Game Summary

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats visited Winnipeg this week in a foul mood as they were still looking for their first win of the season. The game also marked the return of Tiger-Cat stalwart, WR Earl Winfield who had retired following the ’96 season. Winnipeg scored first, however, off the strength of K Troy Westwood’s 10-yard FG at 6:37 into the game. The next points didn’t come until 11:52 of the second quarter when Hamilton K Paul Osbaldiston’s 29-yard was good. Hamilton took the lead on a safety touch later in the quarter. Hamilton was not finished however, as QB Mike Cawley hit WR Burt Thornton for the game’s first TD to make the score 12-3 at the half in favour of the Tabbies. The second half continued to see Hamilton find the end zone as Osbaldiston’s 12-yard FG was good at 4:05 into the quarter. Winnipeg dominated the rest of the quarter however, scoring 9 unanswered points commencing with a 43-yard FG attempt by Westwood that was wide, but still scored the single. Winnipeg then scored their first major of the night when QB Chris Vargas teamed up with WR Turhon O’Bannon for a 22-yard TD. Westwood’s convert was good. Winnipeg closed out the third quarter scoring when on the ensuing kickoff, Hamilton DB Aaron Ruffin conceded a single. In the fourth quarter Hamilton responded to the Winnipeg challenge when Cawley threw a 30-yard strike to WR Andrew Grigg. With Osbaldiston’s convert, the Ti-Cat lead was increased to 10. The see-saw battle continued as four and a half minutes, later Vargas hit O’Bannon for the second time of the night making the score 22-19 in favour of Hamilton after the Baker convert. Cawley responded with another TD, this time to RB Markus Thomas. Osbaldiston’s convert split the uprights. Winnipeg scored a safety at 13:07 in the fourth to claw their way back within eight points of Hamilton. That was as close as they would get however, as Vargas was intercepted by Tabbie DB Gerald Vaughn leading to to a rushing TD by RB Archie Amerson. Osbaldiston’s convert iced the game as Hamilton grabbed its first victory of the season by a final score 36-21.