Big night for Jeremiah Masoli as Ticats come back to beat Eskimos 37-31

“That is a really good football team we were playing, it just ending up going our way in the second half. There really isn’t a great explanation for it. I’m just proud of the guys for battling and not giving up. It just shows that in this league that you are never out of it.”

It was the second win in a row for the Ticats, who improved to 3-2. Hamilton’s 25-point comeback ranks as the sixth biggest in league history.

Masoli went 31-of-38 passing for 391 yards and three touchdowns, but the really remarkable stat was completing 23 consecutive passes in the second half to eclipse the CFL record of 22 straight previously held by current Eskimos head coach Jason Maas.

“I don’t think it has really set in. I’m not really focused on records or things like that. I just want to win and get back to the championship,” Masoli said.

“I don’t thing I have ever seen anything like what happened tonight. It just feels awesome to come from behind the way that we did. I’m just so proud of this group of guys.”

Edmonton (2-2), which suffered its worst collapse in team history, had a two-game winning streak snapped.

“They started getting some pressure on us, but we just didn’t play football,” said Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly. “We played football for about 35 minutes today and that was it, and they played for 60. They deserved that win, they played the whole game and they straight up whooped us in the second half.”

Hamilton took an early lead on a 44-yard field goal by Brett Maher, before the Eskimos responded with a long drive capped off by a five-yard touchdown pass Reilly to Cory Watson — Edmonton’s first TD in the opening quarter this season.

Reilly was 32-of-42 passing for 354 yards and three TDs.

The Eskimos made it 10-3 late in the first quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Sean Whyte.

Edmonton added to its lead midway through the second frame on a 22-yard TD pass from Reilly to Derel Walker.

The Eskimos took a 24-6 lead into the half, adding a one-yard TD plunge by running back John White before the Ticats kicked another three-pointer right before the break.

Edmonton continued to score at will to start the third as Reilly found Adarius Bowman for a 10-yard major. Reilly moved into a tie for eighth all-time for Eskimos TD passes alongside Maas.

Hamilton finally put together a successful drive midway through the third, finished off with a 26-yard TD pass from Masoli to Terrence Toliver. The Ticats followed that up quickly with a one-yard TD plunge by Jeff Mathews to cut Edmonton’s lead to 31-20.

The Tiger-Cats comeback continued early in the fourth as Masoli completed a 23-yard pass into the end zone to Fantuz. The convert kick failed.

Hamilton’s stunning second half saw the club surge into the lead with just under 10 minutes to play as Fantuz reeled in a six-yard TD pass and Chad Owens caught a two-point convert to put the Ticats ahead 34-31.

Hamilton added a field goal with three minutes left.

Edmonton got back into scoring range, but Hamilton was able to strip the ball from Reilly with linebacker Larry Dean recovering, allowing the Ticats to run out the clock and complete their comeback.

The Eskimos are back in action on Thursday, when they host Winnipeg. The Tiger-Cats will also face the Blue Bombers, visiting Winnipeg on Aug. 3 after a bye week.

Notes: The last time the Ticats visited Edmonton, they came away with a 49-20 victory on Aug. 21, 2015. That was also the last time the Eskimos lost in regulation time at Commonwealth Stadium.

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Big night for Jeremiah Masoli as Ticats come back to beat Eskimos 37-31

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