It was a slow start for both sides tonight in Montreal, but the Ticats regrouped at the half with only a 5-4 lead and took charge in the final 30 minutes of play. Brandon Banks kicked off the shift in tempo for the Ticats and headlines this week’s takeaways following a 31-7 victory over the Alouettes as Hamilton evens their record at 2-2 for the season.
Brandon Banks cashes in.
Brandon Banks has a knack for changing the momentum of a game with one play, and in tonight’s case it was an 86-yard punt return. With the Ticats leading in what started as a low scoring chess match, Banks lined up to receive a Montreal punt. He would look to use his speed to beat the Alouettes coverage to the sideline before finding a crease and breaking up the middle of the field, leaving the Als’ punt team diving for air.
The touchdown comes a week after Banks recorded his first return touchdown on the season off of a missed field goal attempt against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The kick returner would finish with 139 all-purpose yards against Montreal and continues his ability to be the Ticats’ spark in times of need.
Adrian Tracy and the line lock down.
It was a slow start for either side, but Adrian Tracy was flexing his muscles from the start. Making his presence heard, Tracy doubled his season total in tackles against the Alouettes, registering 11 of them in Friday night’s outing. With the absence of Kevin Glenn in Montreal’s line-up, Tracy made it so Rakeem Cato had difficulties getting comfortable in the pocket for the Alouettes. Tracy would tally two sacks including his first of the season while also adding a forced fumble, swatting the ball loose from a scrambling Cato.
All of the Ticats’ starting defensive linemen would chip in on sacks. Hamilton finished the game posting eight sacks against the Alouettes, along with forcing two fumbles, both of which came from Als’ quarterback Rakeem Cato who would be replaced in the fourth quarter by former University of Oregon pivot, Vernon Adams Jr.
Hamilton finds karma in penalty calls.
The Tiger-Cats have found themselves on the losing end when it comes to penalties. Hamilton entered this week’s matchup giving up 317 yards worth of penalties and was a focus Ticats’ Head Coach Kent Austin wanted to address with his club.
Montreal handed the Ticats 112 yards off of 12 penalties, which lead to several added opportunities for Hamilton to take advantage of as the Tiger-Cats began to run away with the game following halftime. The Black and Gold outscored the Alouettes 26-3 in the second half.
