Collaros, Ti-Cats wear out Argos on Labour Day

Zach Collaros and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats played with fire before topping the tired Toronto Argonauts 49-36 on Monday.

For the second time this season, Hamilton (5-5) won a game that it trailed by at least 20 points, rallying behind four touchdown passes from Collaros to defeat their hated Southern Ontario rival in a classic CFL shootout at a raucous Tim Hortons Field. With 85 total points, it was the highest-scoring game in the history of the two teams' Labour Day rivalry.

The Tiger-Cats gifted Toronto (4-6) with 24 points off turnovers during the first half, then flipped the momentum in the final 20 minutes against an Argonauts team that was playing their third game in 13 days. The teams play again at BMO Field on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET, but Hamilton has already wrapped up the season series.

Collaros, 28-of-35 for 359 yards with one interception, responded to a third-quarter Toronto touchdown drive with a breathless five-play, 85-yard march that pared the Argos' lead down to 36-31 late in the third quarter. Luke Tasker finished the drive with a 39-yard reception in the end zone.

Hamilton's strong pass rush hurried Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray into two second-half interceptions. Courtney Stephen made the first in the end zone to nullify a Toronto scoring opportunity late in the third quarter.

Hamilton went ahead to stay with 9:10 left, when Collaros arced a 10-yard touchdown pass to veteran slotback Chad Owens, a former Argo. Owens was responsible for one of the turnovers during the Ti-Cats' second-quarter meltdown.

Three minutes later, Ray was crushed by Hamilton's John Chick while he was throwing, causing his pass to loop through the air. Emanuel Davis returned the easy interception 55 yards for a game-clinching touchdown.

The Tiger-Cats gained 100 rushing yards for the first time this season. Halfback C.J. Gable had eight rushes for 116 yards, including a 53-yard scamper. Tasker was tops among Tiger-Cats receivers, with five receptions for 122 yards. Brandon Banks and Terrence Toliver also had TD catches, while Andy Fantuz chipped in with a two-point convert. Brett Maher was 2-of-2 on field goals.

Ray was 31-of-41 for 386 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Toronto. Diontae Spencer made eight receptions for a game-high 132 yards, while Tori Gurley had eight grabs for 86 yards and two touchdowns, while Brandon Whitaker also hauled in a TD pass from Ray. Lirim Hajrullahu was 3-of-3 on field goals.

Outside linebacker Thomas Gordon spurred Toronto's first-half onslaught with a scoop-and-score play late in the first quarter. Hamilton was driving when Gordon strip-sacked Collaros, recovered the ball in the ensuing scramble, and scored on a 58-yard fumble return. Over the next several minutes, Collaros threw an interception to Matt Black, Owens coughed up a fumble on Hamilton's 23-yard line, and Argonauts rookie Brian Jones blocked a Maher punt. Toronto converted all four gaffes into points to go up 27-7 with four minutes left before halftime.

Gable had his 53-yard run on the following drive, setting up Banks' TD that got Hamilton back into the game.

Hamilton became the first East Division team with two home wins this season.