Canadian Press
OTTAWA – An interesting season in the East Division got even more interesting on Friday night, as Jeremiah Masoli bested Henry Burris, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats secured a berth in the 2016 CFL playoffs with a 39-36 overtime victory in Ottawa.
Though the rain was pouring down at TD Place, both quarterbacks had no trouble hitting their marks early. Burris and Masoli combined for six completions on eight attempts on the first two drives, as the two teams traded field goals to open the game.
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The weather provided a respite as the REDBLACKS took over possession, and Burris took full advantage. Ottawa bit off yards in chunks, including 20-yard completions to both Khalil Paden and Brad Sinopoli, before he connected with Ernest Jackson on a picture-perfect back-shoulder fade in the corner of the end zone. Milo’s extra point capped off a five-minute drive, and the REDBLACKS led by seven nearing the end of the first quarter.
Just one play later, the Ticats defence joined the pick party, as DL Michael Atkinson tipped a Henry Burris pass and took it down inside the Ottawa five-yard line to give possession right back to his offence.
Despite the field position, Masoli and the Ticats couldn’t convert, and Brett Maher kicked home his second field goal of the evening to cut Ottawa’s lead to four.
After a promising Tiger-Cats drive which saw Masoli march his team down the field into the red zone, another costly error from the QB took Hamilton points on the board. With John Chiles wide open in the end zone, Masoli underthrew him, and DB Antoine Pruneau was there with open arms, grabbing the REDBLACKS second interception of the game and returning it to near midfield.
Taking advantage of the momentum swing, Burris went on a tear, completing four of four pass attempts for 70 yards, the last of which was delivered perfectly to WR Juron Criner in the back of the end zone for a 14-point REDBLACKS lead.
The flailing Tiger-Cats received a gift after being forced to punt the ball away, as a muffed return from Jackson set them up with prime field position once again. This time, Masoli made no mistake, as he found Elliott for his first touchdown reception as a Tiger-Cat. Maher missed the extra point, and Hamilton trailed 20-12 in the dying minutes of the half.
Maher’s woes continued on the kickoff as he sent the short kick out of bounds, giving Ottawa the ball at their own 45 yard line.
It was an error that would haunt the Tiger-Cats, as despite having just a minute of game clock remaining, Burris was able to execute a six-play drive, finished by another former Ticat, as RB Mossis Madu plunged two yards for another REDBLACKS touchdown.
REDBLACKS RB Mossis Madu breaks a tackle during Friday’s matchup
The Ticats received the kickoff to begin the second half and Masoli immediately went to work, quickly finding Elliott once again for a big gain. An end-around from WR John Chiles on the next play brought Hamilton’s offence down to the one-yard line, and after getting stuffed on his first attempt, QB Jeff Matthews leaped over the pile for a Tiger-Cats touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, and Hamilton trailed 27-18.
It appeared that Ottawa was destined for a touchdown after another masterful drive from Burris, but a fumbled snap on first and goal from the one-yard line was recovered by Hamilton, and the threat was extinguished.
After a missed field goal single from Maher pulled the Tiger-Cats within one score, Masoli made it look easy on Hamilton’s next drive, finding a wide open John Chiles for a huge touchdown. The extra point from Maher cut Ottawa’s lead to just one.
Not content with the narrow lead, Burris embarked on yet another scoring drive, finding Ernest Jackson in the end zone once again for his second touchdown of the evening. Milo’s extra point attempt sailed wide, so the REDBLACKS led by seven.
With both quarterbacks feeling the weight of their team’s season on their shoulders late in the fourth quarter, Masoli continued the magic on the next Hamilton drive. After catching a short pass from Masoli in the flats, RB CJ Gable made one defender miss before dragging two more with him into the end zone. Maher’s extra point attempt was good, and the two teams sat tied for the first time since the first quarter.
After combining for 29 points in the second half, neither team could find another one in regulation, and the two headed to overtime.
After the two teams kicked home field goals on their first possession, Hamilton opted to allow Ottawa the first opportunity on offence in the second round of drives. DE John Chick came rumbling around the edge and stripped Burris of the ball on second down, and so Maher’s field goal secured the victory for the Ticats.
Both quarterbacks compiled some gaudy statistics in the game, as each eclipsed 350 yards passing and threw for three scores.
With the victory, Hamilton kept their hopes for an East Division title alive, and will head home to take on the Eskimos.
The REDBLACKS will head to Winnipeg to open up a season-ending home and home with the red-hot Blue Bombers, as they’ll look to rebound from a tough loss and secure the East Division title.
