Every so often, a football team is blessed to have an outstanding rookie to be on their roster. Sometimes he gets called in for a few plays, racks up a few yards if he's on offence, or makes a couple of tackles if he happens to be on the defensive side of the ball. However, if fate is on his side and the opposing team is off their game, there is an opportunity for said rookie to have a phenomenal break out game. This happened to be the case Friday night for the Ti-Cats' star-in-the-making wide out, Chris Williams against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver.
A crowd of 24,117 entered Empire Field on the Pacific National Exhibition Grounds in hopes the hometown Lions would win their first game of the 2011 season. Some of the people were even enticed when one of the first families of rock and reality TV, Gene Simmons with Shannon Tweed and the rest of the main cast of "Gene Simmons: Family Jewels" made an appearance; with Dr. Love himself doing the ceremonial coin toss. On the TSN broadcast, Simmons and family were in the midst of being interviewed on the sideline when Williams caught a pass from Kevin Glenn and tore down the field; nearly being brought down after the initial reception. The end result was a 71-yard gain that set up the Black & Gold's first touchdown of the game -- a two-yard run by Avon Cobourne.
The second score of the contest came just minutes later when Glenn found Dave Stala from four yards out that was set up by a 50-yard punt return by Marcus Thigpen, followed by another Glenn to Chris Williams connection for 32-yards a couple plays later. Unfortunately, Stala celebrated the major by punting the ball into the stands and that warranted an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty that was applied to the kickoff that would eventually lead to B.C.'s first score of the game. While I admire Stala's enthusiasm, if he really wanted to draw the 15-yard detriment, he should've re-created the famous hackysack celebration in Regina from last season.
Glenn would find #80 twice more to start the 2nd frame en route to the Tabbies' third offensive foray into the end zone; thus giving them a 21-7 lead with 10 minutes to go until half-time. However, while the Lions might have been winless in their previous three games, the Pacific Pouncers have kept their games close. This proved no more evident when the Leos would score the next 14 points; culminating with pressure on Glenn by the Lions' defence that lead to a forced fumble which was recovered by nickelback Korey Banks who rumbled 37-yards for the tying score. Needless to say, the Black and Orange Brigade at Empire were partying like a "Rock Star" after that, but the Ti-Cats looked at themselves and said they "Gotta Be Somebody." The Black & Gold would hold off the Leos' attack for the rest of the half and added a little breathing room when kicker Justin Medlock booted a career-high 55-yard field goal to put the Cats up by 3 heading into the locker room.
By the time the half-time entertainment took the field, Chris Williams had become a tour de force; amassing 162 of his 189 receiving yards in the opening 30, and had scored his 3rd touchdown of the season. Given the way the Leos had taken their game up a notch in the 2nd half earlier this season, I knew this slim lead would be tough to hold onto.
The Ti-Cats would get a little breathing room in the 3rd quarter when Glenn connected with Stala in the end zone for the second time in the game to put our beloved Black & Gold up 31-21. But as predicted, the home side would come back in the final frame, thanks to a one-yard touchdown jaunt by running back Jamal Robertson followed later by a 36-yard field goal by Leos' kicker Paul McCallum to tie it up with 2:35 left on the clock. The Boys on Balsam started to mark down the field on the ensuing drive but continued to baffle their fans when Medlock, who had hoofed one through the uprights from mid-field earlier, shanked what should've been a sure 28-yard attempt right. The ensuing rouge would put our men up by a single point with the threatening Lions getting the ball on their own 35 with 1:13 left. It was this point when I began to get a sinking feeling in my stomach where I was losing confidence in our defence; especially since Leos' wide out Geroy Simon started to heat up in the second half after being practically silent in the opening 30. Fortunately, that was when a savior in black and gold showed up late in the game.
With the Lions facing 3rd and 10 on their own 46 with less than a minute to play, quarterback Travis Lulay faded back in the shotgun in a desperate hope to extend the drive, but as his arm was moving forward, Ti-Cat linebacker Marketh Knowlton got a hand on it and deflected the pass attempt out of bounds for the turnover. The next offensive play, Avon Cobourne galloped his way to the end zone for 46 of his 100 yards on the ground and an insurance touchdown. The Lulay-led black and orange offence would get the ball back and attempt to march down the field for a hopeful major and 2-point convert to send the game into overtime. However, on the last play of the game, Lulay had his swag jacked when he was picked off in the end zone by Bo Smith. Haha ha ha, indeed, as the Ti-Cats would leave Empire with a 39-31 win, and the Lions fall to 0-4.
A close game made even closer by some inexcusable penalties, but the Black and Gold leave the Wet Coast as a .500 club and hopefully one step closer to a return trip in late November while all can't be well in Wally (Buono) World.
What's On Tap..
The Ti-Cats return home and make their second straight appearance on Friday Night Football when the 2-2 club will take on the defending Grey Cup champion Montréal Alouettes. This will be the first of four meetings the Black & Gold will have with the Als season, and as any fan will tell you, a match-up against Anthony Calvillo and company is never an easy win. The game starts at 6:30 pm ET Friday on TSN, and we'll be at Ivor Wynne in our perch in Section 22 tweetcasting under the @DiefOnCats moniker again. Hope to see you at the Bastion on Balsam Friday. Until then, oskee wee wee!
No comments:
Post a Comment