Gold Rush: Ti-Cats Maul Argos

Yesterday the talk on the FAN 590 and around the water cooler made it seem like the Ti-Cats and their fans should wear black to their week seven matchup with Toronto. At 1-5 this game was sure to be the curtain call on their 2008 campaign. With offensive starters Jesse Lumsden, Casey Printers and Tony Miles out the Ti-Cats didn’t stand a chance. Add to the mix the Argos were out to avenge their week two thrashing at the Rogers Centre and head coach Charlie Taaffe might as well start packing his bags. But this Ti-Cats club unlike many of their critics still believed in this season and it showed.

Wearing their gold uniforms, a nod to the Canadian Olympians the Ti-Cats terrorized the Argos’ vaunted defense once again. Richie Williams, making his second start of the season, drove the Ti-Cats down the field early and often. Late in the second quarter he delivered what many Ti-Cats fans had been waiting for all season, a passing touchdown. Williams found rookie tight-end Robert Pavlovic from four yards out to tie the ball game at 10-10. At that point the buzz in Ivor Wynne was unbelievable, Hamilton’s football community is clearly waiting with bated breath for a contending team. After the Ti-Cats defense held the Argos in check Williams led the Cats down the field again with the aid of second year back Terry Caulley. Caulley, a Connecticut product, was tremendous in place of injured back Jesse Lumsden, rushing for 127 yards on 14 carries. His one rushing touchdown from 20-yards out gave the Cats a 17-10 lead with just under three minutes left in the half. But Kerry Joseph and co. to their credit weren’t done. Utilizing their hurry up offense that this season has produced much better than any other option, Joseph brought the Argos down the field in 66 seconds and left the game tied at 18, despite what had to be considered an exceptional half of football from Hamilton.

In the second half the Ti-Cats took it up another notch, they opened with a seven-play touchdown drive highlighted by a 30-yard reception to Scott Mitchell. The Argos would never gain the momentum back from Hamilton. Kerry Joseph threw an ill-advised pass that was picked off with a tremendous catch and returned 45-yards for a backbreaking touchdown. Then as the chants of “Argos Suck” reigned down on Toronto Joseph threw another interception and the Argos offense continued to falter. After all was said and done they would manage only three points in the second half. Midway through the fourth quarter Richie Williams found Chris Bauman downfield and after a quick side step he was jogging into the endzone for another 63-yard major. On the day Williams finished 15-24 for 293 yards and three touchdowns. After the game Argos’ coach Rich Stubler described his club’s 45-21 loss as, “horrible.” That’s pretty much all that can be said. Now instead of essentially knocking Hamilton out of playoff contention the Cats will enter play next week only one game out of second place. Not too bad for a team who’s season was all but over according to the experts.

Like this post? Share it »

Last post (s) by Nich Hall

• WJHC Final: Tre Konor a closer look - January 5th, 2009
• Vikings hang tough, but Jackson shows true colors late - January 4th, 2009
• Connecticut runs to International Bowl win - January 4th, 2009
• International Bowl Preview: Buffalo vs. UConn - January 2nd, 2009
• Vikings make playoff return against Philly - January 2nd, 2009