Recap: Hamilton 30, Saskatchewan 15
Adam Gagnon
Magical Mathews: Rookie QB leads Cats past Riders
Posted: October 9,2015 10:30PM
Updated: October 10,2015 12:25AM
CFL.ca Staff
HAMILTON -- Rookie quarterback Jeff Mathews was stellar, completing 22 of his 33 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns, as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats downed the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders 30-15 on Friday Night Football at Tim Hortons Field.
The win ended a brief two-game skid for the Ticats, who hadn't won a game since starting pivot Zach Collaros went down with a season-ending injury in Week 13.
Receivers Terrell Sinkfield and Tiquan Undewood were the main benefactors of Mathews' strong night, as the two combined for a whopping 271 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions.
Hamilton also received a strong effort on the defensive side of the ball from Simoni Lawrence, who posted six tackles and a sack, while Brandon Stewart and Courtney Stephen each had an interception.
The evening began with both offences trying to find their footing, as the Riders and Ticats each played to two –and-outs on their opening possesions.
Saskatchewan had a chance to jump out to an
early 3-0 lead, but veteran kicker Paul McCallum’s 27-yard field goal
attempt sailed wide right. The always dangerous Brandon Banks opted to
bring it out rather than surrender a single point, but was tackled just
inside the five yard line.
But despite the disadvantageous field position, Mathews, along with some hard running by tailback Michael Ford, managed to guide the Ticats deep into Roughrider territory.
However, the drive would eventually stall, forcing the Tiger-Cats to settle for a 25-yard field goal, courtesy of Justin Medlock.
After both teams continued to find their footing offensively, the Tiger-Cats special teams unit took to the field, looking to leave their mark on the first half.
Pinned deep in their own end on thirs down, Roughriders punter Ray Early saw his attempt blocked by a diving Ed Gainey. After a scramble for the loose ball, it was ultimately recovered by the Ticats on the six yard line.
Two plays later, Mathews hooked up with Luke Tasker – his old teammate at Cornell – for his first career touchdown pass.
Medlock converted the extra point to give the Ticats a 10-0 lead. The score was Tasker’s fifth this season.
Shortly after, Hamilton would add to their lead, with Mathews finding Tiquan Underwood for his second touchdown pass of the half.
Medlock’s second field goal of the half as time expired extended the home side’s lead to 20 into the break.
The opening 30 minutes saw Mathews completely pick apart a seemingly helpless Roughriders defence. Thee rookie pivot completed 15 of his 17 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
The same couldn’t be said for his counterpart Kevin Glenn, however. The veteran passer was good on 11 of his 17 attempts for 67 yards and an interception.
Glenn’s less-than-stellar first half was enough to convince Riders head coach Bob Dyce to insert backup QB Brett Smith into the game to start the third quarter.
However, Smith's insertion into the game didn't provide the Riders with the spark they'd hoped for. One his first series, the first-year QB threw an interception to Courtney Stephen.
The turnover wasn't incredibly costly, as the Riders escaped without allowing any points, depsite having their backs to their own endzone. It seemed as though they would give up another Medlock field goal, but the Ticats shook things up with a fake attempt that saw Tasker find linebacker Erik Harris for a completion.
However, Harris wasn't able to register a first down, giving the ball back to the Riders.
The clutch defensive stop must have inserted a jolt of confidence into the Riders offensive unit, as Smith and his crew quickly went to work on cutting into Hamilton's big lead.
On his first pass of the drive, Smith connected with Weston Dressler for a 79-yard catch-and-run TD, making the score 20-7 in favour of the Ticats.
But any momentum the Riders generated as a result of the Dressler TD was quickly erased, as the Ticats answered back in a hurry with a big TD of their own, as Mathews hooked up with Terrell Sinkfield for an 87-yard score.
With less than five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Medlock kicked his third field goal of the night, giving the Ticats a 30-7 lead.
The Riders chipped into the deficit with 1:57 to go in the fourth quarter, as Smith found receiver Ryan Smith for a 68-yard TD. Though it would be a case of too little, too late, as the Ticats hung on for their ninth win of the season.
