Tiger-cats Beat Redblacks For First Win Of 2023

HAMILTON — It didn’t come easy, but the Hamilton Tiger-Cats secured their first win of the 2023 season in a classic, Steel Town style defensive slugfest at Tim Hortons Field Saturday night.

The final score: 21-13 as the Ticats defence prevented Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum from reaching the end zone on a 19-yard quarterback-keeper—the game’s final play.

How they got there: Hamilton opened up the first quarter with scores on three of their first four drives. Kicker Marc Liegghio connected on field goals of 13-yards, 50-yards and 21-yards to give the Ticats an early 9-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Ottawa quarterback Jeremiah Masoli suffered a lower body injury on a no-contact play while rolling out to his right.

Emotions were palpable as players on both squads hoped for the best. Masoli would not return.

He was replaced by Dustin Crum—the former Kent State quarterback who spent time in camp with the Kansas City Chiefs last year.

Crum completed 14 of 21 passes (66.7%) for 149 yards (7.1 YPA) and one interception through the air. He carried the ball six times for 91 yards, averaging 15.2 yards per carry and scored Ottawa’s lone touchdown of the game on a 15-yard run.

He was out-dueled by Ticats quarterback Matthew Shiltz who completed 19 of 26 passes (73.1%) for 233 yards (9.0 YPA), one touchdown and one interception. Shiltz added another 30 yards on the ground.

With the Redblacks defence focused on slowing down Tim White (one reception for seven yards), three different Ticats produced 40 or more yards receiving: Tyreik McAllister with 64 on one reception for a touchdown, Richie Sandani with 59 and Duke Williams with 43.

Outside of McAllister’s 64 yard strike, the game wasn’t flashy. It was effective.

Defensively, Simoni Lawrence and Chris Edwards both hauled in interceptions. Jameer Thurman led Hamilton with nine solo tackles and two sacks.

He wasn’t alone.

Ten different Ticats notched multiple tackles (Thurman with nine, Lawrence with four, Malik Carney with four, Richard Leonard with four, Dexter Lawson Jr. with four, Edwards with three, Kenneth George Jr. with three, Javien Elliot with three, Casey Sales with three, Jarrod Hewitt with two, JaGared Davis with two and Mason Bennett with two).

Edwards’ tackle to prevent Crum from reaching paydirt on the game’s final play secured the win—Hamilton’s sixth over their last eight home games.

Next up, a road trip to Commonwealth Stadium to take on the 0-5 Edmonton Elks next Thursday night: July 13th at 9:00 PM ET.