Rookie Shiltz to make first CFL start for Montreal versus Ticats

HAMILTON Jeremiah Masoli is finishing the season off with a bang.

The Hamilton quarterback has throw for over 300 yards his last four starts, including a career-best 438yard performance in last weekend’s 41-36 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks. Masoli looks to make it five straight Friday night when the Tiger-Cats (512) host the struggling Montreal Alouettes (3-14).

Masoli, 29, was 19-of-28 passing for 320 yards and two TDs in Hamilton’s 43-16 road win over Montreal on Oct. 22. This week, he and receiver Brandon Banks — who has registered four straight 100-yard games — were named CFL top players for October.

Hamilton is 5-4 under interim head coach June Jones, who shortly after his appointment promoted Masoli to starter ahead of Zach Collaros.

“He (Masoli) isn’t the same player that’s for sure,” Jones said. “He’s getting his basic reads, his feet are better, he’s seeing the coverage we’re asking him to see and that comes from repetition.

“If you evaluate him over the last four weeks, and really the last two games is when he’s really started to get it, he’s played as well as anybody.” The five-foot-10, 228-pound Masoli has completed 51-of-74 passes (68.9 per cent) for 758 yards and six TDs over his last two starts. This season, his fifth in the CFL, Masoli sports a 62.4 per cent completion average with a career-high 2,859 yards, 14 TDs and five interceptions.