November 15, 2015

Medlock boots Ticats into Eastern Final with win over Argos

CFL.ca

CFL.ca Staff
#GCPlayoffs

HAMILTON – The Ticats scratched and clawed and then scratched and clawed some more, earning a trip to the Eastern Final with a 25-22 win over the Argos in the Eastern Semi-Final on Sunday in Hamilton.

Justin Medlock kicked a 47-yard field goal with no time on the clock on a last-minute drive aided by a roughing the passer penalty, while Jeremiah Masoli and Bakari Grant scored key second-half touchdowns to give Hamilton the win in a seesaw battle.

Related: Eastern Semi-Final



» Eastern Semi-Final Playoff Centre


Headlines and Statistics
» View Game Stats
» Images: HAM at TOR
» Masoli justifies Austin’s faith after win
» Argos’ Ray lements missed opportunities
» Infographic: Hamilton 25, Toronto 22
» The Snap: Twitter reacts to #GCPlayoffs
» Status Report: Injury news and notes
» Shaw Road to the Grey Cup
» Preview: Ticats host Argos in Eastern Semi

Videos
» Hightlights: Medlock’s 47-yarder seals win
» Highlights: Grant’s TD Chances Momentum
» Highlights: Owens’ Major increases lead
» Highlights: Gable’s spin sets up Masoli TD
» Post-Game: Kent Austin
» Post-Game: Scott Milanovich

Hamilton will face the REDBLACKS in the Eastern Final on Nov. 23 in Ottawa.

Masoli made the most of a second chance, returning to the field after being pulled in the third quarter to finish the game with 141 yards on 12-of-18 passing with a touchdown and an interception, along with 58 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Then after the Argos tied the game with a last-minute field goal from Swayze Waters, Masoli finished his day with seven straight completions to set up the eventual game-winner from Medlock.

The Argos held the lead through a good portion of the contest led by 220 passing yards and a touchdown on 22-of-34 passing from Ricky Ray, while a Chad Owens third-quarter touchdown gave Toronto an 18-6 lead in the third quarter. Diontae Spencer had a game-high 84 receiving yards on eight catches in the loss for Toronto, which dropped its fourth straight game to the Ticats this season.

But in a game where moving the ball with the wind made all the difference, the Argos failed to gain enough separation in the third quarter. Waters missed two field goals in the second half that would have made the difference for Toronto, while a a key penalty on the final drive put Medlock in range to connect on the game-winner.

With an early edge in the field position, the Ticats inched ahead 3-0 on a 55-yard field goal by Medlock – the second-longest in CFL Playoff history – that the strong left-legged kicker made look easy.

Penalty troubles plagued the Argos throughout the first quarter but their defence played bend but don’t break, while Medlock’s second field goal of the opening quarter made it 6-0 through 15 minutes as Toronto survived a turbulent first frame.

It was Adrian McPherson in the game early to give the Argos an unexpected early twist on offence, and his mobility gave that unit a different look and a much-needed boost to the ground game. Yet special teams and strong defences continued to pace a wind-filled contest in the Hammer early on.

The Argos took some momentum back with the wind at their backs in the second quarter thanks to a Swayze Waters field goal, then on the next drive the offence began to get vertical.

Ray couldn’t connect on either of his shots downfield, but back-to-back pass interference penalties against Hamilton set up a one-yard plunge by Whitaker to give the Argos a 10-6 lead, their first lead of the afternoon.

In the second half the pressure was on Toronto to add more points before facing a heavy wind in the fourth.

Down four, the Ticats engineered a potential game-changing play on the first snap of the third quarter. Ray looked for Gurley on the deep ball but was intercepted by Emmanuel Davis, the first turnover of the game giving the Ticats possession at their own 35.

Gable and Masoli runs moved the sticks for the Ticats up near midfield, but then the Ticats gave up possession right back to the Argos. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah hauled down Masoli’s errant pass and the Argos took momentum right back.

After a quick two-and-out and punt by the Argos, though, Brandon Banks again beat the Argo special teams for a solid return into Toronto territory to give the Ticats good field position. Jacory Harris entered the game for Jeremiah Masoli. After picking up 10 on second down though the Argo defence continued to stifle Hamilton’s offence, and on a third-and-one gamble Harris was stuffed by Cory Greenwood and the Argo defence, turning the ball over to the Argos.

