Als have no answers for Ticats
HAMILTON – It started badly for the Alouettes on Saturday night, and quickly deteriorated. A team that traditionally isn’t adept at overcoming deficits, simply because it hasn’t had to over the years, staring at a two-touchdown deficit before 10 minutes had elapsed.
“We tried to fight back. It just wasn’t enough today,” quarterback Anthony Calvillo said following Saturday’s 39-24 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before 23,392 Ivor Wynne Stadium spectators.
Both teams now have 2-2 records, as do the Toronto Argonauts, atop the East Division standings, although Hamilton’s on a two-game winning streak. The Als, who have now lost four consecutive games at Ivor Wynne dating back to 2010, host the Argonauts Friday night at Molson Stadium.
Calvillo was effective in a losing cause, passing for 374 yards and three touchdowns, rallying the Als to within eight points with two unanswered third-quarter touchdowns. But Calvillo’s first pass of the game, intended for Jamel Richardson, was intercepted by middle-linebacker Rey Williams and returned the ball 52 yards to the Montreal eight.
One play later, Henry Burris passed to Bakari Grant for a touchdown — the first of four Burris threw. Only 132 seconds had elapsed by that juncture.
“That interception on the first drive definitely didn’t help,” Calvillo said, stating the obvious.
The Als failed to generate a first down on their next possession. The Ticats, meanwhile, then went 65 yards in 12 plays, capped by a two-yard touchdown pass to Daryl Stephenson, and the home team was off to the races.
“You can’t get started like that and get down that much,” coach Marc Trestman said.
Hamilton would add two more first-half touchdowns — Chevon Walker scored on a one-yard run, then caught a five-yard pass from Burris, capping a 75-yard drive.
Although sacked only twice, Calvillo was frequently under pressure. In the third quarter, Jermaine McElveen hit him low, Kevin Eiben high, Calvillo landing on his injured left shoulder, obviously hurt. But the courageous veteran remained in the game.
“When I fall on my left shoulder it’s not fun,” he said. “But it’s not preventing me from making plays.”