Week 7: Cats Rule the Night on Pre-Mature LDC

A lot has been said in the months since the 2011 CFL schedule was released about how the league botched things up when they booked the familiar Ti-Cats vs. Argos match-up at the Bastion on Balsam three weeks earlier than normal. The fans griped about how it was "messing with tradition" and that the schedule makers didn't know what they were doing. Those familiar with the situation know the real reason behind it. (Specifically, Rogers Centre SkyDome has always screwed with the Argos on dates since the media giant that is Rogers bought the half-billion dollar mausoleum for the bargain basement price of $25 million, but that's a rant for a different day.) However, it is always a special game whenever the Boys in Double Blue travel down the Queen Elizabeth Way to meet their Steeltown rivals. And for the 24,347 that walked through the gates of Ivor Wynne, they were not disappointed.

Not even the downpour during the first half could put a damper on the heated contest. In fact, it further added to the allure to the game: Toronto at Hamilton; the real Labour Day Classic; giftwrapped and presented to us earlier than normal this year. Those in attendance unwrapped the gift and basked in the magnificance of it's splendor. However, for the Tigertown faithful, at first the gift possessed the properties of a lump of coal in one's Christmas stocking.

On the opening drive, Toronto's usually spotty Quarterback Cleo Lemon marched the Boatmen down the field en route to a 21-yard scoring hook-up to Brandon Rideau for the Argos' first major. At this point, I sank into my soon-to-be damp seat (the rain wouldn't start until Toronto's next drive), with an eerie feeling of déjà vu to how the loss in Calgary last week started. The Black and Gold would return in kind as Kevin Glenn would proceed to move the offence along the turf; culminating with a 10-yard connection to Dave Stala for #88's seventh touchdown this season -- setting a new personal best in the process. The Ti-Cats would later add a 37-yard field goal by Justin "Mr. Money In The Bank" Medlock to put them up by 3 after the Opening 15.

Lemon would continue to pick apart the Ti-Cats secondary; completing 26 of his 36 pass attempts on the day for 368 yards, and one scamper for an additional 16. Glenn would respond by going 22 for 31 for 310 yards in the air. The Argos would also win the war on the ground; netting 127 yards rushing -- the bulk by their go-to Running Back Cory Boyd (16-73) -- to the Tabbies' 89. However, there were two stories to the game: the kickers, and the defence.

Medlock would have a spirited battle with his Argo counterpart Noel Prefontaine throughout the game. But when the booter for the Double Blue missed an easy chip shot field goal from 21-yards out, the pendulum swang towards the Steeltown Stalwarts. Medlock would show Pre how it's done by punching a field goal from 50-yards out to close out the 1st half, and give our beloved Black and Gold a 2-point lead going into the locker room.

After trading touchdowns in the 3rd quarter, Lemon would once again find Rideau for a scathing touchdown completion; burning the Ti-Cats defence along the sidelines for 69 of Rideau's 147 yards receiving. How did the Cats respond? Glenn would throw a 48-yard reception to Week 4 hero Chris Williams that would set up a 4-yard touchdown jog by *bing bong* Avon (calling) Cobourne. "Deuces" would end up having a 13-carry for 61 yards day to go along with his 2 grabs for 36 yards.

The game looked antsy with the Cats only up by 2 win less than 8 minutes left, but that's when the D would channel Emeril Lagasse and "kick it up a notch." The Tabbies would hold the Argos offence to only 37 yards combined on their next three drives; including a critical 3rd down stop on their Boatmen's 31. You would think a 33-yard field goal by "Mr. Money In The Bank" would have sealed the deal for the Boys on Balsam, but that would be forgetting that this is the CFL, and anything can happen.

That anything almost did transpire as the Argos would get the ball back and proceed to march frantically down the field in hopes of putting up a major to give the Double Blue their first W since Week 1, but thankfully it would never come to pass. A reception to Rideau down to the Hamilton 14-yard line would get stripped out of the Argo receiver's hands by Defensive Back Marcell Young and recovered by fellow DB Bo Smith would send the Boatmen back to Toronto with their sixth straight loss, a 37-32 decision to the Black and Gold.

It was a close game that exposed some holes in the Ti-Cats secondary, but with the "mid-season" break upon us, this will give them some extra time to tighten things up before a big match-up on the road in Week 9.

What`s On Tap...

It`s that time of year again. The Ti-Cats will enjoy a bye week this week and return to action on August 26th when they make the trip to "Swaggerville" to take on the Bombers. There will be no game tweeting until then, but make sure to come back this weekend where I will post a special "Musings From Section 22" article about how I think the Black and Gold have faired so far during the first seven weeks this season. Until then Tigertown, oskee wee wee!