Mitchell Leads Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Thrilling 37-33 Victory Over B.C. Lions
Bo Levi Mitchell threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Kiondre Smith with 16 seconds left to lift the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a thrilling 37-33 victory over the host B.C. Lions in CFL action Sunday at B.C. Place.
Mitchell finished with 389 passing yards and three touchdowns for the Ticats (5-2), who have won five consecutive games. Smith had two touchdown receptions, while Brendan O'Leary-Orange and Jake Doleaga also had big plays. Kicker Marc Liegghio contributed three field goals and four conversions.
In a losing effort for B.C. (3-5), quarterback Nathan Rourke passed for 289 yards, with backup Jeremiah Masoli scoring a touchdown on a quarterback sneak. Running back James Butler added 115 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions, while Sean Whyte kicked four field goals and three extra points.
After B.C.'s first drive failed and they were forced to punt, the Ticats committed a turnover on their first play from scrimmage in the back-and-forth game.
Mitchell delivered a short pass to Keaton Bruggeling, whose fumble was recovered by British Columbia's Travian Blaylock at the Hamilton 19-yard line. The Lions capitalized, scoring on a three-yard Butler run for a touchdown, which Whyte converted to make it 7-0, little over five minutes into the game.
Liegghio made it 7-3 with a 40-yard field goal midway through the quarter.
After strong runs by Rourke and Butler, B.C. scored another touchdown at 10:51, with former Ticat Butler finding the end zone again, this time from five yards out. Whyte's conversion made the score 14-3 after one quarter.
Before Sunday's game, the Lions had only scored 14 points in the first quarter this season.
Hamilton came within four points early in the second quarter, with six-foot-seven backup pivot Dolegala scoring on a quarterback sneak at 1:56. Liegghio's conversion made the score 14-10.
Following a Butler turnover on a short throw-in BC territory midway through the first, Liegghio converted another field goal (his 32nd in a row) from 12 yards out to make the score 14-13.
Hatcher's 73-yard catch-and-run set up Whyte for a 21-yard field goal (his 27th in a row) with 1:47 remaining to make the score 17-13.
A sensational end zone interception by British Columbia's Robert Carter Jr. with 57 seconds left set up White's 33-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Lions a 20-13 lead at the half.
Hamilton drew even at 20-20 five minutes into the third quarter, capping a remarkable drive with a Mitchel shovel pass to Smith from nine yards. Liegghio inserted the converter.
After another B.C. drive stalled deep in Hamilton territory, Whyte made a 12-yard field goal with 4:04 remaining in the quarter to put the team ahead 23-20.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Liegghio's 23-yard field goal tied things up at 23-23.
With six minutes remaining, Whyte scored from 45 yards out to give the Lions a 26-23 lead.
After Hamilton regained possession, running back Greg Bell fumbled near midfield, and Sione Teuhema of British Columbia recovered. Two plays later, Rourke connected with Ayden Eberhardt on a 43-yard pass to the Hamilton two-yard line. Masoli carried it in from there for a touchdown, and Whyte's convert gave British Columbia a 33-23 lead.
Hamilton promptly replied, with Mitchell connecting with O'Leary-Orange from 44 yards out for a touchdown with 2:50 remaining in the fourth. Liegghio's conversion pulled the Ticats within 33-30.
After the Lions were forced to punt, Mitchell led the Ticats back down the field, culminating in the one-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Liegghio added the conversion to complete the scoring.