HAMILTON — The Week 2 closer proved to be a game of runs, especially leading into and out of halftime: Hamilton scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter before Saskatchewan responded with 10 unanswered in the third.
Trevor Harris completed 32 of 45 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns, both to Kian Schaffer-Baker who finished the night with seven receptions for 109 yards.
Bo Levi Mitchell completed touchdown passes to Steven Dunbar Jr., Kiondré Smith and Shemar Bridges, but couldn’t help the Tabbies close a first win of the season.
Saskatchewan’s only points of the first half came from a first-quarter touchdown by Kian Schaffer-Baker, his first of 2024. While quarterback Shea Patterson rushed for the team’s second major in the second quarter.
Bane Jr. caught all four of his targets for 50 yards, his longest being 20 yards, before an injury that took him out of the game.
Hamilton scored first as Mitchell led the Ticats offence down the field for a 11-play opening drive that ended in a 13-yard field goal for Marc Liegghio.
The Riders responded later in the first quarter with Saskatchewan’s first major of the game. Harris connected with Kian Schaffer-Baker on a 17-yard pass, which the wide receiver then ran in for a 24-yard touchdown — his first of the 2024 campaign.
Saskatchewan’s 7-3 lead lasted until the first play of the second quarter when Mitchell threw a deep pass to Dunbar Jr. for a 60-yard touchdown.
Up 10-7, the Tabbies extended the lead fast and furiously before halftime. With just over 5:30 minutes left in the second quarter, Mitchell threw deep down the middle to Smith, who caught it at the Saskatchewan 3-yard line, for a 38-yard touchdown.
Liegghio added a 40-yard field goal with less than a 1:30 to halftime to put Hamilton up 20-3.
It’s a CFL-first for Wilborn, 26, who joined the Ticats in February after spending time in the NFL with the New York Giants (2023). He previously suited up in two games for the Denver Broncos in 2022.
Saskatchewan, which won the coin toss, deferred to receive the ball to start the second half. On the first drive of the third period, Lauther made a 49-yard field goal, his first attempt of the game, to narrow the deficit 20-10.
After a call on a forced fumble recovered by Saskatchewan was overturned, Hamilton fired back with a flea flicker resulting in a 58-yard completion to Smith. Mitchell found Shemar Bridges for a 16-yard touchdown pass, the third major of the night for the Ticats, extending the lead 27-17.
The fourth quarter brought the game back into focus for the Green and White, starting with a 46-yard field goal from Lauther.
Liegghio returned the favour from 41 yards, before another Lauther field goal from 34 yards. With less than 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Harris connected with Schaffer-Baker for an 11-yard touchdown to tie the game 30-30.
The Ticats and Riders meet again next Sunday at 7 pm ET for Saskatchewan’s home opener at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
