TIGER-CATS 37 ESKIMOS 31
EDMONTON – Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach Kent Austin was at a loss for words after his club’s second-half performance Saturday night in Edmonton.
Andy Fantuz reeled in a pair of touchdown passes from Jeremiah Masoli as Hamilton came from behind to defeat the Edmonton Eskimos 37-31.
Edmonton looked to be in full control of the game with a 31-6 lead early in the third, before the visiting Tiger-Cats found their offence.
“I don’t think I have ever been a part of anything like that,” said Austin.
“That is a really good football team we were playing, it just ending up going our way in the second half. There really isn’t a great explanation for it. I’m just proud of the guys for battling and not giving up. It just shows that in this league that you are never out of it.”
It was the second win in a row for the Ticats, who improved to 3-2. Hamilton’s 25-point comeback ranks as the sixth biggest in league history.
Masoli went 31-of-38 passing for 391 yards and three touchdowns, but the really remarkable stat was completing 23 consecutive passes in the second half to eclipse the CFL record of 22 straight previously held by current Eskimos head coach Jason Maas.
“I don’t think it has really set in. I’m not really focused on records or things like that. I just want to win and get back to the championship,” Masoli said.
“I don’t think I have ever seen anything like what happened tonight. It just feels awesome to come from behind the way that we did. I’m just so proud of this group of guys.”
Edmonton (2-2), which suffered its worst collapse in team history, had a two-game winning streak snapped.
“They started getting some pressure on us, but we just didn’t play football,” said Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly. “We played football for about 35 minutes today and that was it, and they played for 60. They deserved that win, they played the whole game and they straight up whooped us in the second half.”
The Eskimos are back in action on Thursday, when they host Winnipeg. The Tiger-Cats will also face the Blue Bombers, visiting Winnipeg on Aug. 3 after a bye week.
Notes: The last time the Ticats visited Edmonton, they came away with a 49-20 victory on Aug. 21, 2015. That was also the last time the Eskimos lost in regulation time at Commonwealth Stadium.
(Canadian Press)
Is that a Quarterback controversy in Hamilton I smell???
Tiger Cats vs Eskimo's game a pleasure to watch, go Ti Cats! By the way! I just peeked up the toothfary's dress and another Roughriders victory is on the CFL books for the next upcoming game in Montreal.
Rod…. This anonymous thing is not working. It is much more enjoyable coming on here not just to read your column but to read the thoughts of others to. Who cares what they say , just ignore it, but I do have one suggestion and that would be to only allow one comment per person on each Blog. Meanwhile I notice again today that there are NO COMMENTS, and I am sure by now that you know the reason.
What a comeback!
I predict that when Masoli becomes a free agent, the next GM for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will come a calling. Sad to see the rise and fall of Drew Willy.
I was at the game last nite. It was almost a 50/50 game, where most fans were going to leave after the 50/50 draw. What a comeback. The Esks arent as good as what they think they are
I agree. Willy's football career as a player are coming to an end in 2016
How about those Eskimos! Getting trashed by the mighty oskee wee wee! I love it!