From Harris’s four turnovers to a slew of penalties, many Als must share the blame for the playoff loss to the Ticats.

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HAMILTON – Almondo Sewell was clairvoyant all those months ago, when he suggested that quarterback Trevor Harris back off once he got hit.

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If Sewell was just being a wise guy, before the Alouettes played Edmonton in the season opener, or if he really meant it, little could he have imagined that the two would become teammates last October, when Harris was acquired in a trade following a season-ending injury. Vernon Adams Jr.

Sunday afternoon in an elimination game, Harris, now the Als’ starting quarterback, was hit over and over again, sacked six times, behind an offensive line that was riddled with injuries and just wasn’t enough. good. The 35-year veteran missed three times, also throwing an interception, and must bear some responsibility for Montreal’s 23-12 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division semifinal at Tim Hortons Field.

Harris wasn’t the only reason the Als lost. But his 364 passing yards meant little in the grand scheme, considering he was guilty of four of Montreal’s five turnovers. And his only touchdown pass, to Eugene Lewis, wasn’t enough considering running back William Stanback, the CFL’s leading running back, became a non-entity, as usual by the Ticats, limited to 29 yards on 12 carries.

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“Turnovers are always (the determining factor) who wins games,” Harris said, probably aware that Hamilton took advantage of left guard David Foucault, who just isn’t good enough, and an injury in the third. middle room Sean Jamieson. “We had a lot today. They did not. That and field position. We put ourselves in bad situations. The works were there to be carried out. “

The Als scored on their opening possession, a 95-yard, seven-minute drive, but settled for a field goal. And they were back in scoring position, at least for a field goal, in the second quarter when Harris fumbled the ball for the first time.

Hamilton scored a touchdown two plays later, outscored the Als 20-0 in the fourth, when three of Harris’s turnovers were committed, and took control of the game. And because head coach Khari Jones dressed rookie Shea Patterson as a backup, and not Matthew Shiltz, he had no choice but to stay committed to Harris.

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“Obviously we didn’t win,” said Harris, who completed 28 of 44 passes but couldn’t get his team into the end zone late in the fourth quarter when they had three chances from the Ticats’ ninth. although it probably would only have made the final score more respectable. “It’s not good enough. It’s frustrating, but this is not the time to reflect on the performances.”

Or, Harris said, to speculate on his future with the Als, considering he is owed a significant signing bonus this February.

Jones also claimed not to be worried about his future and, with another year left on his contract, he can probably sleep well. But the Als finished the season with a 7-8 record, lost four of their last five and accomplished nothing. How much of that can be attributed to Jones will be decided in the days, and maybe weeks to come.

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“I have a contract for next year,” Jones said. “I plan to be here next year.”

Jones could only watch helplessly as his team fell apart on so many fronts. Along with the five turnovers, a familiar theme resurfaced: penalties. Montreal took 12 for 115 yards, many of which were significant.

“Penalties are definitely a big problem,” Jones said. “Just the undisciplined game. That is something I am more disappointed in than anything else. I pride myself on being a disciplined person and wanting a disciplined team. There were many occasions during the season when we lost our composure and we lost our discipline. “

Here’s just one example: With 5:30 left, Hamilton’s Papi White lost a punt, recovered by Alexandre Gagné. But Adarius Pickett, a liability on special teams all season, was penalized with no yards. The Ticats ended up kicking a field goal after that, taking a 23-10 lead.

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“Not getting the rotation … that was a great point in the game,” Jones said. “Those things have been showing up throughout the season.”

The Als, once again, could have deserved a better fate, having won the statistical battle. They dominated first downs, net offense and time of possession, but it mattered little.

“It was quite frustrating, knowing that we were moving the ball well,” Jones said. “We were at least on field goal range before the (first) loss. That changed the momentum. “

Als linebacker Patrick Levels, who guaranteed a win last Monday, took on the media. And while he was subdued, Levels did not regret any of his bravado.

“We lost,” he said. “You have turnovers, they score you, you lose the game. We didn’t do enough today. “

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