Toronto Argonauts' Anthony Coombs tries to push through the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence during first half CFL action in Toronto on Friday, September 11, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim
Coates scores first career CFL TD
As the replacement for Andy Fantuz in the Ticats lineup, Canadian receiver Matt Coates has been relatively quiet in the pass-catching category. That has not stopped Coates from making an impact with his blocking, and it certainly has not excluded him from becoming a favourite of his teammates. On Friday night Coates reeled in his first touchdown catch of the season and his CFL career, followed quickly by an eruption from his teammates on the bench. Coates’ work ethic on the practice field and his dedication to his craft has earned the respect of his teammates and it was apparent with the celebration of his score.
The timing of Coates’ touchdown could not have been better, as the Ticats will host his former junior football team, the Hamilton Hurricanes, in the second half of a double-header following next week’s game against the Eskimos. The story of Coates’ ascension to the CFL is a special one, and Friday night was certainly a special moment for the young Canadian.
Running game coming into its’ own
The Ticats offence has been, and always will be pass-heavy. Excluding the 168-yard rushing game in Saskatchewan, the team has averaged just 65 yards per game on the ground this season. On Friday night the team was able to find success on the ground for the second straight week, rushing for 69 yards in the first half and totalling 106 yards on the night. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was the second straight week the Ticats have rushed for 100+ yards, the first time they’ve been able to do so all season. Ray Holley in particular seemed to find his groove in Friday’s game, rushing for 51 yards on just 11 carries in the contest. If Hamilton can continue to add to the running game, it should make it even easier on the league’s leading pass offence to put up yards.
Tasker among league’s best
Luke Tasker has proven week-in and week-out that he is one of the premier receivers in the CFL. The third-year CFLer returned at what was the perfect time for the Ticats offence, coming back into the lineup just prior to the losses of Andy Fantuz and Bakari Grant. Other receivers have been able to ease the loss of the two veterans, but it’s been Tasker that has taken on the bulk of the workload. In seven games, the Cornell product has averaged nearly six receptions and 86 yards, while reeling in four touchdown receptions over that span. Tasker’s reliable hands have been a significant factor on second down as well, providing Collaros with a go-to target in the toughest situations. Despite standing just 5’11”, Tasker’s contributions to the Ticats offence have him casting a shadow over the rest of the league.
]Stats don’t tell the whole story for Tracy
Adrian Tracy’s game on Friday night was as good of a performance as a pass rusher can have without recording a sack. Tracy had four official quarterback pressures and hits on the night and was undoubtedly involved in more pressure than that. The rookie defensive end and outside linebacker would not be denied on Friday night, consistently forcing himself into the backfield and making contact with the quarterback. Tracy’s pressures and team-leading five tackles were only solidified by his performance on special teams, as he added a 19-yard return on a blocked punt. The gaudy stats were not there for Tracy, but his play made a difference in Toronto on Friday night and it was certainly deserving of recognition.
Sinkfield reliable down the stretch
Terrell Sinkfield is one of the more explosive offensive players in the league, but it was his consistency and reliability down the stretch that was most impressive in Friday’s game. Sinkfield made six receptions on the night for 79 yards, but it was the three receptions on the Ticats final drive that were most vital to the win. On the team’s final drive, which lasted 3:47, the young running back-turned receiver made three receptions for blank yards. Two of the three catches were on second down to extend the drive, allowing Hamilton’s offence to effectively wind down the clock and put the icing on the cake with a late score.
Ticats prove they can win the close ones
Through ten games, the Ticats had won seven games but each one had been by at least 10 points. On Friday night the Black and Gold proved that they’re capable of winning the hard-fought close games as well, coming up big in both the final offensive and defensive possessions to seal the deal. The offence marched the ball down the field on their final drive, using up nearly four minutes of clock and giving their defence a full touchdown lead to work with. The defence took that lead and held it, sealing the game with Emanuel Davis’ fourth interception of the season. The team’s first single-score victory of the season capped off a sweep of the rival Argos and solidified the Ticats as the team to beat in the East.
