Costly fumble keeps Hamilton’s Tiger-Cats winless – Hamilton | Globalnews.ca

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats lost their first potential win of the 2022 CFL season in a sobering 29-25 loss to the previously winless Edmonton Elks 29-25 in a Canada Day clash at Tim Hortons Field.

Ticats quarterback Dane Evans fumbled at the Hamilton 14-yard line and Edmonton’s Jalen Collins picked up the ball and recovered it to score the game-winner as the Elks recorded their first win of the season.

The Elks scored 17 points on four turnovers by Hamilton, including two interceptions by Evans, who finished the game with 197 passing yards on 20-for-31 shooting.

Edmonton’s rookie QB Tre Ford made his first career start and completed 15 of 26 passes for 159 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed the ball six times for a game-high 61 yards.

Hamilton jumped out to a 2-0 lead with 2:31 into the game when Edmonton punter Matt Mengel gave up a safety instead of kicking into the wind from the Elks’ end zone.

On the next drive, Evans threw a 21-yard touchdown drive to Steven Dunbar Jr. to increase Hamilton’s lead to 9-0 with 7:46 left in the first quarter.

Edmonton got on the board with 30 seconds left in the first quarter when Kai Locksley capped a 13-play, 79-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, but kicker Sergio Castillo missed the extra point.

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Hamilton’s Lawrence Woods took the ensuing kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown to put the Ticats up 16-6 late in the first quarter.

Michael Domagala made it 19-7 for the Ticats with 1:28 remaining in the second period when he kicked a 25-yard field goal, but Hamilton gave up a deep on his next drive to make it 19-9 at halftime.

After the two teams traded field goals late in the third quarter, Elks linebacker Brady Shelton intercepted Evans at the Hamilton 40-yard line, leading to a Castillo field goal that cut the deficit to seven. points.

Evans was intercepted again early in the fourth quarter and five plays later, rookie QB Tre Ford threw his first career touchdown, a 10-yarder to Kenny Lawler, to even the game at 22-22.

Domagala kicked a 33-yard field goal to put the Cats up 25-22 with just over three minutes left in the game before Collins scored to give the Elks the victory.

Hamilton is now in his first bye week of the season and next plays July 16 at home against the Ottawa Redblacks.