Bombers, Ticats take win streaks into Friday night contest at Tim Hortons Field

Much has changed for Scott Milanovich and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats since their past gathering with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Zach Collaros’s 10-yard touchdown onslaught to Kenny Lawler with 19 seconds remaining earned Winnipeg (9-6) a 26-23 location triumph implicit Hamilton connected Aug. 23. It was the Bombers’ 3rd consecutive triumph successful their existent seven-game triumph streak that has catapulted the nine to apical spot successful the West Division standings.

But Hamilton (6-9) hasn’t nonaccomplishment since. The Ticats having reeled disconnected 4 consecutive wins to stay successful playoff contention successful the East Division.

Last week, Hamilton rallied from a 16-0 half-time shortage to gain a 32-29 overtime roadworthy triumph implicit the B.C. Lions.

“I ever deliberation each crippled is it’s ain entity,” Milanovich said. “B.C. crushed america (44-28 successful Hamilton connected July 7) and I didn’t deliberation that was going to carnivore successful the crippled (last Friday successful Vancouver) and it didn’t.

“They (Bombers) are a antithetic squad present from erstwhile we played them and truthful are we. I deliberation it should beryllium a bully matchup. I’m looking guardant to it, it’s going to beryllium an breathtaking game.”

Winnipeg is coming disconnected a 55-27 triumph implicit the Edmonton Elks connected Friday night. Collaros threw for 432 yards and a career-high six TD passes successful the contest.

Lawler had 8 catches for 130 yards and 2 TDs portion Nic Demski added 4 receptions for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns. CFL rushing person Brady Oliveira (1,107 yards) ran for 86 yards connected 16 carries but besides had a 33-yard touchdown grab.

“There’s a batch of keys for our defence,” Milanovich said. “They’ve got talented receivers, they’ve got a Hall of Fame backmost and 1 time what volition beryllium a Hall of Fame moving back.

“There’s a batch going connected for our defence to fastener into.”

Hamilton has violative weapons of its own.

Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is starring the CFL successful passing yards (4,359) and TDs (26). Hamilton’s offence is starring the CFL successful nett yards (394.7 per game), passing yards (323.5) and passing touchdowns (29) and stands 2nd successful violative touchdowns (40).

Receiver Shemar Bridges is besides closing successful connected the CFL grounds for astir catches by a first-year player. He has 83 receptions, conscionable six disconnected Derel Walker’s league people of 89.

But Winnipeg counters with a defence that’s tops successful fewest violative points allowed (20.5 per game), nett violative yards (330.9) and passing yards (233.6). Canadian cornerback Tyrell Ford is besides 2nd successful interceptions (six).

“They’re playing large defence, Jordan (defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger) is doing an astonishing job,” said Milanovich. “With Osh’s (head manager Mike O’Shea) prowess connected peculiar teams they’re ever bully connected peculiar teams, and the crippled Zach had past week shows what benignant of subordinate helium is.

“We’re going to person our hands full, we’re going to person to play 1 of our champion games.”

Despite its existent streak, Hamilton’s playoff hopes bent by a thread. The Ticats way third-place Toronto (8-7) by 4 points with some teams having 3 regular-season games remaining.

Hamilton swept the three-game bid with Toronto but volition inactive request assistance to determination past the Argos, who are idle this week. And adjacent then, there’s besides the menace of a West Division crossover with Edmonton (5-10) presently lasting fourth.

Hamilton volition person past connected its broadside Friday night, having won 4 consecutive location games versus Winnipeg. The Bombers’ past triumph astatine Tim Hortons Field was successful 2017 erstwhile Matt Nichols was their starting quarterback.

Hamilton’s starter that crippled was nary different than Collaros, who has doubly been the CFL’s outstanding subordinate with Winnipeg.

Over his past 4 starts, Mitchell has amassed 1,323 passing yards with 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Hamilton receiver Tim White besides needs conscionable 52 yards to scope the 1,000-yard plateau for a 3rd consecutive year.

A Winnipeg win would springiness idle Ottawa (second successful East with 8-6-1 record) a playoff berth. The Redblacks were past successful the CFL post-season successful 2018 erstwhile they mislaid 27-16 to Calgary successful the Grey Cup.

Winnipeg would besides cement archetypal successful the West with a triumph implicit Hamilton and nonaccomplishment by Saskatchewan (7-7-1) to Edmonton (5-10) connected Saturday.

NOTES: Hamilton signed American receivers Isaiah Wooden and Daniel Arias connected Tuesday portion releasing import receivers Jordan Byrd and Jalon Calhoun.