When the two worst teams in the CFL meet up Sunday night, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at least bring a dose of momentum into the clash.
Hamilton (1-5) aims to win its second straight contest when it visits Edmonton to face the winless Elks.
Edmonton dropped to 0-6 with a 20-14 loss to the host Ottawa Redblacks last week in the debut of interim coach Jarious Jackson.
Meanwhile, the Tiger-Cats finally had something to celebrate with a 27-24 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts.
A reprieve from losing felt good to star quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who passed for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Several Hamilton players called the victory a relief.
“Relief’s a great word,” Mitchell said. “We’ve been battling, so getting that win was important.”
Hamilton coach Scott Milanovich saw it differently.
“I don’t know if relief is the right word,” Milanovich said. “I feel happy for them. I told them before the game that everyone in the organization is really working their tail off, doing the right things to try to get this thing turned in the right direction. And they deserved to be rewarded for it.”
Edmonton would like to find some relief from its winless campaign that includes firing Chris Jones as coach and general manager after dropping to 0-5.
The Elks forced three turnovers and allowed their fewest points of the season in the loss to Ottawa, but the offense sputtered and kicker Boris Bede missed three of his seven field-goal attempts.
Jackson pointed at the club’s CFL-worst rushing attack (61.7 yards per game) as a problem.
“We’ve got to get the run game going,” Jackson said. “I’ve got to call more runs. I just feel like we weren’t clicking. …
“It takes all 12 (players) to be successful on every play.”
It’s more than the run game as the Elks rank last in total offense at 332.7 yards per game.
Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson has been adequate with 1,703 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
Tigers-Cats defensive lineman Dewayne Hendrix knows Bethel-Thompson can erupt at any time. The two were teammates with the Argonauts in 2021-22 with Bethel-Thompson quarterbacking Toronto to the Grey Cup crown in the second campaign.
“Gunslinger. He’s like the Brett Favre of the CFL,” Hendrix said of Bethel-Thompson. “Really great quarterback. He puts it in really tight windows and can break down the defenses. Just a great overall quarterback.”
Elks linebacker Michael Brodrique (groin) was limited in practice all week but ruled out on Friday. Offensive lineman Hunter Steward (head) also was declared out.
Hamilton defensive lineman Luke Brubacher and defensive back Branden O’Leary-Orange were both ruled out with hamstring injuries on Friday after being limited all week.
–Field Level Media
