Latest news with #Ticats
The Province
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Province
Tiger-Cats 37, B.C. Lions 33: Hamilton completes comeback with last-minute touchdown
The Ticats overcame a 10-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to stretch their win streak to five straight games Published Jul 27, 2025 • 4 minute read Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (19) passes the ball as B.C. Lions' Deontai Williams (9) gets his hands up to try and knock the ball down during the first half of a CFL football game, in Vancouver, on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Photo by Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER — A last-minute touchdown reception from Kiondre Smith lifted the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 37-33 win over the B.C. Lions on Sunday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 389 yards, three touchdowns and an interception as the Ticats (5-2) stretched their win streak to five straight games. Jake Dolegala tallied a rushing major for the Ticats, and Brendan O'Leary-Orange also reeled in a TD pass. Kicker Marc Liegghio made four converts and three field goals, including a 40-yard attempt, as his team overcame a 10-point deficit late in the fourth quarter. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 289 yards, connecting on 20 of his 27 attempts, while kicker Sean Whyte made four field goals — including a 45-yard kick — and three converts. B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke (12) throws the ball away as Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Julian Howsare (95) and Philip Ossai (46) nearly sack him during the first half Photo by Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS Running back James Butler notched a pair of rushing TDs against his former team and rushed for 115 yards on 16 carries. Butler played two seasons for Hamilton before being released by the club in January. He signed with B.C. as a free agent hours later, making a return to the team where he started his CFL career and had a breakout campaign in 2022. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He wasted little time in exacting revenge on his former team. About five minutes into the game, Rourke faked a handoff to Butler, kept the ball himself and sprinted toward the end zone. His backup, Jeremiah Masoli, came on for short yardage duty and dished off to Butler, who manoeuvred his way through traffic and over the goal line for a touchdown. He celebrated with an emphatic spike that sent the ball sailing into the stands. The Ticats responded with a 40-yard field goal. Rourke put in another big run before the end of the first quarter, dashing 21 yards through the midfield and Butler followed suit with a 23-yard run. The QB then handed off to Butler once again and the running back slipped through a hole and into the end zone for his second major of the night. Whyte made the convert and B.C. went up 14-3. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. B.C. Lions' James Butler (20) runs the ball past Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Stavros Katsantonis (30) during the first half of a CFL football game, in Vancouver, on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Photo by Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS Hamilton started the second with a first down on B.C.'s two-yard line and eventually made good on the positioning when Dolegala powered through the crowd for the Ticats' first touchdown of the game. Liegghio added an 11-yard field goal midway through the quarter, cutting his team's deficit to a single point. The Lions responded with some big plays, including Rourke's dish to an unmanned Keon Hatcher Sr. in the midfield. The receiver took advantage, sprinting deep into Hamilton territory for a 73-yard gain. Whyte capped the scoring drive with a 22-yard field goal. With just over a minute left in the first half, B.C. cornerback Robert Carter Jr. made his own highlight reel-worthy play. Mitchell launched a rainbow toward the end zone, where Carter snuck up behind Hamilton receiver O'Leary-Orange, leapt up and — with one hand — reeled in the ball. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. B.C. capitalized on the turnover with a scoring drive that saw Whyte boot a 33-yard field goal, and the Lions took a 20-13 lead into the locker rooms. Hamilton drew even early in the third when Mitchell connected with Smith and the slotback muscled his way into the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown. Liegghio's convert knotted the score at 20-20. A battle of the kickers ensued. Whyte put the home side up once again with a 13-yard field goal and the Lions took a three-point cushion into the final frame. Liegghio then tied things up early in the fourth with a 24-yard field goal and the score stood at 23-23 until Whyte restored B.C.'s lead with a 45-yard kick midway through the quarter. The Lions pulled away with just over four minutes left on the game clock after Hamilton's Greg Bell fumbled and Sione Teuhema recovered the ball. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rourke then lobbed a 43-yard toss to Ayden Eberhardt, giving B.C. a first down at Hamilton's two-yard line. Masoli came on and propelled himself through a mass of bodies for a touchdown. Whyte made the convert and the Lions took a 33-23 lead. The Ticats clawed their way back before the final whistle when Mitchell sailed a 44-yard pass to O'Leary-Orange in the end zone. Liegghio made the convert to whittle Hamilton's deficit to three points. Mitchell and the visitors worked their way up the field until, with 16 seconds left on the game clock, Mitchell found Smith in the end zone for a one-yard touchdown pass. Liegghio made yet another convert and the Ticats sealed the score at 37-33. UP NEXT Tiger-Cats: Visit the Edmonton Elks on Saturday. Lions: Visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Thursday, Aug. 7. Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps News Sports Tennis
