Mathews quietly shines in victory
Jeff Mathews’ stat line was not mind-blowing on Sunday, but his performance was strong for the second straight game, leading the Ticats to their first win in Montreal since 2002. The Ticats rookie quarterback was deadly accurate on the day, completing 84% of his passes and making smart decisions with the football. On a number of occasions the rookie QB made veteran choices with the ball in his hand, and his pinpoint accuracy was on display as he completed a few throws into very tight windows across the middle of the field.
Laurent breaks silence with big game
Prior to Sunday’s game, the Ticats all-star Canadian defensive lineman had made multiple tackles in just one of the last five games. In a return to his hometown of Montreal, Laurent shone on defence, ranking second on the team with five tackles, while consistently putting pressure on Kevin Glenn. The gut pressure put on by the veteran lineman pushed Glenn out of the pocket on numerous occasions and undoubtedly was a factor in the quarterback’s three interceptions. Laurent’s pressure came to a pinnacle with a strip-sack in the third quarter, which was ultimately diminished by off-setting offside penalties. After a number of quiet games, Laurent broke the silence on Sunday, showing again why he is considered one of the best Canadian players in the CFL.
Special teams make special difference
The Ticats special teams have lived up to the ‘special’ designation this season, and they proved that yet again on Sunday afternoon. Mike Daly and Frederic Plesius broke into the opposition’s backfield on a first-half punt play, combining for the Ticats league-leading sixth blocked kick of the season. Daly was the man who got his hands on the ball, jumping in front of the Montreal punter’s boot, but both Canadian specialists had a hand in the play.
The blocked kick set up the Ticats in prime field position, setting up the offence for its’ first and only touchdown of the day. The special teams continue to make an impact game-after-game for the Ticats, allowing the team to win in all three phases of the game.
Stephen continues hot play with another pick
Canadian defensive back Courtney Stephen has been on a tear as of late, recording interceptions in each of the last two games. Stephen made a key interception in Sunday’s game, preventing the Alouettes from scoring the first touchdown of the game. The third-year pro later forced a fumble on Als running back Terrell Sutton, a loose ball which was unfortunately recovered again by the Montreal offence. Stephen did not make a tackle in the game, a number more representative of his coverage on the day than his ability to tackle the ball-carrier. The Canadian defensive back did not allow a single pass completion on the day, rounding out what was a very impressive performance.
Medlock cleans up offensive opportunities with accurate kicking
Justin Medlock was again a key performer for the Ticats on Sunday afternoon, contributing 17 of the team’s 23 points in Montreal. The Ticats kicker also accounted for two of the Alouettes 11 points in the game, running out of the back of the Hamilton end zone to concede a safety. Medlock missed his first field goal of 40 yards or less in the contest, but connected on five more attempts, improving his season points total to a league-high 166 through 15 games. The Ticats offence was unable to cash in on a number of opportunities in the Alouettes territory, but the points were cleaned up by their veteran kicker, who scored more points than the Als did in this one.
Tasker and Sinkfield continue to lead
Luke Tasker and Terrell Sinkfield combined for 16 receptions and 197 receiving yards in Montreal on Sunday. The receiving tandem has been spectacular for the Ticats, continually piling up yardage and touchdowns, while also ranking first and second on the team in second-down conversions. Sinkfield and Tasker have been a safety net for Jeff Mathews, who has relied on the pair for 32 of his 58 completions over the last three games.
