Banks stampedes past Calgary tacklers
His three TDs lift Ticats to 30-23 victory
HAMILTON — Brandon Banks and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats exorcised plenty of demons Saturday night.
Banks scored three touchdowns — including the gamewinner with under three minutes to play — to lead Hamilton past Calgary, 30-23, in Canadian Football League action Saturday night.
With the victory, the Ticats (4-1) snapped a dubious 15-game losing streak to the Stampeders (2-2) that included the 2014 Grey Cup and head into their bye week with their first home victory over the West Division squad since a 24-17 decision Sept. 8, 2009.
“I wouldn’t say demons were exorcised but it does feel good to get that win,” said Ticats starter Jeremiah Masoli, who improved to 1-4 all-time versus the Stampeders. “Any win is good but that’s a good one with Calgary.”
Hamilton is 4-1 for the first time since 1998 when it made the first of two consecutive Grey Cup appearances against Calgary.
The Ticats lost that year before downing the Stampeders in ’99 for their last CFL title.
Hamilton coach Orlondo Steinauer said Hamilton’s intention Saturday night was to simply improve to 4-1, not change history against Calgary.
“We just didn’t have that approach or mindset,” he said. “It was a reality and we were going to have to talk about it as long as it existed. “It doesn’t exist anymore.” Masoli’s 20-yard TD strike to Banks put Hamilton ahead 30-23 at 12:16 of the fourth.
The two hooked up on a 22-yard touchdown pass three minutes into the quarter to give the Ticats a 23-16 advantage but Calgary countered with Ka’Deem Carey’s three-yard TD run — his second of the game — at 7:12 to make it 23-23 before 22,921 spectators at Tim Hortons Field.
It was a record-breaking night for Banks, who recorded his CFL-record fifth TD off a missed field goal attempt in the first half.
Will Likely III also got into the act with a kickoff return touchdown as Hamilton ended the first half tied 16-16 despite mustering just 67 offensive yards.
“It (special teams) is always a big part of the game up here,” said Steinauer. “We were able to keep ourselves in the ball game.
“It had a chance to get away from us but I just credit the belief of the men, the execution and it gave us a chance to win the game.”
Banks’s nickname, appropriately, is Speedy and he lived up to that moniker after the game. When reporters were allowed into Hamilton’s locker-room, Banks had left to catch a late flight.
“I’m just proud of (Banks) because he works hard,” Steinauer said.