It was a spectacular game for Tre Ford.The Niagara Falls, Ont., native threw for 218 yards and a touchdown and ran for a game-high 109 yards as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats won a squeaker over the Toronto Argonauts 24-23 on Saturday night.
It was Ford’s first start for the Tiger-Cats and followed a week where poor air quality relegated them to mostly indoor walk-through practices.
Ford finished 21-of-27 passing and his athleticism helped Hamilton (3-3) convert 15-of-23 second-down chances. The Ticats earned their first win in three games but more importantly their first since starter Bo Levi Mitchell (ankle) was hurt in a 14-13 home loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on July 5.
Hamilton won with injuries to offensive line as tackles Trevor Reid and Quinton Barrow were hurt. That forced guards Brandon Revenberg and Nate Dumoulin-Duguay to kick outside, centre Liam Dobson and tight end Max Mang to go to guard and backup centre Kris Kolankowski to replace Dobson.
Still, Hamilton needed some help for the win. Veteran Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu missed a 31-yard field goal on the game’s final play after the Argos (2-4) drove 58 yards on seven plays.
Hajrullahu also missed a convert that allowed Hamilton to cling to its 24-23 advantage. And last week, he missed a 40-yard field goal attempt that was returned 129 yards for the touchdown in a 30-21 road loss to Winnipeg.
Chad Kelly’s five-yard TD strike to David Ungerer III 46 seconds into the fourth cut Hamilton’s lead to 24-17. Kelly completed 25-of-35 passes for 322 yards with a touchdown and interception, while Tyler Kahmann registered six catches for a game-high 104 yards.
Argonauts: Visit the B.C. Lions on Saturday, July 25.
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