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C. Lions seek answers for high-flying Lawler and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
VANCOUVER - The B.C. Lions head into the weekend facing a riddle — how do you stop Kenny Lawler? The Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver is on a tear, and leads the CFL in both receiving yards (644) and receiving touchdowns (eight). He'll look to add to those totals Saturday when the Ticats (4-2) visit the Lions (3-4). For Lions defensive coordinator Mike Benevides, the riddle's answer is simple. 'You don't stop Kenny Lawler,' Benevides said. The veteran CFL coach recounted a time when he tried to contain the 31-year-old American receiver by double teaming him, only to see Lawler still make 'hellacious plays.' 'You don't stop him. What you want to do is try to minimize it and just make sure he doesn't have one of those 250-yard games,' Benevides said. 'They're going to find ways to get him the ball, but you just want to make sure he's not the one continuously making the big play against you.' The Ticats started out the season with a pair of losses — both to West Division opponents — but have rebounded with four-straight victories, thanks in part to Lawler's solid play. He heads into Saturday's matchup with at least one touchdown in five of Hamilton's six games. That's of little surprise to Lions head coach Buck Pierce, who spent the last two seasons working with Lawler in Winnipeg where he served as the Blue Bombers offensive coordinator. 'He's a highly motivated, competitive, driven individual,' Pierce said. 'I loved my time with Kenny, watching him develop and grow. And watching him over the last couple of years, he's really matured and taken on a leadership role.' Taking Lawler out of the equation this week will require the Lions defence to focus on more than just the star receiver, said defensive lineman Mathieu Betts. Disrupting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell — who leads the league in passing TDs with 12 and sits second in passing yards with 1,812 — will also be essential, he said. 'Us on the D line, if we can get pressure on Bo Levi to make him maybe not be as accurate as he used to be, or maybe throw from his back foot or just rattle him a little bit more, we'll help the (defensive backs) out,' he said. B.C. is looking to get back into the win column after dropping a 33-27 decision to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week, but the squad will need to get past a stingy Ticats defence to do so. Hamilton has allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (five) and fewest completions of 30-plus yards (four) this season. The Ticats' defence is 'phenomenally coached,' said Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke. 'They challenge you. They play a lot of man coverage. They get up in your face, bring some pressures,' he said. 'I think their front four are very versatile, they get a lot of pressure. … They're always very polished, so I think it's going to be a good one.' HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (4-2) AT B.C. LIONS (3-4) Sunday, B.C. Place HELLO AGAIN: Lions running back James Butler is set to face the Ticats for the first time since being released by the team in January. He signed with B.C. as a free agent hours later and currently sits second the CFL in rushing yards, with 504 on the year. KICK'N IT: Both teams come in with kickers on hot streaks. Hamilton's Marc Liegghio has made his past 30 field goal attempts going back to last season while B.C.'s Sean Whyte has made 26 straight. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Road teams across the CFL are 15-12 this season. B.C. is 1-2 at home. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. Lions seek answers for high-flying Lawler and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
VANCOUVER – The B.C. Lions head into the weekend facing a riddle — how do you stop Kenny Lawler? The Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver is on a tear, and leads the CFL in both receiving yards (644) and receiving touchdowns (eight). He'll look to add to those totals Saturday when the Ticats (4-2) visit the Lions (3-4). For Lions defensive coordinator Mike Benevides, the riddle's answer is simple. 'You don't stop Kenny Lawler,' Benevides said. The veteran CFL coach recounted a time when he tried to contain the 31-year-old American receiver by double teaming him, only to see Lawler still make 'hellacious plays.' 'You don't stop him. What you want to do is try to minimize it and just make sure he doesn't have one of those 250-yard games,' Benevides said. 'They're going to find ways to get him the ball, but you just want to make sure he's not the one continuously making the big play against you.' The Ticats started out the season with a pair of losses — both to West Division opponents — but have rebounded with four-straight victories, thanks in part to Lawler's solid play. He heads into Saturday's matchup with at least one touchdown in five of Hamilton's six games. That's of little surprise to Lions head coach Buck Pierce, who spent the last two seasons working with Lawler in Winnipeg where he served as the Blue Bombers offensive coordinator. 