Game Summary

17,104 enthusiastic fans turned out to see Hamilton’s home opener against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Both teams were still smarting from Week 1 losses and were looking forward to getting the first win of the 1998 season under their belts. Hamilton opened the scoring immediately as Winnipeg QB T.J. Rubley’s pass to WR Chris Armstrong was intercepted by DE Gonzalo Floyd and returned 37 yards to the Winnipeg 1-yard line. This set up a 1-yard TD run by QB Danny McManus at 1:23 of the first quarter and was followed by K Paul Osbaldiston’s convert. K Troy Westwood got Winnipeg on the board near the end of the quarter as his 33-yard FG attempt split the uprights at 11:37. Hamilton restored their 7-point cushion, however, as Osbaldiston was successful in his 27-yard FG attempt at 14:58. The second quarter belonged to Winnipeg as Westwood’s 27-yard FG cut the lead to 3 points. Then RB Sean Millington powered in for the TD from 1-yard out at 13:22, despite a valiant goal-line stand by the Hamilton defence. Westwood’s convert made the score 13-10 for the visitors at the half. Hamilton regained the lead in the third quarter after Osbaldiston was good on FGs from 34 and 36 yards respectively. The Tabbies continued to pull away in the final stanza of play as RB Ronald Williams scored his first TD as a Tiger-Cat, running the ball in from 9-yards out at 2:47. This was followed by a 28-yard TD reception from McManus to SB Mike Morreale at 8:58. Osbaldiston was good on both converts. Osbaldiston also rounded out the scoring in the game at 12:44 as his 44-yard FG sailed through the uprights making the final from Ivor Wynn Stadium, Hamilton 33, Winnipeg 13.