Hamilton slotback Chad Owens looks on during a dominant Ticats win against his former Argo teammates.
TORONTO — Chad Owens waited a long time to play at a place like BMO Field and on a clear, calm Thursday night in Toronto he did just that. The circumstances were different but the outcome would have been exactly as he always imagined.
At the end of the day, it was Owens getting the ‘W’ and the Ticats spoiling the start of a new era for the Toronto Argonauts.
“At the end of the day that’s always the number one goal,” Owens said shortly after the Ticats’ 42-20 win over the Argos. “That was my goal coming in for us, but for me it was coming in, executing and doing what I can to help this team win.”
The Ticats were A for effort from every player in every phase, but the 2016 CFL season opener had Owens’ name all over it.
The 34-year-old fought off a smattering of boos early on in his first game as a Ticat against his former team, finishing with 67 yards and a touchdown on six catches. But with the Ticats up two scores and the game still in reach, it was the highlight-reel 30-yard touchdown catch with 7:30 left that put the game away.
In the end, however, all it meant to Owens was the Ticats would win the game.
“Scoring always feels good, regardless of the circumstances,” said Owens. “It felt great, but you know what, we played a complete game. Offence, defence, special teams. I’d like to believe we won all three phases and the results show it.”
The Ticats’ defence on the other hand gave Ricky Ray headaches all night, winning all of the battles in the trenches and sacking him five times while forcing an interception and a fumble.
But when the Argos scored two quick touchdowns and made a game of it, Owens was the one who came through. The Ticats were up two scores but they were pinned inside their own five when No. 2 made a 19-yard catch to get the drive started.
Masoli would complete nine straight passes and finish it all off with his third touchdown pass of the night.
“It was really great to see the offence respond,” said Head Coach Kent Austin. “They got back within six, we turned the ball over. They went back and scored again. It was really important for us . . . it’s a sign of a team that’s maturing to be able to do that, especially in tough positions.”
“I’m just proud of my guys,” added Masoli. “They did a great job responding. [The Argos] got a little momentum but we’re learning to be a great team right now, we just need to be able to respond to that kind of stuff.”
Hamilton slotback Chad Owens looks on during a dominant Ticats win against his former teammates (CFL.ca)
For Owens it was surely a night of mixed emotions, but he didn’t show it.
An Argo for six years, Owens’ departure from Toronto this off-season was emotional for the fans and himself. He built his home there, relocating his family from Hawaii while dedicating a large part of his life to the city and his teammates.
But after the game, for him, it was a Ticats win – the first of what he hopes will be many.
“I went in there like another practice – calm,” said Owens. “They tried to get into my head early in the game, some extra hits and different things. I didn’t let it affect me and at the end of the day it’s about winning and we got the job done tonight collectively.
“You guys all seen what we put out there. There’s a lot of potential and we need to work and keep getting better.”
