TIGER-CATS HOLD OFF ALOUETTES 24-17

HAMILTON – Steven Dunbar Jr. and Don Jackson scored second-half touchdowns as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats held on for a 24-17 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night.

Hamilton (2-5) opened an important stretch on a winning note. It was the first of six straight (and seven of eight overall) the Ticats will play against East Division competition.

What’s more, Dunbar Jr. and Jackson helped the Ticats outscore Montreal 14-11 in the second half. It marked the first time this season Hamilton had outscored an opponent over the final two quarters, delighting a Tim Hortons Field gathering of 20,932 on a gorgeous summer evening.

Hamilton had been outscored 106-36 in the second half over its previous six games but its fourth-quarter woes continued. Montreal outscored the home team 11-0 in the final frame to make the contest close.

Hamilton has been outscored 77-26 in the fourth this season.

Dane Evans connected with Dunbar Jr. on a 40-yard TD strike at 5:10 of the third to extend Hamilton’s lead to 17-6. Then following an incompletion in the end zone, the Ticats successfully challenged an incompletion citing a questionable pass interference call, giving them possession at the Montreal one-yard line.

(Canadian Press/Photo: CFL)