Manziel shows well in second outing; Ticats down Montreal, 30-15
Johnny Manziel wasn’t flawless in his second Canadian Football League preseason game, but he did enough to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a come-from-behind victory.
Manziel came into the game in the second quarter and had an instant impact as the Ticats scored 30 unanswered points to defeat the Montreal Alouettes, 30-15, on Saturday, in the second and final pre-season game for both teams.
The former Heisman Trophy winner went 12-for-20 for 88 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 19 yards.
Manziel is Hamilton’s backup quarterback behind starter Jeremiah Masoli, who got the day off Saturday.
“By no means is it perfect, or close to perfect, but there are some flashes, things I know and feel comfortable with,” said Manziel, who left the game in the fourth quarter. “There are things that I should hit on the field that I missed today. That’s just part of trying to get better and get back in a feel of playing ball every day, week in and week out.
“Any time I’m getting in and getting reps, and getting a chance to take live reps like today, that’s a positive day.”
Manziel entered the game four minutes into the second quarter after starter Bryant Moniz went a paltry 3-for-7 for 17 yards and an interception.
The sparse and quiet 12,325 fans at Percival Molson Stadium gave Manziel, the former firstround draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, a subdued cheer when he walked onto the field. In the crowd were a few Browns jerseys and Texas A&M jerseys, where the 25-year-old played his college ball.
Down 14-0, Manziel’s influence on the game was immediate.
He completed back-to-back passes to running back Alex Green for the first Hamilton first down of the afternoon. He followed that up, on the same drive, with a three-yard pass to Green for the touchdown to cut Montreal’s lead to 14-7.
“Hopefully that’s the first of many,” said Manziel of the TD pass.
In the third quarter, Manziel, who made his CFL debut last week in Hamilton’s 36-18 loss to Toronto, led his team down the field on two good drives that ended in field goals by kicker Lirim Hajrullahu.
Seventeen seconds into fourth, Joel Ross picked off backup Alouettes QB Garrett Fugate and returned the ball 30 yards for the touchdown.
After another Hamilton field goal, Manziel left the game with his side leading 23-14.
“You saw him out there, he’s still a little rusty,” said TigerCats head coach June Jones. “But he’s a competitor, he knows what’s going on, he’s seeing what’s going on. He’s able to execute real quickly. You guys can see what he can do. He can make a difference.”