After exchanging sacks and punts, the Argos turned momentum fully in their favour.

A second-down catch by Diontae Spencer initially ruled incomplete was challenged by the Argos and overturned to give the Boatmen a fresh set of downs. On the next play Ray was under pressure but dumped the ball off to Whitaker, who powered his way through a tackler outside for another first down.

Then on first down and the Argos inside the 10, Ray scrambled and fired into a tight window to hit Owens for the eight-yard touchdown, giving the Argos an 18-6 lead.

With Masoli back in the game for the Ticats, on a second and five he evaded a heavy Argo pass rush and scrambled to move the sticks for a very timely Hamilton first down. Masoli then hit Tiquan Underwood for a first down, and on the next play the Ticats were able to get Gable going with a first-down run across midfield.

On a second down play, Masoli looked long and Owusu-Ansah slipped, leaving a wide open Bakari Grant. Grant made the catch and ran untouched for a 42-yard touchdown, cutting the Ticats’ deficit back down to five points.

Masoli rallies Tiger-Cats late

Jeremiah Masoli managed the Eastern Semi-Final well, using primarily the ground game to help get the Tiger-Cats in field goal range on the final drive which eventually won Hamilton the game. 

» Infographic: Hamilton 25, Toronto 22

 

The Argo offence looked to respond quickly after a pooch kickoff set them up at their own 40. Ray completed a pass to Bates out in the flat to get across midfield, then converted a second down with a pass to Coombs in tight coverage.

On the next play Whitaker got the Argos in second and short, but Ray’s second-down pass was incomplete leaving the Argos with a tough decision. They elected to try a 40-yard field goal against strong winds and Waters sailed the kick wide left.

The Argos took the single point and then forced a stop on defence, while on the next drive McPherson came back into the game to lead the run package in attempts to slow the game down and eat up some clock.

Whitaker exited the game after an injury on the next carry, while on the next play Ray returned and was sacked by Ted Laurent. Instead of kicking against a howling wind and giving Hamilton good field position, the Argos conceded the safety and watched their lead drop to 19-15 with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Hamilton’s next drive started deep in Argo territory after a big return by Brandon Banks and a facemask penalty tacked on at the end. Then Gable took over for the Ticats, running the Ticats down inside the 10 on consecutive first-down runs.

Then in first and goal, Masoli powers his way down inside the five while on the next play Gable gets inside the one. On third-and-one the Ticats made the decision to gamble for the second time on a key third down this half.

This time though Masoli powered his way over the goal line, giving the Ticats their first lead since the second quarter, 22-19.

Whitaker got the Argos’ ensuing drive started with a 10-yard run to get the ground game going, then on the next play Ray took off for another run near a first down for the Argo offence. After a run on first down by Whitaker, Spencer moved the sticks on another key second down catch to again extend the drive.

The Argo drive fell short though and facing the wind, it was Waters getting a second chance – but again he’d pull the kick left.

The Argo defence battled and got the ball right back after a key stuff on second and short, and this time with another timely catch by Spencer moved right back into field goal range.

This time with a 42-yard field goal attempt and his team’s season on the line, Waters made no mistake. He tied the game with his second field goal of the game, making it a 22-22 game with 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Yet that was just enough time for the Ticats, the wind at their back and one of the strongest kickers in the league on their sideline, to respond. Masoli quickly moved the ball upfield on consecutive completions, then a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty against Martin Wright put Hamilton inside field goal range.

Masoli finished the game with seven straight completions while on a 47-yard try with no time left on the clock, Medlock made no mistake in splitting the uprights to send the Ticats to the victory.

The Ticats ended a three-game losing streak with the win and will now take on an Ottawa REDBLACKS team in the Eastern Final that they have not yet defeated this season. They cap off a four-game sweep of the Argos and have now won five of their last seven against their Southern Ontario rival, including all three games this season at Tim Hortons Field.

The Argos failed to win despite outgaining the Ticats in yards and also winning the turnover battle, marking the first time Hamilton has won this season when losing the turnover battle and just the second time the Argos have lost in such a circumstance.

Toronto exits what’s been a turbulent 2015 with losses in four of its last five games and will enter what appears will be a busy off-season.