Ticat’s Manage Late Win

In search of what some were calling a desperate win the 3-4 Lions came out strong in a match-up against the Ticats in a match that was all but assured as a win only to have the Ticats overcome a 10 point deficit to pull out a 37-33 win.

The win came on a last minute TD with under four minutes remaining that would need a huge play by the Ticats to somehow manage a win which they managed to do in convincing fashion.

Somehow Kiondre Smith managed to grab a last minute reception that saw them pull them (5-2)  for a shocking win sending the fan frenzy crowd home wondering what just happened which many still ask?

In search of a desperate win following the shocking game against Saskatchewan, there is work to do on the D-line who at times were unable to handle the Ticats who overpowered the Lions.

This alone remains the question considering Bo Levi Mitchell and the Ticat’s were riding a four-game winning streak considering that they dropped the first two regular season games. 

The Lions will have the luxury to work on various plays considering that they have their first bye week prior to the rematch against the Ticats in Hamilton August 7th. 

It’s fair to say that so far this season the Lions have had a slow start noting that they have been outscored by a 48-14 margin in the first quarter of games this  season it’s only understandable that they have more focus from the start.

Currently the Lions are below .500 with July drawing to a close but noting that from what we hear Nathan Rourke is healthy noting that he managed a 43 yard bomb to Eberhardt for a first down play on Hamilton’s  two-yard line.

The play saw Lions Masoli manage a short two-yard gain for the TD followed by yet another convert by Lions Sean Whyte who is relentless on points after this season.

This was followed by a 44 yard pass to Brendan O’Leary-Orange that set up a point after Liegghio’s convert, cutting the Lions lead to only three points.

On their next possession they marched up field with only 16 seconds left and sent one to Smith for the game winning TD leaving the Lions stunned.

It was ironic that Mitchell was good on 34 of his 41 passes finishing with 389 yards, three TD’s allowing one interception which he mentioned following the game that “He’s a playmaker, he’s a baller and  ages like wine which clearly shows”.

Rourke on the other hand threw for 289 yards managing to connect on 20 of his 27 attempts while Whyte was good for four field goals  which included a 45 yard kick as well as three converts.

Following the game the message from Lions Head Coach Buck Pierce is that “Everyone in the locker room need to understand the reality of where they are”.

He continued saying “And have the ability to look at yourselves and ask yoursell saying what more can I do”.

As they are in the bye week he (Pierce) believes having time off will server his group well saying “This is gonna sting for a while but they have to more past the emotion of it to grow, and that’s the  big thing”.

League notes: 

Hamilton leads the CFL in big plays, listed as a pass of 30 yards or more or a run of 20 yards or more which is a test for Garry Peters and a secondary who have been bitten by the injury bug of late.

Travian Blaylock, Lions Rookie signed after a free agent camp in Dallas in the offseason and makes his pro debut with Jalon Edwards-Cooper nursing a bad knee. 

Blaylock has spent the balance of 2025 on the practice roster and now gets put to the test against the most productive duo in the league.

Ronald Kent Jr. is good to go after missing practice time with a knee injury of his own.

The Lions return home to taking on the Montreal Al’s August 16th for a 4 pm start time.