROUGHRIDERS 7
HAMILTON – Zach Collaros set a new career-high for touchdown passes in a single game on Saturday, but it was news to him.
Collaros threw for five touchdowns as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hammered the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders 53-7.
“Yeah, is it?” said Collaros when told post-game about his performance. “Cool.”
The 27-year-old QB was making his return to Tim Hortons Field after almost a year off recovering from a knee injury. It was just the tonic the Ticats needed after playing the last four games on the road.
They snapped a two-game losing streak by steamrolling the Roughriders in front of 24,166 fans. Hamilton improves to 4-4 and Saskatchewan falls to 1-7. Hamilton hadn’t played at home since July 7.
“Any time you win, it’s fun no matter how you get it done,” Collaros said after completing 23-of-30 pass attempts for 381 yards, the five TDs and zero interceptions.
“I thought we had a pretty good week of practice and we executed well in the three facets of the game. That’s what it takes to win.”
Chad Owens scored two TDs for Hamilton. Andy Fantuz, Brandon Banks, Terrence Toliver and Luke Tasker each scored one.
Hamilton kicker Brett Maher was three for three on field-goal attempts, hitting from 22, 12 and 16 yards. Saskatchewan kicker Tyler Crapigna hit both attempts, from 43 and 24 yards.
Collaros had returned to action last week on the road against the B.C. Lions, but that ended in a dramatic 45-38 loss after the Ticats had fought back from a 20-point deficit to tie it at 38 late.
Collaros said he was starting to see the field a little more clearly in his second game back.
“I saw things, I guess, better tonight and guys made plays. I had all the time in the world up front.”
In all, there were six passing TDs (backup Jeremiah Masoli recorded one) to five different receivers.
It didn’t start perfectly. Collaros missed his targets in the end zone on the first drive and they had to settle for a field goal. And the game’s first TD was a bit of a fluke. The ball sailed through the arms of intended target Tasker, was tipped by Saskatchewan defender Kacy Rodgers, and landed in the arms of Fantuz who ran it in for a 39-yard score.
“I’ve never had anything like that,” Collaros said. “I’m just living right, man, I guess.”
Not surprisingly, coach Kent Austin was happy with how things went on both sides of the ball.
“I’m just really proud of the guys, after a tough game last time (versus B.C.) and to come back and respond,” he said. “They got back to work.
“The defence did a really good job of getting us the ball, and we did a really good job offensively of putting the ball in the end zone.”
Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant entered the game without having thrown an interception in 321 pass attempts, a league record. He threw four in this game, ending the streak at 323. He was replaced in the fourth by Mitchell Gale, who fumbled and threw an interception.
And for the record, Hamilton defensive end John Chick (a former long-time Roughrider) sacked his good friend twice.
Hamilton took a 27-4 lead into halftime. That was the Ticats’ first halftime lead since July 15 against Montreal when they led 5-4.
Roughrider head coach Chris Jones was gracious in defeat.
“You have to give them a lot of credit,” he said. “That’s a fine football team over there in all three phases of the game.”
And he kept things positive about his struggling squad.
“Those young men have heart and we won’t quit,” he said.
“We will look at the film. Work on things. They did some good things. When we look at the film, we will spot (them).”
Hamilton is on the road next week in Calgary while Saskatchewan is in Edmonton.
(Canadian Press)
CHRIS JONES POSTGAME NOTES/COMMENTS
– It was tough. First half we killed ourselves with penalties. 11 I think. We had some opportunitiies defensively but didn’t come up with the plays. If we did, it would’ve been a different half. In the second half we turned it over. Against a good team, that’s not going to give you a good record.
– The CFL’s put this new rule (PI) in. This is what they wanted. Sometimes they go your way. Right now it seems nothing’s going our way. We have to keep grinding. I know the hearts in the room and how much it means to them. They know how much it means to the people of our province. Eventually it’ll fall in place. We got a lotta young kids.
