Game Summary

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosted the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and were looking for their first home victory of the season against their East Division rivals. The game started as a defensive affair with neither team scoring in the first quarter. In the second quarter Hamilton K Paul Osbaldiston conceded a safety touch in his end zone to put Winnipeg ahead by 2-points at a time of 6:22. Winnipeg increased that lead to 5 after K Troy Westwood nailed a 39-yard FG at 9:26 of play. Osbaldiston countered with a 44-yard FG of his own at 11:06 to bring the Tabbies within 2 points of the lead. Then with under a minute remaining QB Rickey Foggie scrambled into the end zone from the 2-yard line for the games first major. Osbaldiston’s convert gave Hamilton a 10-5 edge at the half to the delight of the 14,956 fans in attendance on a beautiful autumn day that was just perfect for a game of football. In the second half Hamilton added to their lead after Osbaldiston was good on his second FG attempt of the night, a 27-yard effort at 4:47 of the third quarter giving the Cats a 8-point cushion. Winnipeg’s next drive however, culminated in a TD as QB Chris Vargas and wide-out Milt Stegall teamed up for a 28-yard pass completion. Westwood’s convert brought the Bombers to within a point of the Black and Gold. With a possible win in sight, Hamilton was not going to let the game slip away as WR Andrew Grigg dove on a ball that was fumbled by RB Yonel Jourdain in the end zone at 13:09 to once again giving Hamilton some breathing room over Winnipeg. Osbaldiston’s convert was good making the score 20-12 in favour of the Tiger-Cats. In the fourth quarter, Grigg scored his second TD of the night in a more ordinary fashion hauling in a 55-yard pass from Foggie at 5:20. Osbaldiston upped Hamilton’s lead to 15 points with the single. Winnipeg began a late charge at 8:16 when RB Ronald Williams busted into the end zone from the 1-yard line. Westwood was good on the convert. Then Williams scored from the 2-yard line at 12:46. Winnipeg attempted a 2-point conversion that would have tied the game, but the pass to Turhon O’Bannon fell incomplete. Hamilton then ran out the clock to make the final from Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton 27, Winnipeg 25.