Montreal Alouettes running back Tyrell Sutton (20) is tackled by Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Erik Harris, left, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive tackle Bryan Hall (6) during second quarter CFL action Thursday, July 16, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Cato, 23 years old, played the part of a long-time CFL veteran in just his third career start, sustaining drives and throwing a game-winning touchdown on a highlight-reel grab by S.J. Green in the third quarter. Boris Bede provided three field goals while the Montreal defence forced three interceptions and came up with a key stop on third and a yard, clinching the Als’ victory to move to 2-2 on the season.
Thursday’s matchup was the first of three this season between these rival East Division clubs, and the first since the Ticats earned a 40-24 win over the Alouettes in last November’s Eastern Final.
Green, recently named a Shaw Top Performer after setting a career-high in yards last weekend, finished with 56 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Fred Stamps was the game’s leading receiver with 119 yards on seven catches.
Cato, meanwhile, now 2-1 as a starter with wins over both of last year’s Grey Cup finalists, threw for 258 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-32 passing.
In a matchup between two highly-touted defences, neither side disappointed out of the gate. Interceptions by Jonathan Hefney and Chip Cox provided the biggest first-half highlights for the Alouettes, while a powerful goal line stand by Hamilton’s front seven preserved a 10-7 halftime lead for the Ticats.
It started with the Als ahead 1-0 on a punt single. Cox jumped a route by Terrence Toliver and hauled in his first interception of the season, setting up an eventual Bede field goal to make it 4-0 Montreal.
The Ticats responded with one of many of their patented methodical drives in the game, starting with a completion to Toliver on second down to move the sticks and keep the possession alive.
A too-many-men penalty negated an Alouette interception soon after, while Zach Collaros took advantage as he continued to drive the Ticats down the field with completions to Andy Fantuz and Tiquan Underwood.
After running for a first down on his own, Collaros then hit Holley on the swing pass for the three-yard touchdown, giving Hamilton its first lead of the game and capping off a 10-play drive that covered 75 yards in 4:51.
Down three late in the second quarter, the Alouettes looked primed to regain the lead after an interception by Hefney, the Als’ second of the game. Cato went for the deep ball and Stamps outmuscled two Ticat defenders to come away with the ball and a first down at one.
What happened next may have set the tone for the rest of the game, however. Three plays in the row the Alouettes tried to punch it in with short-yardage quarterback Brandon Bridge, and all three times they were stuffed, giving the Ticats the turnover on downs.
Montreal made a stop and kicked a field goal to tie the game after that, while the Ticats replied with a 53-yard field goal by Justin Medlock to restore their three-point edge entering halftime.
Eight months after haunting the Alouettes with two punt return touchdowns in the Eastern Final, it appeared that Brandon Banks struck again, this time on the second half’s opening kickoff. The play was called back on a hold, however, forcing the Ticats to start deep in their own end.
An eventual stop by the Als’ defence put the ball back in the hands of Cato, effective all night but unable to finish on drives. This time Cato moved the Alouettes quickly and promptly into Ticat territory and finished it off with a vintage highlight-reel 20-yard touchdown catch by Green.
The Als’ win over Hamilton was anything but expected, just like the early East Division outlook.
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Green beat his man to the outside and stretched out over the end zone sideline, somehow managing to balance himself and keep his feet in bounds to give the Als their first touchdown of the game. The nine-play scoring drive put Montreal ahead 14-10, a lead that lasted through the remainder of the third quarter.
The Ticats looked set to punt twice on a drive moving into the fourth quarter, but Collaros extended the drive twice, first by throwing on the run and connecting with Fantuz, then finding Underwood on a second-and-15. Underwood broke two tackles to pick up a fresh set of downs, eventually leading to Medlock’s second field goal of the game and cutting Hamilton’s deficit to 14-13.
Bede added his third field goal of the night shortly after to restore Montreal’s four-point lead as Cato kept the wheels turning on the Alouette offence. With time running out in the fourth quarter, the Ticats looked to regain the momentum and the lead. This time, however, it was the Alouette front seven getting the push on a third-down gamble, as Jeff Matthews was stopped in his tracks on third and a yard giving the Alouettes the ball near midfield.
The Alouettes were forced to punt the ball away, again setting the stage for their defence to try and put the game on ice. Alan-Michael Cash came up with the Als’ third interception of the game, giving Montreal the ball right back in Hamilton territory.
Montreal again couldn’t score, leaving Hamilton one final chance with under a minute left in its own end. A deep ball to Toliver silenced the crowd as the Ticats moved into Montreal’s half of the field, but on Toliver’s next reception he had the ball stripped by Mitchell White, officlally securing the Alouettes their second win of the season and first over an East Division team.
Collaros shook off an early third quarter injury that sidelined him for a few plays to throw for 296 yards on 27-of-42 passing, although his three interceptions likely made the difference in the game. Holley rushed for 47 yards on six carries on the ground while rookie receiver Toliver had a team-high 106 receiving yards on seven catches.
Hefney had a game-high seven tackles on top of his second interception of the season to lead a Montreal defence that was just about impossible to solve on this night, and has been throughout all of 2015 thus far.
The win moved the Als into a tie for first in the East with Toronto and Ottawa, while the Ticats continue to search for their first win in Montreal since 2002. The Alouettes will get a week off to savour the victory, while Hamilton travels to Riderville for a date with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday, July 26.
