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Heere's Johnny! Leos Go 8 and 0

By 250 News

-by John Goodwin

BC 39 Hamilton 15

If it looks like a duck and talks like a duck it isn’t a swan.

The old faithful may have softened a little with some de je vou tonight as the Lions took to the field in their third jersey. The paw on the helmet took me back to my youth, sitting in the end zone occupying a cheap $2.00 Leos Leader seat along with my little brother Garry (on most nights) in the open air, mostly pouring rain, watching the team lose most of the times they took to the muddy field at Empire Stadium. Ah but I digress.

There would be no amount of over achieving or even Devine intervention that would have given the Hamilton Tigercats any real hope of bringing their hosts down to earth this game.
It was simply a mis-match!

Thursday Sportsnet reported the return of sack-master DE Tim Cheatwood from the camp of the NFL’s Houston Texans. Renown for his assaults on opposing quarterbacks, recording “29 sacks in 52 career CFL games”, Hamilton coach Greg Marshall believed it was important to get him into the line up as his presence in a Steel town uniform would inspire his team mates. He would start this game but wasn’t a factor.

The Tabbies enter this contest with the daunting task of knocking off not only the best the CFL has to offer, but a collection of ball players who believe in themselves without being full of themselves.

The Ticats are a team in disarray. Dropped catch able balls, poor decision making and the execution was left wanting all night. Add these anomalies to the questionable play that was called by the bench on 3rd down at the end of their first possession which resulted in a turnover to the Lions on their own 30 (resulting in a BC major-6-0) and in my opinion the team’s leadership is left in question.

The Lion’s offence was again formidable this game and their D could be described as menacing and marauding as they absolutely dominated the Cats throughout. This team has an almost over-abundance of extraordinarily gifted people on both sides of the ball.

At 13.48 of Q 1 the Lions would score again on a pass from Dickenson to Myers. 13-0 BC.

The second quarter saw Khari Jones take it to the house to get the Tabbies on the board but BC would quickly answer with majors to Jackson and Antonio Warren...27-7 Lions to end the half. Hamilton was unsuccessful on a FG attempt by Jamie Boreham which was blocked by the Leos.

While I thought the offensive line played well tonight my fears about the pounding Dave Dickenson takes night in and out caught up to him as he took a hit while delivering the ball. He left the game with a slightly separated shoulder, and was relieved by Casey printers.
Dickenson finishes 11 for 13 and 2 touchdowns as he surgically dismembered the Ticat defense.

Early in the 3rd frame O’Mahony makes the score 29-7 Lions, as his punt pins the Cats back on their one yard line and eventually they give up a safety after a two and out.

Aaron Lockett set Printers up again with great field position after a 52 yard return to the Hamilton 53 yard line but ultimately resulted in a Duncan O’Mahony field goal. 32-7 Lions

Danny Mc Manus mercifully took over from a beleaguered Khari Jones (just 32 yards total offense in the second quarter) to open the 4th frame and had limited success moving the Hamilton offense.

BC third stringer Buck Pierce looked somewhat like a Dave Dickenson, and showed confidence in taking his team in for the score on a pass to Antonio Warren late in the game.

With just one second remaining the tabbies in what may have been a last ditch gesture of defiance complete a pass for their final major and capped it off with a 2 point conversion.




Notes:

The Leos avoided any temptation to take these guys lightly and buried them early. As was believed would happen, the Ticat frailty caused them to crumble with no chance of coming back.

Lion’s DE Brent Johnson would record his 8th sack of the season.

To the best of my recollection, retired BC kicker Louie Passaglia was unsuccessful in a convert attempt only once in all the yrs. he played for the Lions. On the other hand a struggling Duncan O’Mahony and his holder have botched this play on two occasions now in the past three weeks.


The BC defense spent much of the game chasing Jones and than Danny Mac around their backfield tonight. They were credited with 4 sacks and a whole lot of rushed plays by the Ticat QB’s.


The Lion’s attendance has averaged more than 30,000 fans per game thus far this season.


Coach Wally Buono who has a hound dog nose for talent and especially young unproven QB’s appears to have found yet another beauty in 3rd. stringer Buck Pierce. He had a very strong showing in exhibition competition and looked very much in control in this game.

Next one up for the Leos is Saturday Aug. 27 in Regina, 7:00 PM PST.
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