Ticats earn 29-15 win over Alouettes to capture top spot in East Division

HAMILTON - Brandon Banks and Nic Grigsby scored fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats cemented top spot in the East Division with a 29-15 home win over the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday night.

Zach Collaros hit Banks on a 15-yard TD strike at 2:31, capping a smart 57-yard, 11-play drive that mostly came against a stiff wind in the third. After Montreal hit a field goal, Grigsby scored on a six-yard run at 11:24 to put Hamilton ahead 28-9.

Hamilton (9-9) needed to beat Montreal (9-9) by eight or more points to finish first and host the division final Nov. 23. The Alouettes won the first meeting of the season 38-31.

With its win, Hamilton eliminated Toronto (8-10) from post-season contention. The Argos, who beat Ottawa 23-5 on Friday night, needed Montreal to emerge victorious to finish second in the East Division.

The Alouettes will host the East semifinal next weekend.

The Ticats improved to 6-0 at Tim Hortons Field, to the delight of an enthusiastic gathering of 24,186 that braved wet and windy conditions. The contest marked the first time the upper deck was open.

Montreal had its six-game win streak snapped and fell to 8-2 with Jonathan Crompton as their starter. Crompton had a 17-yard TD strike to Duron Carter with 19 seconds remaining but the outcome had been decided by then.

Hamilton earned its seventh win in nine games, its best second-half record since '72. That year, the Ticats began the season 1-3 before reeling off 10 straight wins en route to a Grey Cup title.

Justin Medlock's 23-yard field goal at 5:25 of the third put Hamilton ahead 14-6. It was set up by Craig Butler's recovery of an onside punt as Medlock's 17-yard kick hit Ed Gainey, who had lined up onside, allowing Butler to give the Ticats the ball at the Montreal 24-yard line.

It was Hamilton's second attempt of the game and despite the two Ticats lining up onside, Montreal's returners remained deep and allowed the ball to hit the ground rather than have someone come up to play it short

Brandon Stewart had Hamilton's other touchdown. Medlock booted two field goals, three converts and two singles.

Whyte had Montreal's field goals.

The opportunistic Ticats scored 10 points off Montreal turnovers to take an 11-6 half-time advantage. Medlock's 18-yard field goal at 3:03 of the first came after Erik Harris recovered James Rodgers' fumble on the opening kickoff.

Stewart's recovery at 5:31 of the second put Hamilton ahead 11-0. Stewart jumped on a loose ball in Montreal's endzone after running back Chris Rainey couldn't handle Crompton's swing pass.

Crompton's 53-yard completion to S.J. Green was the big play on an 81-yard, six-play drive that Whyte capped with a 23-yard field goal to cut Hamilton's lead to 11-3 at 8:57. Whyte connected from 30 yards out at 12:19 to make it a five-point contest.

But neither offence was effective as Collaros was 8-of-13 passing for 64 yards and an interception. Crompton completed 6-of-12 passes for 93 yards, 53 of which came on the toss to Green.

NOTES — Defensive back Emanuel Davis and offensive lineman Jake Olson didn't dress for Hamilton while receiver Mardy Gilyard and defensive tackle Corvey Irvin were Montreal's scratches . . . The Ticats have had CFL-high 83 players on their roster this year. They've also had 54 different starters, also most in the league. Montreal has had the fewest starters this season with 40 . . . Former All-Pro receiver Chad Johnson remains on Montreal's injured list.