From the Cats’ Box- Oct 24 vs. Calgary

7:32: Welcome to the inaugural “From the Cats’ Box.” Coming to you live from the Ivor Wynne Stadium Press Box for the Ti-Cats final regular season home game. Special thanks to Kevin Lee and the Ti-Cats for getting me in the box. We’ll hope to make this a mainstay feature next season. Oskee Wee Wee. Time for some football.

7:36: My boy Scott Mitchell from Kentucky, is a scratch tonight. Calgary has won the coin toss, deferred and the Ti-Cats will start on offense.

7:40: Ti-Cats get an initial first down after a nice completion to Pat Woodcock for nine yards on the games opening offensive play. Next set of downs and the TiCats stall as the Stampeders get pressure on first and second down.

7:42 Ti-Cats get a typical amazing kick from Setta, Calgary will start from their own seven.

7:44 Ti-Cats get a two and out, great coverage on second down, even Burris’ check down was covered. Rontarius Robinson should have had the interception but its dropped.

7:45 Ti-Cats will start after a no yards call on their own 52, great field position for the Cats, have to take advantage.

7:48 Rush from Kenton Keith followed by a four yard completion to KK fail to get the first down. Setta’s punt returned to the Calgary 22. When even a first down would have put the Cats in FG position they can’t get it done. Great defense so far.

7:52 Calgary returns the favour. After a 21-yard completion to Nik Lewis, Burris fails to hit his open receiver on a slant on second down, four punts on four drives in this game.

7:53 Tre Smith needs to catch the ball in the air. Ti-Cats will start on their 12.

7:55 Two nice completions for Porter get the Cats out of the shadow of their endzone. 12 yards to P-Rod and 17 to Earnest Jackson. Ball at Ham-41.

7:57 Porter sacked on second down, took too long on that play, 2nd and 11, he had Woodcock short but held on to the ball looking for a better option. Have to take what the defense gives you.

8:00 Another nice two and out from the Cats defense. Six possessions, six punts.

8:01 Shanked punt, once again Smith fails to field the punt, but grabs a 15-yard no yards call, setting Hamilton up a the Calgary 47.

8:03 Porter’s misses a slant route, setting up a 52-yard field goal from Setta. It is blocked by Charleston Hughes and returned to the Hamilton 25. Not a happy crowd here.

8:04 Ti-Cats defense comes up big. Markeith Knowlton sacks Henry Burris for a loss of three yards on 3nd and 2. Stampeders field goal attempt from 27 yards is good.

Calgary 3 Hamilton 0

8:07 Ti-Cats go two and out, after a deep pass to P-Rod is defended/pass interfered by Hamilton’s favorite Dwight Anderson. Takes some time to remind the crowd he’s a class act, whether he’s playing well or not.

8:09 Ti-Cats blitz and can’t get to Burris=22 yard completion to Ken-Yon Rambo. Last play of the quarter.

After 1st Quarter: Calgary 3 Hamilton 0

8:13 Markeith Knowlton picks Burris off deep in Hamilton territory, its returned 42-yards, throw on a 15-yard roughing penalty to Burris puts the ball on the Calgary 32. Talk about a turn around, Wow. Hamilton defense showing up tonight.

8:16 Porter goes deep for Chris Bauman in the endzone and he is once again pass interfered with. Calgary defender doesn’t play the ball, but yet not call. Alouettes scout beside me describes that call as Hamilton Minor footballesque. Porter fumbles the ball away on the next play… That’s Hamilton football. No favours here.

8:19 Calgary appears to fumble the ball at the Hamilton 32. Bellefeuille throws his challenge flag, as the Stampeder is ruled down.

8:21 Replay shows on TSN ball is coming out as he goes to the ground. It’s loose before his elbow hits.

8:22 Ref rules the other way, very interesting call, Looked like it was out to me. But then again I’m college educated….

8:24 Burris pitch and catch continues as the Stamps methodically march down the field. Joffrey Reynolds punches it in from one.

Calgary 10 Hamilton 0

8:34 Couple of penalties (holding,offsides) keep the Ti-Cats from a shot at the endzone. Setta hits from 28 yards to get the Cats on the board.

Calgary 10 Hamilton 3

8:38 Ti-Cats get another big two and out from their defense after a huge return on the kickoff gave the Stampeders the ball midfield. If the offense can give their D a boost this game could get interesting.