Next week, the Ticats travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes on Sunday afternoon, while the Riders head into their second bye week of the year. They'll next hit the field in Week 18 at home against the Eskimos.
HAMILTON -- Rookie quarterback Jeff Mathews was stellar, completing 22 of his 33 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns, as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats downed the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders 30-15 on Friday Night Football at Tim Hortons Field.
The win ended a brief two-game skid for the Ticats, who hadn't won a game since starting pivot Zach Collaros went down with a season-ending injury in Week 13.
Receivers Terrell Sinkfield and Tiquan Undewood were the main benefactors of Mathews' strong night, as the two combined for a whopping 271 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions.
Hamilton also received a strong effort on the defensive side of the ball from Simoni Lawrence, who posted six tackles and a sack, while Brandon Stewart and Courtney Stephen each had an interception.
The evening began with both offences trying to find their footing, as the Riders and Ticats each played to two –and-outs on their opening possesions.
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But despite the disadvantageous field position, Mathews, along with some hard running by tailback Michael Ford, managed to guide the Ticats deep into Roughrider territory.
However, the drive would eventually stall, forcing the Tiger-Cats to settle for a 25-yard field goal, courtesy of Justin Medlock.
After both teams continued to find their footing offensively, the Tiger-Cats special teams unit took to the field, looking to leave their mark on the first half.
Pinned deep in their own end on thirs down, Roughriders punter Ray Early saw his attempt blocked by a diving Ed Gainey. After a scramble for the loose ball, it was ultimately recovered by the Ticats on the six yard line.
Two plays later, Mathews hooked up with Luke Tasker – his old teammate at Cornell – for his first career touchdown pass.
Medlock converted the extra point to give the Ticats a 10-0 lead. The score was Tasker’s fifth this season.
Shortly after, Hamilton would add to their lead, with Mathews finding Tiquan Underwood for his second touchdown pass of the half.
Medlock’s second field goal of the half as time expired extended the home side’s lead to 20 into the break.
The opening 30 minutes saw Mathews completely pick apart a seemingly helpless Roughriders defence. Thee rookie pivot completed 15 of his 17 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
The same couldn’t be said for his counterpart Kevin Glenn, however. The veteran passer was good on 11 of his 17 attempts for 67 yards and an interception.
Glenn’s less-than-stellar first half was enough to convince Riders head coach Bob Dyce to insert backup QB Brett Smith into the game to start the third quarter.
However, Smith's insertion into the game didn't provide the Riders with the spark they'd hoped for. One his first series, the first-year QB threw an interception to Courtney Stephen.
The turnover wasn't incredibly costly, as the Riders escaped without allowing any points, depsite having their backs to their own endzone. It seemed as though they would give up another Medlock field goal, but the Ticats shook things up with a fake attempt that saw Tasker find linebacker Erik Harris for a completion.
However, Harris wasn't able to register a first down, giving the ball back to the Riders.
The clutch defensive stop must have inserted a jolt of confidence into the Riders offensive unit, as Smith and his crew quickly went to work on cutting into Hamilton's big lead.
On his first pass of the drive, Smith connected with Weston Dressler for a 79-yard catch-and-run TD, making the score 20-7 in favour of the Ticats.
But any momentum the Riders generated as a result of the Dressler TD was quickly erased, as the Ticats answered back in a hurry with a big TD of their own, as Mathews hooked up with Terrell Sinkfield for an 87-yard score.
With less than five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Medlock kicked his third field goal of the night, giving the Ticats a 30-7 lead.
The Riders chipped into the deficit with 1:57 to go in the fourth quarter, as Smith found receiver Ryan Smith for a 68-yard TD. Though it would be a case of too little, too late, as the Ticats hung on for their ninth win of the season.
Next week, the Ticats travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes on Sunday afternoon, while the Riders head into their second bye week of the year. They'll next hit the field in Week 18 at home against the Eskimos.
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