It’s been 208 days, or what feels like a lifetime, since the Tiger-Cats and Stampeders faced off in the 102nd Grey Cup, but the 2015 regular season has finally arrived.
The Week one rematch of last year’s Grey Cup combatants will kick off tonight at McMahon Stadium at 9 p.m. ET (TSN / 1150 CKOC), beginning what both teams hope will be the journey to Winnipeg in November.
TIGER-CATS HISTORY AGAINST CALGARY
| WINS | LOSSES | TIES | PTS FOR | PTS AGAINST | |
| ALL-TIME | 30 | 57 | 0 | 1915 | 2443 |
| LAST 10 (TOTAL) | 1 | 9 | 0 | 233 | 312 |
| LAST 10 (vs. CAL on the road) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 183 | 309 |
| IN 2014: | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 40 |
While the Ticats have had a tough time in the results column on the road in Calgary, losing their last ten games at McMahon Stadium, the last three games have been decided by four points or less.
Last year’s regular season games were both tight as well, with both offences recording 22 first downs and nearly identical offensive yardage (within three yards of each other). On top of that, each game between the two teams last year featured outcome-deciding lead changes in the final three minutes.
Finally, the last time the Ticats and Stamps opened the season against each other (1998), the game was decided by one point, in a 21-20 Stampeders win.
In short, it would not be surprising if tonight’s game was a close affair.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Turnovers: Turnovers are always important in football, but they have had extra significance in recent games between these two teams. First down and net offence totals have been nearly equal over the last 14 games between the Stamps and Cats, yet the Ticats have turned the ball over 15 more times. In order to win in Calgary, the Tiger-Cats need to limit turnovers on offence, and create them on defence.
Red-zone proficiency: The Ticats scored touchdowns on just 19 of 47 (40.4%) red-zone opportunities in 2014. The focus on red-zone opportunities in training camp, and the addition of two big targets, Tiquan Underwood and Terrence Toliver, should aid the in-game conversions for Hamilton.
Stay disciplined: Penalty calls in the preseason were up just over 50% from the 2014 regular season, a lot of that having to do with the CFL rule changes. Limiting penalties will be key to winning the field position battle in tonight’s game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Ray Holley: Ray Holley has had quite the few weeks in Hamilton, moving from battling for a roster spot to starting the first game of the season. Don’t let Holley’s original spot on the depth chart fool you, he’s been very good in camp and earned the spot where he is now; watch for him as a ball-carrier and receiver out of the backfield in this one.
Terrence Toliver: Toliver provides the Ticats with a serious deep ball threat, which should allow them to stretch the field more. In one preseason game, the CFL rookie reeled in three receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown, and he should be a handful for the Stamps’ defensive backs.
Andy Fantuz: In three games against the Stampeders in 2014, Fantuz averaged six receptions for 60 yards in each contest. Collaros showed a strong trust in Fantuz and fellow veteran receiver Bakari Grant in last week’s preseason finale; look for the two to carry that success over into the season opener.
Justin Hickman: In 2011, his last full season with the Ticats, Justin Hickman led the entire CFL in sacks. Hickman will be tasked with creating disruption in the backfield on Friday night.
MATCH-UP OF THE GAME:
Zach Collaros vs. Bo Levi Mitchell:
Just four quarterbacks (Anthony Calvillo, Kevin Glenn, Henry Burris and Ricky Ray) have won the last 13 CFL passing titles, but it could be Mitchell or Collaros who break that streak in 2015.
Collaros and Mitchell are two of the premier young quarterbacks in the CFL right now, and both hold perfect records against the opposing team. Mitchell is 3-0 in the regular season against the Cats, while Collaros is 1-0.
Collaros’ only regular season game against the Stamps came in 2013 as a member of the Argos, when he set a career-high with four touchdown passes.
Mitchell, meanwhile, is 3-0 in his career against Hamilton, throwing for at least 200 yards in each of the three contests.
Both quarterbacks have a number of weapons to utilize in the passing game, and the weather on Friday night is expected to be playmaking weather. Both pass defences will have their work cut out for them against these two talented pivots.
TEAM CONNECTIONS:
Both Tim O’Neill and Brandon Stewart got their CFL starts as Stampeders, as did injured defensive lineman Brian Bulcke (25 games). Meanwhile, there are five former Ticats on the opposition’s roster: Marquay McDaniel (37 games), Brandon Boudreaux (33 games), Simon Charbonneau-Campeau (27 games), Shomari Williams (six games) and Christopher Johnson (two games).
QUOTES OF THE WEEK:
New Tiger-Cats defensive back Johnny Sears Jr., on what he wants to bring to the team:
“I’m not trying to be a standout or be that one guy, I’m just trying to add another tooth to the shark-bite and take a chunk out of everybody.”
Ticats veteran defensive back Brandon Stewart on what to expect in Calgary:
“…make sure you bring the big boy pads, because we’re going to be hitting Cornish, we’re going to be hitting whoever they have carrying the ball. We’re going to get some opportunities to bang heads.”
Head coach Kent Austin on Ticats’ starting RB Ray Holley:
“Sometimes you get lucky, and we’re lucky to find a guy of Holley’s quality and football intelligence.”
Quarterback Zach Collaros, on the Week 1 match-up:
“No matter who we’re playing, it’s Week 1, guys are excited and anxious to get out there and play. Obviously [in] the game last year the results weren’t what we wanted, but that’s the way it goes and it’s a new season. We’re just excited to be back out there playing football.”
