LIVE STREAM PPV: CFL – Hamilton Tiger-Cats @Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Friday Oct. 6 8:30p EDT (Oct. 7 2:30a CEST)
CFL.CA STAFF
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers continue their chase for top spot in West Division, while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats try to claw into the playoff picture as the cross-division foes clash at Investor Group Field on Friday night.
The Bombers sit second in the West and are five point back of the Calgary Stampeders with a game in hand. The Ticats are five points back of the Ottawa REDBLACKS for what’s likely the final playoff spot with a crossover looming. The Tabbies have played one less game than the REDBLACKS.
The Ticats enter Week 16 with a bitter taste in their mouths. They appeared to be in control last week during the rubber match against the Toronto Argonauts — the Black and Gold led by two touchdowns at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but the Argos battled back to send the game into overtime.
The Argos scored eight points off the hope while the Tabbies failed to respond, falling 43-35 to the rival Argos. Jeremiah Masoli threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the loss while Brandon Banks posted triple-digit numbers with 100 receiving yards.
Despite an impressive performance by Jeremiah Masoli and the Ticats’ receiving corps, the most impressive offensive player for the Ticats was C.J. Gable. But not long after the running back rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Argos, he was shipped to Edmonton in exchange for two neg list players.
Gable ran for 2,327 yards in his five seasons with the Tabbies, adding 17 rushing touchdowns and eight receiving majors. For the Ticats, life goes on, as Alex Green takes over the starting running back role. Green has only played in one game but the Ticats coaching staff clearly liked what it saw as the 29-year-old ran for 140 yards on 13 carries two weeks ago vs. BC.
Jones says that it will have to be all hands on deck to beat the Bombers.
“We’ll have to play really good to beat that team,” Jones told Ticats.ca. “It’s going to be every play; you have to go. Plus, it’s on the road and the crowd I’m sure is [going to be] excited because of all of the games they’ve won. It’s going to be a challenge, but our guys have practiced hard and focused all week trying to get that feeling out of their system from last Saturday.”
The Bombers picked up their third straight win and eighth in nine games with a 28-19 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos last week. Matt Nichols and company got off to a slow start, only registering a single through most of the first half before Clarence Denmark found the end zone near the end of the second quarter. Nichols finished the night with 238 yards and two touchdown passes. Andrew Harris had 54 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown while also adding 81 receiving yards.
In a rare display for Justin Medlock, the kicker missed all three of his field goal attempts last week, in addition to an extra point. On a positive note, the Bombers’ defence was solid all night, holding the Esks off the scoreboard until the third quarter.
The Bombers have now turned their attention to their next opponent. Harris says he and his teammates are ready to face a hungry Ticats squad.
“They’re a team that wants to hit you in the mouth and get you in those second and long situations and pressure you,” Harris told BlueBombers.com “For us, we really have to step up and be ready for that. I think we have a good plan this week to handle those things and [LaPolice] does such a great job every week to get us right and get us ready. It’s a short week so those wrinkles are going to come quick and you have to be ready for them.”
The Bombers’ 10-3 start is their best since 2011, when the team went 11-2. A new club record is in sight if the Bombers can win their remaining games. The most wins in a season for the team stands at 14 victories.
Matt Nichols will look to continue his stellar season in Week 16. Nichols has a chance to become just the third Bomber in franchise history to throw for over 5,000 yards. The 30-year-old needs an average of 232 yards per game to reach the milestone. Nichols is currently on pace for 5,322 passing yards.
The Bombers have established Investors Group Field as one of the toughest places for visitors to play this season. Winnipeg has won its past five games in front of a hometown crowd.
Julian Feoli Gudino will not suit up for the Bombers. He’ll be replaced by Matt Coates.
By The Numbers
4 – Two point conversions attempted by the Bombers this season, the least of any team in the league.
26 – Passing touchdowns for Matt Nichols, the most of any quarterback this season.
77 – Straight throws by Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli without an interception.
143 – Average rushing yards for the Ticats over their last four games.
The Skinny
The Bombers have the edge over the Ticats when it comes to recent meetings. Winnipeg has won the last three games against Hamilton, outscoring the Ticats 104-47.
Their most recent match was back on Aug. 12. The Bombers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, taking down the Tabbies 39-12 at Tim Hortons Field. However, the Ticats were a different team back then, with Zach Collaros at the helm and Kent Austin on the sidelines.
The resurgent Ticats are still in the playoff hunt. Every game from here on out is basically do or die for the Black and Gold, including Friday night’s matchup in Winnipeg.
– With files from Ticats.ca/BlueBombers.comff
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