LIVESTREAM PPV: CFL – Ottawa REDBLACKS @Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Sat. Oct. 19, 4p EDT (10p CEDT)
HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats put their perfect home record on the line as the Ottawa REDBLACKS pay a visit to Tim Hortons Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Ticats are 7-0 at home this year, which could bode well for them, as Tim Hortons will play host to the Eastern Final on Nov. 17.
Saturday’s game is significant for Hamilton, as they are trying to achieve a feat the franchise never has before – win 13 games in a regular season.
“Whenever you do something that’s never been done before, that’s legendary,” Simoni Lawrence told CFL.ca. “Everybody’s going to do great stuff, make great plays but when you do something that nobody’s ever done, that’s when you’re a legend. That’s all we’re trying to aspire to be, is the best ever.”
The Tiger-Cats are trying to get their running game sorted out ahead of the playoffs. Six different players have taken reps at the position for the Black and Gold. Sean Thomas Erlington started the year, but his season was ended after only four games.
Remarkably, despite playing only three complete games, Thomas Erlington still leads the team with 224 rushing yards.
Tyrell Sutton is the latest candidate to take the reins. The seven-year veteran ran for 88 yards on just 11 touches last week against the Edmonton Eskimos. The REDBLACKS have allowed the second most rushing yards in the league this season (118 per game), meaning Sutton could be poised for another big performance.
The Tiger-Cat passing game certainly isn’t the issue. Dane Evans’ completion percentage of 70.5 is among the best in the CFL, while Brandon Banks and Bralon Addison are both in the top four in league receiving.
“I think the ultimate goal is for the confetti to fall,” Orlondo Steinauer said. “We could be 18-0 and you still have to win the Eastern Division championship. There’s no pass into the Grey Cup. That’s kind of how we view it. All you can do is get to the Eastern Final, that’s what your reward is. You want to be playing your best football at the end of the year.”
The REDBLACKS will trot Will Arndt out to make his second career CFL start. There were some growing pains for the 26-year-old last week against the Toronto Argonauts, as he tossed three picks in the loss. But Arndt did throw two touchdown passes and got Ottawa back in the game late.
“It was good that we showed some life offensively,” receiver RJ Harris told OttawaREDBLACKS.com. “It felt good being a part of that. Since [Arndt] has been here, he’s prepared like he’s a starter, so we had the utmost confidence in him going in. He was able to go out there and perform at a high level.”
Arndt and the Ottawa offence will have their hands full with a stingy Tiger-Cats defence. Hamilton has allowed the fewest points in the league this year. Delvin Breaux is back from a stint on the injured list, and Simoni Lawrence is currently second in the league in defensive tackles.
Defensive lineman Ja’Gared Davis is tied for second in sacks with 12, a career-high for the fourth-year player and just three behind leader Charleston Hughes. Davis has four sacks in his last three games, but couldn’t get to the quarterback the last time he faced Ottawa.
While Arndt’s numbers weren’t eye-popping, he did help a teammate reach a significant milestone. Dominique Rhymes surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the year in their loss to the Argos. The 2019 season has been a coming out party for the receiver, who had just 522 yards over his first two seasons.
With Rhymes reaching the mark last week, at least one REDBLACKS receiver has earned 1,000 yards each season since 2015.
“We know we’re not in the playoffs,” returner Stef Logan said. “But at the same time, we’re still playing for jobs and playing for our teammates. We all have to be excited to come out here and take advantage of the opportunity. At the end of the day, you’re still playing football – the game you love. You’ve got to come out each and every week and be ready to go.”
One REDBLACK who is looking to get back into a groove is Lewis Ward. Shockingly, Ward’s kicking has wavered in recent weeks, missing a field goal in four of his last five games, including each of his last three. His field goal percentage has dipped to 87.8 per cent, good for fourth in the league.
BY THE NUMBERS
100 – Rico Murray is slated to make his 100th career CFL start. He’ll be doing so against his former team, having spent last season with the REDBLACKS.
5 – Game road win streak for Ottawa in Hamilton. They haven’t lost at Tim Hortons Field since 2014.
4 – Straight games with a touchdown reception for Brandon Banks.
8 – Consecutive losses for the REDBLACKS, their longest losing streak since 2014.
– With files from OttawaREDBLACKS.com and Ticats.ca
AFI, Yare Media and the CFL
American Football International is collaborating with Yare Media and the Canadian Football League to present 2019 CFL games live. This is more than a livestream. This is a stream of the top flight TSN network television broadcast.
LIVE STREAM PPV: CFL – Ottawa REDBLACKS @Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Sat. Oct. 19, 4p EDT (10p CEDT)
