MONTREAL — Week 8 closed out with a physical battle, as both Montreal and Hamilton were popping pads and flying around from the onset. The very first two plays from scrimmage were all Travis Theis, who brings a physical presence himself, rumbling for 46 yards immediately, and finishing with a career-high 156 yards, to help set up a Jose Maltos Diaz field goal to give Montreal the early lead.
It was a defensive first half, as a Terry Wilson plunge into the end zone on a one-yard sneak would be the only other offensive touchdown in the half. Hamilton’s early points came on special teams, as a 100-yard punt return touchdown from the explosive Isaiah Wooden put points on the board that the offence couldn’t early.
Top Performers
| Player | Performance | |
| Isaiah Wooden | 100-yard punt return touchdown, 148 punt return yards and 212 all-purpose yards. | |
| Tre Ford | 15-of-23 passing for 164 yards and one touchdown, plus 24 rushing yards. | |
| Kenny Lawler | Three receptions for 45 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown. | |
| Philip Ossai | Seven tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. | |
| Jordan Crook | Team-high 10 total tackles. | |
The Alouettes outgained the Tiger-Cats 235-66 in net offence in half No.1, as Hamilton booted away four punts. Hamilton even turned Montreal over twice, including ending Davis Alexander‘s consecutive pass attempts without an interception record at 356, but couldn’t capitalize.
To start the second half, the script flipped, however, as a Tre Ford to Kenny Lawler 33-yard touchdown capped off a drive that saw Hamilton put up more net offence than they did in the entire first half, taking a 15-10 lead in the process.
Montreal answered right back in the offensive second half, as a second Wilson plunge capped off a drive sparked by a nice punt return by the Alouettes-debuting DeVonte Dedmon.
The point-filled third quarter continued as the lead changed once again following a Marc Liegghio field goal, giving the Tiger-Cats the slight 18-17 lead heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter looked a lot like the first half, defensive and physical. No points were scored until the three-minute warning, with multiple turnovers and a blocked punt mixed in, before Maltoz Diaz gave the Alouettes the lead back.
Fittingly, Theis and the Alouettes were able to run the game out at the end with the 25-year-old scoring a late major for good measure.
Scoring Summary
| Quarter | Scoring Play | Score |
| Q1 | Jose Maltos Diaz 17-yard field goal | MTL 3, HAM 0 |
| Q1 | Isaiah Wooden 100-yard punt return touchdown (Liegghio convert) | HAM 7, MTL 3 |
| Q2 | Terry Wilson 1-yard rushing touchdown (Maltos Diaz convert) | MTL 10, HAM 7 |
| Q2 | Mitch McCarthy 76-yard punt single | MTL 10, HAM 8 |
| Q3 | Tre Ford 33-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Lawler (Liegghio convert) | HAM 15, MTL 10 |
| Q3 | Terry Wilson 1-yard rushing touchdown (Maltos Diaz convert) | MTL 17, HAM 15 |
| Q3 | Marc Liegghio 46-yard field goal | HAM 18, MTL 17 |
| Q4 | Jose Maltos Diaz 35-yard field goal | MTL 20, HAM 18 |
| Q4 | Jose Maltos Diaz 46-yard field goal | MTL 23, HAM 18 |
| Q4 | Jose Maltos Diaz kickoff single | MTL 24, HAM 18 |
| Q4 | Travis Theis 8-yard rushing touchdown (Maltos Diaz convert) | MTL 31, HAM 18 |
Next Up
The Tiger-Cats return home to Hamilton Stadium on Saturday, August 1, to host the Calgary Stampeders before heading west to face the BC Lions in Week 10.
