Marc Liegghio put the Ottawa Redblacks on the ropes before Chris Edwards delivered the knockout punch.
Liegghio kicked five field goals as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated Ottawa 21-13 on Saturday night. But it was Edwards’ crucial tackle of Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum that preserved the victory.
Crum, who replaced injured starter Jeremiah Masoli, drove Ottawa (1-3) to the Hamilton 20-yard line with seven seconds remaining. On the game’s final play, he took off for the end zone but was stopped a yard-and-a-half short by Edwards, with an assist from teammate Richard Leonard, delighting the Tim Hortons Field gathering of 21,331.
“That was a professional play, that’s an All-Pro play,” Hamilton head coach Orlondo Steinauer said of Edwards’ stop. “He’s just that type of a football player.
“Thank goodness he was out there.”
Liegghio’s 25-yard field goal gave Hamilton (1-3) its eight-point lead at 11:49 of the fourth quarter. Liegghio has made all nine field goals he’s tried in the two games he’s been with the Ticats but did miss a convert.
“You can’t say enough about Liegghio,” Steinauer said. “The ball goes through the pipes every time so far.
“It’s definitely a team effort but to not make mention of what he contributed would definitely be an oversight.”
Hamilton’s defence played a spirited game, registering five sacks and four turnovers, including three interceptions.
“We took the ball away,” Steinauer said. “That’s something that had been eluding us a little bit and tonight it didn’t.
“The game had a lot of different turns and twists and at the end of the day we found a way to win.”
Masoli, in his season debut, left in the second quarter with a leg injury. The 34-year-old was trying to roll out to his right when, untouched, he fell to the turf and immediately clutched his left leg.
Masoli was carried off the field by his teammates. Injury details weren’t divulged but Masoli left Ottawa’s dressing room after the game on crutches and wearing a boot on his left foot.
“I have so much love for Jeremiah,” Steinauer said. “Injuries are a part of the game ΓǪ but I think you saw a little bit of air go out of both sides.
“But that’s a credit to him and just the amount of respect he has throughout the league, specifically with these two teams. Not a great thing, I think the league is better with Jeremiah in it.”
Masoli was playing a year to the day after suffering a season-ending right leg injury against the Saskatchewan Roughriders — a span of 17 games that saw Ottawa go 5-12. He was making his first career start versus Hamilton, the team he played eight seasons for (2013-21) before signing with Ottawa as a free agent.
“Jeremiah is one of my favourite people in the world,” said Hamilton linebacker Simoni Lawrence. “He’s a standup guy, I love his family.
“I just hope he’s OK because he loves this. He’s the ultimate competitor, he’s a great human being, he loves his teammates.”
Masoli finished six-of-10 passing for 37 yards and an interception. Crum was 14-of-21 for 149 yards and two picks and ran six times for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Ottawa defensive lineman Lorenzo Mauldin IV, the CFL’s top defensive player last season, said losing Masoli was a huge blow to the Redblacks.
“It was definitely hard to see him go down,” he said. “We had complete faith he’d come in and finish the game and continue to do what he does when he’s healthy and playing.
“We made sure we were playing for him ΓǪ but it’s true when they say this game is a game of inches. It’s heartbreaking.”
Hamilton starter Matt Shiltz was 19-of-26 passing for 233 yards with a TD and interception. He ran five times for 30 yards.
Tyreik McAllister scored Hamilton’s touchdown as the Ticats earned a fifth straight home win over the Redblacks.
Lewis Ward had two field goals and a convert for Ottawa.
McAllister put Hamilton ahead 15-13, taking a screen pass 64 yards for the TD at 8:15 of the third. The convert was unsuccessful.
Hamilton appeared poised to add to that lead after Ted Laurent’s fumble recovery at the Ottawa 46. But Brandin Dandridge returned the favour, being the last to touch Ticats’ receiver Kiondre Smith’s fumble at the Redblacks’ 26-yard line.
But Liegghio’s 34-yard field goal at 4:14 extended Hamilton’s lead to 18-13.
Ward’s 20-yard field goal at 4:23 gave Ottawa a 13-9 advantage.
Crum’s 15-yard TD at 14:03 of the second earned Ottawa an unlikely 10-9 halftime lead.
Hamilton compiled 153 first-half net offensive yards compared to 87 for Ottawa. But the Ticats were also penalized nine times for 51 yards, including three time-count violations.
Ward kicked a 36-yard field goal at 9:10 to pull Ottawa to within 9-3 following Masoli’s departure.
Liegghio’s 20-yard field goal at 4:41 of the second staked Hamilton to a 9-0 advantage. It followed an unsuccessful challenge of an incompletion call of Shiltz’s 13-yard TD pass to Richie Sindani.
It was set up by Edwards’ interception — Hamilton’s first of the season — that he returned to the Ottawa 29.
Liegghio connected from 50 yards out — following a second time-count penalty — at 1:50. He also opened the scoring with a 13-yard boot at 6:06 of the first.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2023.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
