3rd-string QB David Watford, Tiger Cats down Stampeders 23-17 – Calgary

David Watford’s first begin within the CFL resulted in a win, regardless that none of his drives resulted in a landing.

Taylor Bertolet related on all 5 field-goal makes an attempt and Simoni Lawrence scored a 15-yard interception return for a landing because the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Calgary Stampeders 23-17 at Tim Horton’s Area on Friday.

“I undoubtedly felt rusty however I used to be simply in a position to go on the market and the fellows actually acquired me going,” Watford mentioned.

READ MORE: QB David Watford gets the starting call for Hamilton Tiger-Cats 

Watford made his first begin underneath centre for the Ticats (3-3) after accidents to Dane Evans (lower-body) and Jeremiah Masoli (ribs), and completed the sport with 19 passes on 22 makes an attempt for 149 yards passing. Masoli dressed because the backup up Friday.

“Initially he didn’t flip the ball over,” Ticats head coach Orlondo Steinauer mentioned of Watford. “We knew there was an opportunity he’d be weak as a result of he’s operating the ball quite a bit.

“It’s onerous, he hasn’t taken any hits. It’s onerous to arrange for that.”

Watford was the Ticats main rusher with 10 carries for 35 yards. He acquired quite a lot of assist from his workforce’s defence and particular groups, limiting Calgary to 279 yards whole offence.

Bo Levi Mitchell was 16 for 28 passing for 170 yards and one interception for the Stampeders (2-5). It was the quarterback’s first loss towards Hamilton in his profession, after successful the earlier 12 video games towards the membership.

READ MORE: Elks falter in Labour Day rematch against Stampeders 

Mitchell, who has seven interceptions in 4 begins this season, was pulled within the ultimate 2:20 of the sport in favour of backup quarterback Jake Maier.

“I’m by no means going to be good with that, simply because I consider in myself,” Mitchell mentioned of Stampeders’ coach Dave Dickenson’s choice to take him out of the sport. “If I used to be OK with that, that will be an issue, however regardless I’m not the coach.”

Each groups struggled to maintain any offence to begin.

Within the first quarter, Watford went two-and-out on his first drive of the sport from Hamilton’s 27-yard line. However the pivot acquired beneficial area place for his subsequent drive that commenced instantly after Calgary’s Richard Leonard fumbled a punt return. Ticats kicker Bertolet hit a 47-yard area purpose regardless of that put Hamilton on the board 3-0.

The Stampeders replied after they recovered a ball off a fumbled punt return by Hamilton’s Frankie Williams. Calgary kicker Rene Paredes hit a 31-yard area purpose to tie the sport 3-3.

Within the second quarter, the Stampeders fumbled their second punt return, this time by Markeith Ambles. Watford managed his longest drive of the half, eight performs for 47 yards. Bertolet accomplished the drive with an 18-yard area purpose to place the Ticats up 6-3 with 35 seconds remaining till halftime.

Hamilton mustered 110 yards of offence within the first half, edging out Calgary’s 107 yards.

The Ticats opening scoring within the second half on the opening drive when Bertolet hit his third area purpose of the sport from 49 yards out for a 9-3 lead.

On Calgary’s following drive, Luther Hakunavanhu for a 74-yard catch that arrange a one-yard landing by Jake Maier for the sport’s first main. Paredes transformed the purpose after to offer the Stampeders their first lead, 10-9, with 11:14 remaining within the quarter.

The catch by Hakunavanhu was his first reception within the CFL. The fifth-round decide within the 2021 CFL Draft noticed extra motion with beginning receiver Hergy Mayala lacking the sport with a quad damage.

The Ticats replied with their first landing of the sport, and it got here from the defence.

“I used to be simply so completely happy for our soccer workforce as a result of we would have liked that elevate,” Steinauer mentioned. “They had been backed up proper there and the best way he ran the ball (into the endzone) he was like a operating again.”

Lawrence picked off Mitchell for a 15-yard landing, then Maleek Irons rushed the ball into the endzone for a two-point conversion that gave Hamilton a 17-10 lead over Calgary at 6:35.

Bertolet hit a 19-yard area purpose within the fourth quarter that elevated Hamilton’s result in 20-10. He adopted that up with 32-yard area purpose late within the quarter for a 23-10 lead.

Mitchell was pulled in favour of backup quarterback Maier for the ultimate 2:20 of the sport.

1:32
Bo Levi Mitchell returns to Stampeders observe forward of Labour Day Basic

Maier related with Richard Sindani for a 5-yard landing cross with 16 seconds remaining in regulation. The purpose after minimize Hamilton’s result in 23-17.

The Stampeders tried an onside kick however had been unsuccessful, ending any try at a comeback.

Fifteen thousand followers took within the sport at Tim Horton’s Area, the utmost allowed underneath present COVID-19 protocols set forth by the provincial authorities.