It’s been a true tale of two seasons for Banks
The storyline for Hamilton: Eliminated from playoff contention, the Ticats are playing for pride, each other and jobs for next season. If last week’s beat-down of Montreal is any indication, they are certainly willing to put in the effort. Jeremiah Masoli gets the start at quarterback, as head coach June Jones follows through on his promise to stick with a veteran-laden lineup for what’s left of 2017.
Key roster notes for Hamilton: Receiver Jalen Saunders returns after missing last week due to injury, and is 23 yards away from posting 1,000 in his rookie season. Defensive tackle Jason Neill comes on the roster for Davon Coleman, who was nicked up against Montreal. American Ross Scheuerman comes off the roster to make room for Saunders. Five funky stats for Hamilton: 1. Brandon Banks has posted four consecutive 100-yard receiving games, something that’s happened just eight times in the last 22 seasons. Only seven players in history have registered five consecutive 100-yard games, including Hamilton’s Mac Cody in 1996.
2. Banks’ numbers in the first eight games of the season under head coach Kent Austin: eight catches, 52 yards, one touchdown, zero receptions over 30 yards. Banks’ numbers in the last eight games under June Jones: 39 catches, 690 yards, five touchdowns, seven receptions over 30 yards.
3. Jones has a record of 5-3 (. 625) in his first eight games as a CFL head coach. With two games to go he has become the first mid-season replacement head coach with a better than .500 record since 2002.
4. Masoli is now 9-8 as a starter in his career: 8-2 on the road, but just 1-6 at home (9-8 overall). He has thrown for at least 300 yards in three straight games, the longest streak of his career, and has just one interception in his last six starts, covering 169 pass attempts.
5. All five Hamilton wins have come when they led after the third quarter; they are 0-8 when they trail after 45 minutes. The Ticats are also 0-9 when they lose or tie the turnover battle, and 5-2 when making fewer giveaways.
The storyline for Ottawa: The Redblacks can secure first in the division with a win over Hamilton and a loss by the Argonauts next week in B.C. A loss, however, guarantees they’ll host the Eastern Semifinal against a West Division crossover team still to be determined. Ottawa lost at home to Hamilton on Sept. 9.
Key roster notes for Ottawa: The Redblacks are coming off a bye and somehow lost two key players for the season. Receiver Brad Sinopoli, the front-runner for Most Outstanding Canadian in the East Division, is out with a shoulder injury, while defensive back Jerrell Gavins, an East all-star in 2015, hurt his knee in practice. Five funky stats for Ottawa: 1. The Redblacks allowed 30 sacks in their first 12 games, last in the CFL to that point, but have allowed only one sack in their last five games.
2. With 13 games decided by seven points or less this season, the Redblacks have set a new CFL record. The last three Ottawa games have been decided by five points or less.
3. Ottawa will host a playoff game for the third consecutive season. The last time that happened was from 1977 to 1979.
4. Quarterback Trevor Harris comes into this game with a streak of 14 consecutive games with a touchdown pass. He leads the CFL in pass efficiency rating at 105.4 and is No. 3 in passing yards per game at 312. His career record as a starter is 20-19-2.
5. Receiver Greg Ellingson is five catches away from breaking the club record for receptions in a season (94 by Marc Lewis in 1994.) He’s also posted three straight 1,000yard receiving seasons since leaving the Ticats.
TSN play-by-play: Rod Black and Duane Forde Referee: Al Bradbury Weather: Clear, nine degrees, light winds out of the southeast at 10 km/h