Randy Workman

The Eskimos destroyed the Stamps tonight, as the Stamps never showed up. The Stamps’ defense came back down to earth. Ricky threw an early 32-yard touchdown to Campbell. You knew the Eskies would not be this bad all season and they weren’t. The Stamps did nothing in this game. You have to give the Eskies’ defense some credit; they did their homework. Meanwhile, the Stamps’ defense continued to do stupid things. The Stamps were lucky when they were still only behind seven points at the end of the first quarter. The Eskies were driving their way to another touchdown when a turnover happened, fumbled by Mccarty. The Stamps marched from the 35 yard line ending, with a touchdown catch by Copeland.

The second quarter started with Peterson catching a deep pass for 50 yards. The Eskimos rebounded with a touchdown drive back with Campbell, an easy 10 yard touchdown pass. The Stamps were never in this game. The Eskimo’s could do no wrong. Ricky Ray was unstoppable, throwing touchdowns at will. Kelly Campbell was spectacular tonight, catching the first two touchdowns for the Eskies. The Stamps could not even convert on a second and half a yard losing yards. Ricky Ray threw the best pass I have ever seen, another bomb to Tucker to set up the Eskies’ field goal.. The Eskies took an easy 17-7 lead and totally dominated the pathetic Stamps. How does that happen? Easy, the Stamps’ defense is awful; they are the downfall this season. Meanwhile the Stamps’ offense weren’t exactly terrific. They were pretty much terrible in the first quarter. In the second quarter they weren’t much better, only getting one drive because their offensive line is awful, holding every play. The Eskies got another single point to put it 18-7. Burris threw an awful pass that was picked off, and allowed the Eskies a huge drive. It could have been worse; the Eskies got another field goal. The score at half time: 21-7.

The Stamps played better in the 2^nd half, throwing a touchdown to Brent Ralph and Reynolds running a touchdown. The key point for the win for the Eskimos was the fumble by Summers when the Stamps were marching down the field. The Stamps need to cut down on mistakes. Five turnovers; that pretty much cost the Stamps the game. On the good side, the Stamps didn’t give up. You thought maybe the Stamps would come back when Lewis caught the leading touchdown. With 1.38 left, the Stamps led this game; but you play a game for 60 minutes.

Ricky Ray led the Eskies 75 yards. Wow, what a game for the Eskimos. They purely dominated the game. Campbell was a monster. He led the Eskies to the winning touchdown. What catch by Jason Tucker — a circus 45 yard catch as Ricky Ray gunned it. The catch of the year; wow, what a catch. What a win for the Eskies. The Stamps’ defense is weak. The offense was weak most of the game. The offensive line gave up too many holding penalties. The offensive line never gave Burris enough time. A gutsy performance by the Edmonton Eskimos.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Kelly Campbell eight catches for 158 yards. This kid is going to be a good one.

Randy

Nich Hall

Entering tonight the Ti-Cats had not won a road game in Toronto since 2001 and in the last three seasons they were a combined 2-25. But tonight was not an ordinary night, the Ti-Cats walked into Toronto and handled them collecting a huge 32-13 win. If last week was as bad as Hamilton could play then this game was an exhibition in the potential this club has.

Entering this game Charlie Taaffe said they had to establish the run. To do so the plan was to utilize both Tre Smith and Jesse Lumsden together in the backfield. The results for Hamilton were extraordinary, Lumsden rushed 20 times for 189 yards and 2 TD, while Tre Smith rushed for an additional 75 yards on eight carries. Printers also got the job done through the air going 16/23 for 171 yards. Up 14-6 at the half the Ti-Cats took the ball and drove it right down the field. The key play was a vintage Printers passing play. While scrambling Printers found Scott Mitchell 43 yards down the field to setup a Jesse Lumsden TD that put the Ti-Cats lead at 15. But the Argos weren’t quite done yet, Kerry Joseph showed his own MOP form, driving the field with an 8/9 effort good for 86 yards. But showing resolve that has been missing for years in Hamilton there was no let up. A Nick Setta field goal and a single point gave the Ti-Cats a tentative 12 point lead.

In the fourth quarter the Argos were driving again and as Ti-Cats fans around the Golden Horsehoe held their breath the Ti-Cats made the winning plays. Lawrence Gordon forced a fumble and then a few plays later Jesse Lumsden busted a run for a 57 yard major. As Argo fans headed to the exits, Charlie Taaffe’s crew knew they had solidified an enormous win for Hamilton. It’s also important to note the Ti-Cats defense came through as well. In the Argos first two possessions they forced consecutive two and outs, and also managed to pressure Kerry Joseph all night including three sacks. The Ti-Cats came through with a complete team effort and made the plays they had to. What a difference a week can make? The Ti-Cats organization now goes into Week 3 with their best win percentage in three years.

Nich Hall

November 3, 2001 was the last time the Ti-Cats won a game of any consequence at the Rogers Centre/Skydome. To put that in perspective, 2001 was two Prime Ministers ago, when the Leafs were still a Stanley Cup contender and Curtis Joseph was their goaltender (wait a sec?), gas only cost 66.9 cents a litre, and perhaps most importantly the Ti-Cats were only two years removed from their 15th Grey Cup championship.

Now the Ti-Cats are three years removed from any playoff action and once again seem on the brink of failure in steel town. This year was supposed to be different, new coordinators and a new attitude, but all of that came crashing down last Thursday as the Alouettes embarrassed Hamilton 33-10 in their 2008 opener. Now the pressure is on to turn this season around sooner rather than later. Truth be told the Rogers Centre isn’t the best place for this club to start a turn around, the Argos are 11-1 in their last 12 home games against Hamilton.

Regardless a spirited Hamilton club must show up tonight and if they can’t secure a win they must at the very least give Ti-Cats fans reason to be optimistic. Next week the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders will be in town to face Hamilton. The Roughriders have always been a weak draw in Hamilton and 0-2 club will see an even smaller audience then opening night. You never want to say an early season game is an must win, but realistically if the Ti-Cats are going to turn this thing around, it has to start now.

In order to win tonight the Hamilton defense must show up, considered a team strength they didn’t play well at all in the opener. The Ti-Cats are going to have to risk a package that leaves Toronto receivers in single man coverage. This is crucial for the Ti-Cats to establish a pass rush. If the Ti-Cats are forced to play a zone like they did against Montreal the Argos quarterback duo will tear them apart. Dominique Dorsey the Argos speedy back will also be a threat all night long. On the offensive side of things Jesse Lumsden must be given the ball in as many ways as possible. Last year the screen pass was a very effective play for this club, with Printers running ability and a reliable receiving corps, the Ti-Cats can run several sets from the screen that should be successful. It is paramount that the Ti-Cats stay within striking distance in order to be able to run their game plan.

A Ti-Cats win in Toronto has been quite elusive in the last decade but this club should have some confidence from their preseason win. And more than anything else this Hamilton club has to play like they have something to prove, because once again their are skeptics around the CFL. Only wins will make a difference.