Hamilton remains undefeated at Tim Hortons Field with win over Redblacks

HAMILTON - Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros threw a touchdown pass to Bakari Grant to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 16-6 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday.

Hamilton remains undefeated in five games at Tim Hortons Field and improves to a 7-8 record and a temporary spot atop the CFL East.

The Ticats entered the week in a three-way tie for first place in the East with Toronto and Montreal. But all three teams are in must-win situations this week as the B.C. Lions, who sit fourth in the West with an 8-7 record, currently hold the crossover playoff spot — meaning one of those three teams will likely be bumped from a playoff appearance and only the top-two will go through.

Ottawa falls to 2-13.

A 44-yard run by Hamilton's Terrell Sinkfield to the Ottawa nine-yard line ended the third quarter and set up Collaros' seven-yard TD pass to Grant, who tiptoed just inbounds early in the fourth for the 14-6 lead. Hamilton kicker Justin Medlock kicked a 94-yard single on the ensuing kickoff to go up 15-6. He added a 75-yard punt single midway through the fourth to make it 16-6.

Medlock made two of three field-goal attempts, hitting from 21 and 26 yards but hitting the left upright and falling short from 36.

Ottawa kicker Brett Maher made one of three field-goal attempts, a 28-yarder, but missed from 48 and 38. Maher's 38-yard attempt, in the same direction as Medlock's (north, with the wind), hit the right upright and fell short.

Collaros threw one interception to go along with his touchdown pass.

Ottawa's veteran quarterback Henry Burris had zero touchdown passes or interceptions in the game. He remains one TD pass away from moving into sole possession of third on the all-time list for touchdown passes. He is currently tied with the legendary Ron Lancaster with 333 TDs, behind Anthony Calvillo (455) and Damon Allen (394). Burris has not thrown a touchdown pass in four games (including this one) and not since Ottawa's Sept. 21 win over Saskatchewan.

Hamilton's leading receiver Andy Fantuz left the game in the first quarter with a reported leg injury.

Hamilton controlled the ball for 19:17 in the first half but went into the locker room with only a 7-1 lead. Medlock opened scoring with a 21-yard field goal and 61-yard punt single to give Hamilton a 4-0 lead in the first quarter.

Ottawa pulled to 4-1 in the second quarter when Maher missed his 48-yard field-goal attempt wide right for a single. The only other scoring in the half came with time expired as Hamilton capped a 61-yard drive with another Medlock field goal — this one from 26 yards.

Midway through the third, Hamilton was trapped deep in its own end forcing Medlock to concede the safety on a punt attempt to make it 7-3.

Ottawa couldn't get anything going. A 38-yard drive on the following possession that ate up almost five minutes ended with a missed 38-yard field goal attempt.

It took a 49-yard pass interference call against Hamilton for Ottawa to move the ball into its best field position of the night at the Hamilton 21. Two downs later, Maher hit his 28-yard field goal and Ottawa pulled to 7-6 late in the third.