8:42 Porter is doing his best Matt Cassel imitation tonight, if his first option isn’t there, he doesn’t seem sure where to go with the ball, least tonight he doesn’t.

8:44 Calgary will take over from the Hamilton 47 with 1:38 to go.

8:46 Reynolds leaks out of the backfield completely undetected by the Cats defense from the five. They score in just 90 seconds to put Hamilton out of striking distance, for now….

Calgary 17 Hamilton 3

End of Half

9:07 Beginning of the second half sees the Ti-Cats driving at mid-field, trying to make a game of this final home contest.

9:10 Porter tries deep for Bauman for the second time this evening. His first deep attempt to Bauman was a TD but he had to a adjust to an under thrown ball. This time Porter’s throw was right on the money but Bauman seemed to slow up, almost as if he was anticipating another under thrown ball. Consistency is the key there, so close, but not enough.

9:14 Just re-read by last five words, that could be the motto for this season, “So Close, But Not Enough.”

9:20 Also just noticed I missed a Hamilton single on their last punt…. So

Calgary 17 Hamilton 4

9:22 Burris finds Copeland in the endzone for a seven yard TD pass. Caps off a nine play, 75 yard touchdown drive.

Calgary 24 Hamilton 4

9:25 I picked in the pre-season that Calgary would be the Grey Cup champion and as they appear assured to clinch the West division tonight, I’m feeling pretty confident in that pick. This is a very strong football club.

9:31 Joffrey Reynolds busts open a 50-yard run to bring the ball to the Hamilton 20. Looks like this game is going to get ugly.

9:35 Reynolds drops a second down ball at the goal line forcing a 15-yard field goal from Sandro Deangelis.

Calgary 27 Hamilton 4

9:38 Porter finds Earnest Jackson for a 38-yard gain to the Cal 38, brings this Ivor Wynne crowd to its feet. Followed by a 17-yard pass to P-Rod.

After 3rd Quarter Cal 27 Ham 4

9:43 3rd and 2 from the Calgary 13 and Kenton Keith slips and falls for a loss of three yards. Yikes, they really haven’t had it tonight.

9:47 Porter is sacked and fumbles the ball away on a 17-yard loss. This game has been very unfortunate for the Ti-Cats and their fans. After an outstanding performance last week in Saskatchewan, this team has laid an egg. Only their third this season which is better than last year, but unfortunate in their in last home game of yet another tough season.

9:49 Gentleman next to me just mentioned and is completely correct that with 10:50 left in this fourth quarter there is no reason for Burris to still be in this game. The Stampeders have a playoff run to prepare for.

As I type Burris throws an interception to Chris Thompson.

9:51 Stampeders Brandon Browner and Dwight Anderson take some time during the commercial break to dance with the Cats’ cheerleaders. Not sure if they should be ridiculed or disciplined, but they have a right to dance tonight.

9:56 Ti-Cats get into the endzone, Porter finds Christopher Davis for the team’s first major of the night.

Calgary 27 Hamilton 11

10:03 Burris still in the game, gets the Stampeders back in FG range, and Deangelis misses wide right off the goalpost.

10:07 Christopher Davis is making quite the impression in the late stages of this game, several catches have the Cats back in striking distance at the Calgary 14.

10:11 On 3rd and five from the 9, Porter (Edit: Tarfalis) on the roll out finds Prechae Rodriguez for the touchdown. Any Cats fans still in attendance are getting their moneys worth. Cats go for two, and nearly miss lowering the margin to eight points. 7 Plays 85 Yards drive in 2:35, impressive but too late for Hamilton.

Calgary 27 Hamilton 17

10:17 Couple of onside kick attempts fail for Hamilton and this game is all but over. Nice comeback effort in garbage time but it looks like the Cats will fall to (3-14).

10:19 Calgary secures a single with a punt into the endzone.

Calgary 28 Hamilton 17

10:24 Stamps run out the clock on this game and the Ti-Cats home schedule. Calgary clinches the West Division.

Final: Calgary 28 Hamilton 17

11:25 Post Game Apology: Just wanted to give a shout out to Ti-Cats third string quarterback Adam Tafralis who made his first appearance for the Ti-Cats tonight. He was 4-10 for 65 yards and the Cats touchdown. My mistake, and a great start for Tafralis.

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