Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Terrell Sinkfield Jr. (14) makes the catch for the touchdown as Edmonton Eskimos' Cauchy Muamba (8) tries to defend during first half CFL action in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday August 21, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
The Tiger-Cats (8-3) and Eskimos (7-4) will face off for the second time this season in a battle between two of the top teams in the league.
The Ticats enter the game following back-to-back wins over the East Division Argos. After a commanding 42-12 victory on Labour Day, they travelled to Toronto and came out with an eight-point win on the road. The Ticats proved they can win the close games as well as the blowouts, winning their first single-score game of the season. The running game continued its’ success in Toronto, posting 100+ yards for the second straight game for the first time in 2015. The Black and Gold will look to sweep the season-series with the Eskimos on Saturday night, following a 49-20 Week Nine win in Edmonton.
The Eskimos enter the game following a victory over the West Division-leading Stampeders, snapping a 12-game losing streak against their rivals. Mike Reilly was dominant in his return to Edmonton’s lineup, throwing for 352 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-40 passing. Reilly and Adarius Bowman showed instant chemistry upon the former’s return, as Bowman racked up 104 yards and two touchdowns in the contest. The Eskimos defence stood strong against the Stampeders’ attack, holding one of the league’s most potent offences to 16 points in Edmonton.
Today’s home game against the Eskimos will kick off at 4:00 p.m. ET. To catch all the action from home, tune into TSN or Hamilton’s first all-sports radio station TSN 1150. Head to Ticats.ca as well for the Ticats TV Live GameDay show to get the most extensive and exclusive coverage possible. To enhance your game-watching experience be sure to sign up for Ticats All Access to play the GameDay Predictor Challenge!
TIGER-CATS HISTORY AGAINST EDMONTON
| WINS | LOSSES | TIES | PTS FOR | PTS AGAINST | |
| ALL-TIME | 32 | 55 | 1 | 2004 | 2277 |
| LAST 10 (TOTAL) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 288 | 250 |
| LAST 10 (at home vs. EDM) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 284 | 205 |
| IN 2015: | 1 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 20 |
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Ray Holley: The Ticats run game seems to have hit its’ stride, amassing 100+ yards in two straight games. Ray Holley has accounted for 135 yards on the ground and has added another 49 receiving yards to go with that. Holley has been a consistent target out of the backfield and he appears to be hitting his stride on the ground as well. Today’s game against a tough Edmonton defence will be a significant test to the entire offence, but specifically to Holley and the rushing game.
Terrell Sinkfield Jr.: Terrell Sinkfield’s recent hot streak began in the Ticats and Eskimos first meeting of the season, when he caught two first-quarter touchdowns and totalled 118 yards. Beginning with that game, Sinkfield has recorded 367 yards over the last four contests, breaking the 100-yard barrier twice and nearly cracking it a third time in Toronto last weekend with 91 receiving yards. Everything seems to be coming together with the second-year receiver’s game, making him a must-watch player in Saturday’s game.
Jeremy Lewis: On Saturday afternoon, Lewis will be tasked with containing one of the league’s most explosive pass rushers in Odell Willis. The Eskimos defensive end has the ability to change the game with his disruption in the backfield, and Lewis will be in charge of making sure that doesn’t happen. Lewis has taken the starting role at right tackle and run with it, performing well since Joel Figueroa’s injury, but his toughest test will come on Saturday.
MATCHUP OF THE GAME:
Ticats receivers vs. Eskimos receivers
Today’s game features two of the most talented wide receiving cores in the CFL, and what makes both groups so potent is the depth of both units.
Despite injuries to two of their starting receivers, Andy Fantuz and Bakari Grant, the Ticats receivers have thrived this season, as six different receivers have recorded 300 or more receiving yards. Ray Holley, a potential seventh addition to that list is just 63 yards short of the 300-yard mark.
The Eskimos, meanwhile, boast a three-headed receiving monster of Adarius Bowman, Kenny Stafford and Derel Walker. Bowman leads the league in targets (100) and sits second in receiving yards (716); his speed and ability to stretch the field out of the slot is a big part of the Eskimos attack. Stafford has reeled in a team-high six touchdown receptions in 2015 while totalling 568 yards receiving. Finally, Derel Walker has been a terror to opposing defences since joining the Eskimos lineup; in just five games the rookie receiver has recorded 555 receiving yards and 40 receptions.
The Ticats have their own three-headed monster of sorts as of late, as Terrence Toliver, Luke Tasker and Terrell Sinkfield have established themselves as a dominant force. Tasker has averaged 86 yards per game this season, while Sinkfield has averaged 92 per game over the last four contests. Toliver holds the team lead in receiving yards (617) and touchdowns (5) on the season and is the only receiver to start every game for the Ticats.
Both units are loaded with top-end talent, but they also feature talented depth players. In Hamilton, Tiquan Underwood, Brandon Banks and Matt Coates all contribute significantly to the passing game, while Kendial Lawrence and Devon Bailey each play their part in the Eskimos aerial attack. As these two talented teams take the field on Saturday, both of their high-end receiving units will play a key part in the outcome of the game.
TEAM CONNECTIONS:
Ted Laurent played 48 games for the Eskimos during his first three seasons in the league, while linebacker Simoni Lawrence (15 games) also spent some time in the green and gold. Lawrence was traded to Ticats along with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who spent one season on Edmonton’s roster.
A number of players on Edmonton’s current roster spent significant time in Hamilton, including Simeon Rottier (54 games), Ryan Hinds (37 games), Eddie Steele (31 games), Marcell Young (23 games) and Greg Wojt (19 games). Wojt was part of the Lawrence and Masoli trade, dealt to the Tiger-Cats before resigning with the Eskimos last off-season.