'He's a highly motivated, competitive, driven individual,' Pierce said. 'I loved my time with Kenny, watching him develop and grow. And watching him over the last couple of years, he's really matured and taken on a leadership role.' Taking Lawler out of the equation this week will require the Lions defence to focus on more than just the star receiver, said defensive lineman Mathieu Betts. Disrupting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell — who leads the league in passing TDs with 12 and sits second in passing yards with 1,812 — will also be essential, he said. 'Us on the D line, if we can get pressure on Bo Levi to make him maybe not be as accurate as he used to be, or maybe throw from his back foot or just rattle him a little bit more, we'll help the (defensive backs) out,' he said. B.C. is looking to get back into the win column after dropping a 33-27 decision to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week, but the squad will need to get past a stingy Ticats defence to do so. Hamilton has allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (five) and fewest completions of 30-plus yards (four) this season. The Ticats' defence is 'phenomenally coached,' said Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke. 'They challenge you. They play a lot of man coverage. They get up in your face, bring some pressures,' he said. 'I think their front four are very versatile, they get a lot of pressure. … They're always very polished, so I think it's going to be a good one.' HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (4-2) AT B.C. LIONS (3-4) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Sunday, B.C. Place HELLO AGAIN: Lions running back James Butler is set to face the Ticats for the first time since being released by the team in January. He signed with B.C. as a free agent hours later and currently sits second the CFL in rushing yards, with 504 on the year. KICK'N IT: Both teams come in with kickers on hot streaks. Hamilton's Marc Liegghio has made his past 30 field goal attempts going back to last season while B.C.'s Sean Whyte has made 26 straight. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Road teams across the CFL are 15-12 this season. B.C. is 1-2 at home. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Rookie Devin Veresuk quickly showing why Ticats drafted him second overall this year
HAMILTON - It didn't take Devin Veresuk long to force the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' hand. When Hamilton selected the Windsor Lancers linebacker with the second pick of the 2025 CFL draft, it was clearly with the intent that Veresuk would develop into a starter down the line. But the future became a reality just two games into the season when the Ticats made the bold move of releasing veteran American Kyle Wilson and replacing him with the six-foot-two, 240-pound Canadian rookie. 'He'd had a week where it just looked like it clicked and he was becoming very instinctive,' said Ticats head coach Scott Milanovich. 'That's kind of when we decided it was time. 'I mean there's some mistakes … but he's very natural, a very good tackler and has the physical skills to chase things down if he does make a mistake. He does little stuff that's hard to teach and I think he's going to be a good one.' Coincidentally, Hamilton (3-2) hasn't lost since the move. It has reeled off three straight wins to move into a tie with Montreal (3-2) atop the East Division. Veresuk had a pick-six in his CFL debut and has led the team in tackles in both of his first two games. 'I thought I'd get an opportunity at some point but I didn't realize how quickly it was going to come,' Veresuk said. 'That being said, I had to step up to the plate and show I can do it. 'The guys have definitely helped settle me in, get used to it and into the swing of things but it has been a bit of an adjustment, for sure.' Wilson, who quickly caught on with the Calgary Stampeders, remains tied with safety Stavros Katsantonis for the Ticats' team lead in total tackles (23 each). Veresuk is tied with cornerback Jamal Peters for fourth at 21, one behind fellow linebacker Rayshawn Wilborn. Hamilton will chase a fourth straight win over an East team when it completes its home-and-home series with Ottawa (1-5) on Sunday night at TD Place. The Ticats earned a 23-20 victory Saturday night at Hamilton Stadium. Veresuk registered 160 total tackles (14 for loss), nine sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick-six in 22 games at Windsor. He also posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.47 seconds at the University of Buffalo's pro day while also registering 27 reps in the 225-pound bench press, a 4.47-second short shuttle and 7.19-second three-cone drill. Those results helped land Veresuk an invitation to the Indianapolis Colts rookie mini-camp. He ultimately signed with Hamilton on May 14, two days after the start of its training camp. It didn't take Veresuk long to reward the Ticats' faith in him. He had a team-high nine tackles (eight defensive, one special-teams) and a 36-yard interception return TD in his first CFL start, a 35-17 win over then-unbeaten Montreal on June 27. Veresuk followed up with eight tackles (one for loss) to lead the defence in Hamilton's 51-38 victory over Toronto on July 4. Last week versus Ottawa, veteran Reggie Stubblefield registered a team-high seven tackles (one for loss) in his Ticats debut as Veresuk finished with three. Veresuk admits the last month has been somewhat of a whirlwind but credits Wilborn with helping him through the rough patches. The arrival of Stubblefield — last week was his first CFL game since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Montreal's '24 opener — has also provided immediate benefits. 