The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defended home turf in dramatic fashion Saturday night, edging the Toronto Argonauts 24-23 at Hamilton Stadium after Lirim Hajrullahu’s potential game-winning field goal sailed wide as time expired.
The one-point victory moves Hamilton to 3-3 on the season and gives the Tiger-Cats an emotional win over their QEW rivals heading into another East Division showdown next week.
Tre Ford turned in another electric performance, completing 21 of 27 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown while adding a game-high 109 rushing yards on 10 carries. Time and again, the Hamilton quarterback extended drives with his legs, keeping Toronto’s defence off balance throughout the night.
Toronto opened the scoring midway through the first quarter when Nick Arbuckle finished off a 10-play, 64-yard drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak.
Hamilton responded immediately.
Ford led an eight-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a 25-yard strike to Kenny Lawler in the end zone to even the score at 7-7. The Tiger-Cats kept the momentum rolling late in the second quarter, marching 100 yards on a 14-play drive before Ante Milanovic-Litre powered in from one yard out with just 19 seconds remaining in the half to give Hamilton a 14-7 lead.
Top Performers
| Player | Stats |
| Tre Ford | 21/27, 218 passing yards, 1 TD • 109 rushing yards |
| Kurleigh Gittens Jr. | 5 receptions, 57 yards |
| Kenny Lawler | 2 receptions, 34 yards, TD |
| Jamal Peters | Interception that led to a Tiger-Cats touchdown |
The Tiger-Cats came out flying after halftime.
On Toronto’s second possession of the third quarter, Jamal Peters stepped in front of a Chad Kelly pass for a momentum-changing interception, giving Hamilton the ball at the Argonauts’ 31-yard line. Six plays later, Jake Dolegala finished the short field with a one-yard quarterback sneak to extend the lead to 21-7.
After Toronto answered with a field goal, Ford engineered another impressive drive, including a 35-yard completion to Keric Wheatfall, before Marc Liegghio capped it with an 11-yard field goal to restore Hamilton’s two-touchdown advantage at 24-10.
The Argos refused to go away easily.
Kelly led touchdown drives on consecutive possessions, finding DaVaris Ungerer III for a five-yard score before Arbuckle added his second one-yard rushing touchdown of the night. A missed convert proved to be the difference, leaving Hamilton in front 24-23.
Toronto had one final opportunity in the closing seconds, driving inside the Hamilton 15-yard line after Kelly connected with Damonte Coxie for 29 yards and scrambled for another 18. But with the game on the line, Hajrullahu’s 31-yard field goal attempt drifted wide as time expired, sending the Hamilton faithful into celebration.
Ford’s dynamic performance powered a Hamilton offence that totaled 367 net yards, including 157 on the ground. Larry Rountree III added 44 rushing yards, while Kurleigh Gittens Jr. hauled in five receptions for 57 yards. Wheatfall chipped in four catches for 52 yards, including a key 35-yard reception in the second half, while Lawler finished with two catches for 34 yards and the opening touchdown.
Defensively, Peters’ interception was the game’s biggest takeaway, while Reggie Stubblefield and Philip Ossai each recorded sacks. The Tiger-Cats also held Toronto to just one successful field goal despite three attempts, with the final miss sealing a memorable victory.
By the Numbers
- Tre Ford: 21-of-27 passing (77.8%), 218 yards, 1 TD | 10 carries, 109 rushing yards
- Kenny Lawler: 2 receptions, 34 yards, 1 TD
- Kurleigh Gittens Jr.: 5 receptions, 57 yards
- Keric Wheatfall: 4 receptions, 52 yards
- Jamal Peters: 1 interception
- Jake Dolegala: 1 rushing touchdown
- Ante Milanovic-Litre: 1 rushing touchdown
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
- TOR – Nick Arbuckle 1-yard rushing touchdown
- HAM – Tre Ford 25-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Lawler
Second Quarter
- HAM – Ante Milanovic-Litre 1-yard rushing touchdown
Third Quarter
- HAM – Jake Dolegala 1-yard rushing touchdown
- TOR – Lirim Hajrullahu 12-yard field goal
- HAM – Marc Liegghio 11-yard field goal
Fourth Quarter
- TOR – Chad Kelly 5-yard touchdown pass to DaVaris Ungerer III
- TOR – Nick Arbuckle 1-yard rushing touchdown (convert missed)
Up Next
The Tiger-Cats head to Montreal in Week 8 for a rematch with the Alouettes on Sunday, July 26. Hamilton will be looking to even the season series after Montreal claimed a 30-27 victory in Week 1.
