Menu
@
August 11, 2016

Lions and Ticats Clash Tonight!

Hamilton Tiger Cats' C.J. Gable tries to fend off a tackle by BC Lions' Ronnie Yell during first half CFL action at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Friday July 1, 2016.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins

After 37 days between home games, the BC Lions (4-2) will be back in the friendly confines of BC Place to tackle the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-3) tonight, in their final regular season meeting of 2016. The Lions prevailed 28-3 in Steeltown back on July 1st to move to 2-0 for the first time since the 2012 campaign. It has been an upbeat practice for Wally Buono and company following last Thursday’s 38-18 dismantling of the Alouettes in Montreal. As is the case every week, complacency is not a word in anybody’s dictionary. “Every game is different,” Buono said. “This is kind of a reversal from when we went to Hamilton in week two. You’ve got to respect who is coming in here, you’ve tot to understand what they’re strengths are and also be prepared yourself. We expect it to be a very physical game. Hamilton plays that style of game and we have to be there and better.”

They can re-claim top spot in the West with a victory and a Calgary Stampeders loss in Saskatchewan.

B.C. Lions' head coach Wally Buono carries a challenge flag after throwing it during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game against the Calgary Stampeders in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday June 17, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Here are some other storyline’s for Saturday’s Cat Fight:

Zach Is Back

 The Ticats will officially welcome back starting QB Zach Collaros, who has been out since suffering a torn ACL on September 25th of last season. Just how valuable is he to the Tabbies’ offensive attack? Consider the fact Hamilton was 8-3 and seemingly in the driver’s seat to represent the East Division in a third consecutive Grey Cup before he went down. Lions cornerback Brandon Stewart played with Collaros the past two seasons and knows what the young QB is capable of. “His biggest thing is s a competitor”, Stewart said. “He can make almost every throw on the field and he has really good anticipation. He’ll bide time and extend plays, but he’s just a competitor.” Stewart, who returns to action after missing the win in Montreal due to an ankle injury, also knows his old squad has a few capable offensive weapons outside of the QB position. “They like to air it out a bit. They like to get Tasker the ball, Fantuz has been hot and they have one of the better backs in the league in CJ Gable. We just want to come out, execute and try to hit them in the mouth.” The Lions secondary, along with the entire defence, has been making plays each and every week. Expect them to be up for this challenge.

New (er) Look Defensive Line Back At It

Mic’hael Brooks (ankle) and Craig Roh (neck) are progressing but will both sit out one more game. Andrew Hudson, who recorded a sack in his first career game last week, will once again replace Roh at defensive end. “I’m looking forward to it,” Hudson said. “It’s just one week at a time and to get another chance to go out there to continue to prove myself and work for the team. I’m looking forward to just putting it all together. It could be anyone up at any moment. I don’t think there’s anyone ( on the team) I can look at and feel like they’re not going to get a shot.” The unit, led by CFL sack leader Alex Bazzie,has shown no signs of slowing down, despite injuries or whatever other obstacles stand in their way.

 

Control The Ground Game

A big reason for the convincing win on that windy night in Hamilton was the fact they had 127 yards rushing, compared to the Ticats’ 49. What made the ground game discrepancy more impressive was the fact Shaquille Murray-Lawrence  was pressed into service after Jeremiah Johnson suffered an ankle injury. The second-year product out of UNLV chipped in with a touchdown as well. ‘Next Man Up’ is a term that’s thrown out there a lot, but the Lions have been perfecting the art so far in 2016. What they are doing in the backfield is a big reason for it; whether rotating Johnson and Anthony Allen at the starting tailback position, relying on Murray-Lawrence or even featuring Chris Rainey in a few packages. It is a credit to Buono, offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones and running backs coach Adam Blasetti that they have been able to utilize everybody in a way that makes the team better. The triumph in week two was a prime example, and if they can win the backfield battle week in and week out, it will no doubt add up to bigger things as the season goes on.

Group shot 11 Edem 26 Allen 24 Johnson Jeremiah 35 Murray Lawrence Shaq laughing

Spreading It Out

 It’s been said in this space before, but is worth repeating: A big reason Jonathon Jennings is emerging into one of the CFL’s bright, young stars has been ability to get every receiver involved. Why else would Manny Arceneaux, Bryan Burnham and Shawn Gore all be on pace to eclipse the 1300 yard mark in receiving? What’s even more amazing about that stat is the fact no three Lions receivers have cracked 1000 yards in the same season since 2005. That was Geroy Simon, Jason Clermont, and Ryan Thelwell. “Anytime you have a productive offence, you’re going to have productive players,” Buono said. “They’re good players, especially Bryan. He’s really coming into his own and you can see why we were excited about him the last couple of years. He’s got great hands and not afraid to lay out and get the ball.” Perhaps the group’s biggest asset is the fact they play for each other and there is no individual chest thumping. “A lot of people sleep on the BC Lions receiving corps,” Arceneaux said. “It ain’t about me. You’ve gotta worry about 16, 85 and these other guys that’s contributing to what we’re doing offensively.” For this week, the focus is trying to exploit Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence, one of the league’s best at his position. He leads the Tabbies with 34 defensive stops and recorded a 37-yard interception return in Hamilton’s week one victory in Toronto.

 

 Extra Yardage

Speaking of offensive output, here is another impressive tidbit: Jennings and company have recorded at least 20 first downs in each of their six contests. Edmonton is the only other team to accomplish that feat.

Defensive stat of the week: Adam Bighill is on pace for 123 defensive tackles this season, a total that would eclipse his previous career-high by two. No player in CFL history has reached 120 plus tackles twice in his career.

In last season’s meeting at BC Place, the Lions had arguably their most complete game of the year, defeating the Ticats 40-13 on October 23rd. Andrew Harris rushed for a pair of touchdowns, while Jennings threw majors to Gore and Rainey. 

All three of Hamilton’s wins in 2016 have come away from their home of Tim Horton’s Field. Last week’s loss in Winnipeg was delayed two-and-a-half hours do to thunder and lightning.

This contest can be heard on TSN 1040 with Scott Rintoul and Giulio Caravatta. The pregame show gets underway at 5:00 with Bob Marjanovich, Chris Burns and Lowell Ullrich. The game can also be viewed on TSN 1.

Get to BC Place early! The first 5,000 fans will receive a limited edition Adam Bighill bobblehead!

Clermont and Cory Mantyka will be inducted into the club’s Wall of Fame as part of a halftime ceremony. You can read more on that here!

You can download tonight’s roster and depth chart here!

Fan Poll
Through six games, what has impressed you the most?
Jonathon Jennings' development
Vote
Receiver trio of Manny, Gore, Burnham
Vote
Ferocious defensive line
Vote
Team '100' back to elite form
Vote
New faces in secondary
Vote
Impact of Wally Buono
Vote
Two-headed monster in backfield
Vote
All of the above
Vote

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com