Hamilton Tiger-Cats End Losing Streak Against Argonauts with 27-24 Victory

HAMILTON — After a long wait, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats finally secured a win against their long-time rivals, the Toronto Argonauts, with a score of 27-24 at Tim Hortons Field. This marked Hamilton’s first victory of the season, coming after their bye week and ending a winless streak that extended back to Week 10 of the 2022 season.

The game’s outcome was crucial for the Tiger-Cats, who came into the contest needing a victory to avoid falling deeper into the standings. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who completed 20 of 29 passes for 270 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, expressed relief at the result. “Relief is a great word,” Mitchell noted. “That makes us 1-1 in the East.”

Running back James Butler was instrumental in the victory, contributing significantly both on the ground and through the air, finishing the match with 103 yards from 15 touches along with a rushing touchdown. On the other side, Toronto’s starting quarterback Cameron Dukes completed 20 of 27 attempts for 180 yards before passing the baton to Nick Arbuckle in the fourth quarter.

The evening kicked off with a major play from Hamilton’s special teams, as Ante Litre executed a blocked punt after Toronto’s opening drive, which allowed the Tiger-Cats to gain possession deep in Argonauts territory. Butler quickly capitalized on this opportunity, running into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

As the game progressed, Hamilton continued to control the pace, further extending their lead with excellent efforts from Butler and a successful 38-yard punt return that set the stage for a field goal. After pushing their lead to 10-0, the Ticats’ defense thwarted Toronto’s attempts to establish offensive momentum, forcing a turnover on the Argos’ fifth drive, which culminated in a 31-yard fumble recovery touchdown by Destin Talbert.

Despite Hamilton’s early dominance, Toronto found their stride late in the second quarter. Dukes led a noteworthy drive that concluded with Ka’Deem Carey scoring on an 11-yard run, narrowing the deficit to 17-7 as halftime approached. Nonetheless, with time running out, a missed 42-yard field goal attempt from Lirim Hajrullahu kept the Argonauts from closing the gap further.

The second half began with Hajrullahu hitting a 43-yard field goal, inching Toronto closer to Hamilton’s score. The Ticats responded with another drive that saw Butler exhibit his running prowess, along with an impressive reception from a teammate, resulting in a successful field goal by Marc Liegghio, giving them a 20-10 lead.

Hamilton’s offense showcased its strength again in the third quarter with another touchdown, this time courtesy of Hakunavanhu who caught a well-placed 23-yard pass from Mitchell to stretch their lead to 27-10.

As the clock ticked down, Arbuckle entered the game for the Argonauts and made an immediate impact, steering the team into the red zone. He connected with DaVaris Daniels for a crucial touchdown that closed the gap to 27-17 with only minutes left on the clock.

Toronto managed to pull even closer when Janarion Grant electrified the crowd with a 96-yard punt return TD, making it a nail-biting 27-24 with just 2:26 remaining. As the game wound down, the Argonauts gained possession at the midfield mark with time running out. However, a crucial third-down penalty against Hamilton allowed them to advance, but ultimately Arbuckle’s final pass attempt fell incomplete, sealing the win for Hamilton.

This victory was particularly sweet for the Tiger-Cats as they ended a long-standing losing streak against the Argonauts, having previously suffered six consecutive defeats in the rivalry. With this win, the Ticats improved their record to 1-5, climbing closer to rival Toronto in the standings.

Following the match, Coach Milanovich voiced that while the outcome was gratifying, the team has a lot of work ahead. “We need to stack wins moving forward. This is a start, but we must maintain focus,” he emphasized.

The Tiger-Cats will look to build on this momentum when they visit the Edmonton Elks on Sunday, July 28, while the Argonauts prepare to face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday, July 27. Both teams know the importance of each game as the season progresses.