'Ray has probably been my top guy; he's been helping me out,' Veresuk said. 'Any time I make a mistake or tend to beat myself up, he has helped pick me up and helped keep my chin up. 'Reggie brings energy, confidence and communication. He talks a lot pre-snap and that helps me quite a bit.' Predictably, the biggest adjustment Veresuk has faced is the speed of the CFL game. 'It's professional players that I'm going up against, some of the best football players in the world,' he said. 'Also, there's just how finite the differences are between winning and losing games. 'It really does come down to four, five plays and just being on the better side of those plays. If I prepare during the week, on weekends the game slows down a bit.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rookie Devin Veresuk quickly showing why Ticats drafted him second overall this year
HAMILTON – It didn't take Devin Veresuk long to force the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' hand. When Hamilton selected the Windsor Lancers linebacker with the second pick of the 2025 CFL draft, it was clearly with the intent that Veresuk would develop into a starter down the line. But the future became a reality just two games into the season when the Ticats made the bold move of releasing veteran American Kyle Wilson and replacing him with the six-foot-two, 240-pound Canadian rookie. 'He'd had a week where it just looked like it clicked and he was becoming very instinctive,' said Ticats head coach Scott Milanovich. 'That's kind of when we decided it was time. 'I mean there's some mistakes … but he's very natural, a very good tackler and has the physical skills to chase things down if he does make a mistake. He does little stuff that's hard to teach and I think he's going to be a good one.' Coincidentally, Hamilton (3-2) hasn't lost since the move. It has reeled off three straight wins to move into a tie with Montreal (3-2) atop the East Division. Veresuk had a pick-six in his CFL debut and has led the team in tackles in both of his first two games. 'I thought I'd get an opportunity at some point but I didn't realize how quickly it was going to come,' Veresuk said. 'That being said, I had to step up to the plate and show I can do it. 'The guys have definitely helped settle me in, get used to it and into the swing of things but it has been a bit of an adjustment, for sure.' Wilson, who quickly caught on with the Calgary Stampeders, remains tied with safety Stavros Katsantonis for the Ticats' team lead in total tackles (23 each). Veresuk is tied with cornerback Jamal Peters for fourth at 21, one behind fellow linebacker Rayshawn Wilborn. Hamilton will chase a fourth straight win over an East team when it completes its home-and-home series with Ottawa (1-5) on Sunday night at TD Place. The Ticats earned a 23-20 victory Saturday night at Hamilton Stadium. Veresuk registered 160 total tackles (14 for loss), nine sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick-six in 22 games at Windsor. He also posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.47 seconds at the University of Buffalo's pro day while also registering 27 reps in the 225-pound bench press, a 4.47-second short shuttle and 7.19-second three-cone drill. Those results helped land Veresuk an invitation to the Indianapolis Colts rookie mini-camp. He ultimately signed with Hamilton on May 14, two days after the start of its training camp. It didn't take Veresuk long to reward the Ticats' faith in him. He had a team-high nine tackles (eight defensive, one special-teams) and a 36-yard interception return TD in his first CFL start, a 35-17 win over then-unbeaten Montreal on June 27. Veresuk followed up with eight tackles (one for loss) to lead the defence in Hamilton's 51-38 victory over Toronto on July 4. Last week versus Ottawa, veteran Reggie Stubblefield registered a team-high seven tackles (one for loss) in his Ticats debut as Veresuk finished with three. Veresuk admits the last month has been somewhat of a whirlwind but credits Wilborn with helping him through the rough patches. The arrival of Stubblefield — last week was his first CFL game since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Montreal's '24 opener — has also provided immediate benefits. 'Ray has probably been my top guy; he's been helping me out,' Veresuk said. 'Any time I make a mistake or tend to beat myself up, he has helped pick me up and helped keep my chin up. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Reggie brings energy, confidence and communication. He talks a lot pre-snap and that helps me quite a bit.' Predictably, the biggest adjustment Veresuk has faced is the speed of the CFL game. 'It's professional players that I'm going up against, some of the best football players in the world,' he said. 'Also, there's just how finite the differences are between winning and losing games. 'It really does come down to four, five plays and just being on the better side of those plays. If I prepare during the week, on weekends the game slows down a bit.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
