It has been eluded to by a couple people that I had become a good luck charm in recent weeks because our beloved Black and Gold had commenced a three-game winning streak when I started commentweeting and blogging about their games. One even went as far as branding it "Twitter Magic" -- a mysterious phenomena that occurs whenever one mentions or openly opines something on the 140-character or less micro-blogging web service. However, as anyone will tell you, games are not won in the stands; they are played on the field. Sure, the fans might have a factor in influencing the outcome by disrupting an opposing team's offensive play calling, but unless you can execute and adapt to the situation and environment, a team that has a belief they could walk off with a W will more than likely have an addition to the Loss column. This was the case Saturday night in Calgary.
The 'Cats started off their trek to ("I tell it like it is") McMahon Stadium with a dismal start; giving up a touchdown on the Stampeders' opening drive when quarterback Henry Burris connected with Larry Taylor for a 25-yard play to the end zone. During this drive, the Tabbies' secondary looked non-existant as Burris commenced what would eventually turn into an aerial assault as "Hank" would complete 27 of 39 pass attempts for 341 yards.
The Black and Gold would hold their own as they would put points on the board when Justin Medlock pulled out his long-range kicking missile launcher by booting a 52-yard field goal on the next drive. The Stamps would return in kind by marching down the field to set up a 35-yard punch through the uprights by Rene Paredes. Kevin Glenn and company would get the ball back and begin to drive down the field with the assist of a couple pass interference penalties; including one where former Ti-Cat Geoff Tisdale attempted to strip Bakari Grant's jersey. I'm sure if Tisdale wanted a reminder of his days in Steeltown, he could've just walked to The Tigertown Store at 1 Jarvis Street and bought a replica of his old jersey. But I guess they didn't have a #9 in his size or didn't have the money at the time, so he tried to abscond with a white #84 shirt. The call would be costly as Glenn would connect with the Hamilton-raised, and Offensive Player of the Week for Week 5, Dave Stala for a 7-yard touchdown. By the time the Opening 15 had ended, we were all tied at 10 and the 'Cats had the momentum.
The Tabbies would add to their lead in the second frame when #5 and company would go down the field on their fifth drive of the half; emphasised by a 31-yard reception to rookie wide out Aaron Kelly down to the Stamps' 6 that was followed up by *bing bong* Avon (-calling) Cobourne stroll to the end zone. Kelly was the Receiver du Jour for the Ti-Cats as he would haul in 5 passes for 92 yards. A couple of traded field goals later in the half and the Boys from Balsam would lead 20-13 going into the locker room. When they returned, the wheels fell off the cart.
Going into the second half, the Ti-Cats were leading the war on penalties; being flagged once for 15 yards compared to the Stamps' being nailed four times for 66. This would soon change when defensive back Daniel Francis drew the orange hankerchief for an unnecessary roughness call at the end of a 36-yard strike by Burris to Jon Cornish. The penalty, along with a later-in-the-drive pass interference call on DB Jason Shivers, would prove costly as Calgary running back Joffrey Reynolds would sneak in past the plane from 1 yard out. A single and a field goal later in the quarter by Paredes would give the Stamps their first lead since the opening frame to close out the third.
The bleeding would not stop there as illegal plays would continue to prove costly for the 'Cats when an Avon Cobourne 11-yard run for a first down was nullified by a holding call on O-lineman Jason Jimenez; thus styming a drive to re-take the lead. Burris was relentless in the Stamps' second half onslaught and shutting out the Black and Gold 19-0; passing for 163 yards in the final 30. The 'Cats defence appeared to be gassed out from the constant time on the field because of it. Kevin Glenn and the offence just weren't clicking and the Stamps' defensive corps were forming a Red and White blanket over the receivers that proved to shine in the previous three weeks. However, noticably absent in the 2nd half shut out was Dave Stala. #88 was kept off the scoresheet in the latter half of the game. Was it poor play calling by Glenn and offensive co-ordinator "I had plenty of good reads, but the ball didn't go where I wanted it to" Khari Jones? Did Stala suffer a case of turf toe? Or did the Calgary defensive backs make the necessary changes in the locker room and the Ti-Cat offence failed to? I think the answer is pretty obvious there.
By the time all was said and done, Calgary moved to 4-2 on the season with a 32-20 win at ("No chance in hell") McMahon Stadium while the Tabbies drop to .500 on the season with a lot of questions and a game at Ivor Wynne against a hated foe on the horizon.
What's On Tap...
Due to a conflict when the schedule was released, the Ti-Cats will be facing their rivals from down the QEW for the only time at the Bastion on Balsam earlier than anticipated. The slumping 1-5 Toronto Ar... er, the "Blue Team"..., with a bevy of quarterback issues, trek to Steeltown this coming Saturday. This is always a heated rivalry with hard-hitting action on the field and the occasional fisticuffs in the stands. Just remember Tigertown, if you're going to be making the trek to Ivor Wynne for the 7pm start (also seen on TSN), control your consumption of alcohol pre-game and at the game. Hamilton's finest will be beefed up for the game, and while I enjoy a good "No one blows like the Argos" chant as the next Ti-Cat fan, it's not all that impactful from the inside the back of a squad car or jail cell. We'll be commentweeting LIVE from "Dief's Den" in Section 22, so if you're at the game, stop by and say "hi." You only make your first trip to the Bastion on Balsam as a 40-year old once, and Saturday, August 13th will be that for me. (For those interested, I arrived at the Big 4-0 this past Thursday, and my drink of preference is Coors Light... or Diet Pepsi for the all-ages crowd.) Until Saturday, Tigertown, oskee wee wee!
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