– The kids Ford, and Holley played well. #30 ran tough and Holley, except for a drop, was solid. We have to go back to the drawing board and see what we can learn going into next week.
– Zach did a real nice job moving around in the pocket. We failed to run some of our things accurately and acutely. If we had, we could’ve got him on the ground. We have to go back and teach and coach it better, and maybe be able to execute it better. On the flipside, with only 7 points, we have to look at what we can do better offensively.
– Next week with Edmonton, they’re very solid and they’re coming off a very big win today. We have our work cut out for us. We just have to go back to the grindstone.
RP
@rodpedersen
These challenges have to end, it slows the game down and illegal contact penalties Thar had nothing to do with the actual play kill the game. Cfl has to address this in the offseaon if not sooner
I turned the game off at 20-0 for Hamilton, so hopefully the Riders came back and will make me eating these words. I highly doubt it though. Does Chris Jones have brain damage or amnesia? He continues to think that if he rushes two defenders less than what the offence has to block he will get pressure on the QB. He also continues to think that these stupid plays with our backup QB will actually work, but they never do. The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over, but expecting a different result. Does he think… Read more »
Jones a defensive guru…really??? This is tough to watch. Vanilla offense and bad defense.
Kendial Lawrence looks like he wants the football as bad as I do and I'm 69 years old.
So tug on Saskatchewan = illegal contact. Penalty. Tug on Hamilton = No flag. No Penalty. Both interceptions. Huh
Remember, the Hip concert starts at halftime.
Stink. Stank. Stunk.
I turned off my tv and went back to watching the Olympics.
Another disgrace what a terrible team and we have to start questioning the coaching and GM. OH and the money being spent! Reynolds $460,000.00 , Murphy $275,000.00 , Jones $295,000 not sure if these numbers are accurate . Please correct me if wrong. Our defence was better last year not by much but better.
Our offence is really bad and same thing last year a little better not by much. I predict the old stadium will be empty as will be the new remember the 80's our economy is not good and people want value for their dollar.
As VP of Football operations, GM & Head Coach… Jones is making $750k
Rod Pedersen…. You should let anybody and everybody do their Venting on this one. This was the DISGRACE of all by the Riders tonight. Durant stunk the joint out with 4 interceptions and the rest of the team looked like they wanted it to end after Hamilton got their 1st TD. How about Tough Guy Jones? Why didn't he go after Austin at the end of the game for running up the score . He did it to Dickenson so why not Austin? As far as I am concerned I think Jones should fire himself and get the hell out… Read more »
I can hardly wait until Monday to find out who other than the Rider players or management is to blame for this disgrace. My money is focusing on a late hit on the sideline after they were losing by 30 already.
Embarrassing, not competitive and gutless. Times up? We deserve better. Obviously Jones cant handle his role. He's obviously not qualified. Fire him now.
Happily, I can report that the NFL regular season is just around the corner …. Go Browns Go!
When I show up for practice next week I want to see ID from this team to get in because I believe that they are frauds.
I'm done till we get a QB.
This team is getting worse by the week… with that being said Jones would look a lot smarter if he would come out publicy and admit he's treating this as an 18 game training camp with all the different rosters he uses every week.
Reynolds has no choice but to force Jones to quit so we don't have to pay out the contract. This season is lost. Worst performance I've seen from Durant ever!
And our gutless defence continues to give up play after play. It's embarrassing to call this a professional football team.
Reynolds can't force Jones to quit. That's not how contracts work. We are stuck with Jones for at least 3 years if the contract is 5 years as I've heard. If he hasn't got this figured out by then so long.
No surprise to see the Season Tickets that have popped for sale on Social Media. Not only for this year. But when they move over to the new stadium. Go figure!
Bob
I'll buy them all.
Radio must pay well!
What number can I reach you at Rod? I would like to unload 6 season tickets ASAP.
Bob