Hamilton Tiger-Cats claw out 32-29 OT win over B.C. Lions

It was rather a time for Ante Milanovic-Litre.

First, helium learned his woman was expecting a baby. Later, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats moving backmost took a nonstop drawback and scored connected a one-yard tally successful overtime to springiness his squad a 32-29 triumph implicit the B.C. Lions successful a nail-biting CFL crippled Friday night.

“I’m connected apical of the world,” said the 29-year-old who was calved successful Vancouver and played his assemblage shot astatine Simon Fraser University. “I’m connected unreality nine. That touchdown was for my unborn child.”

The winning touchdown was acceptable up aft B.C. defender Ronald Kent Jr. was called for walk interference successful the extremity portion pursuing a reappraisal from the bid centre, bringing boos from the assemblage astatine BC Place Stadium.

It was a chaotic crippled that saw the Tiger-Cats rally from a 16-point shortage and people 2 touchdowns precocious successful the 4th fourth to triumph their 4th consecutive game.

“It was lone 2 scores astatine halftime,” said receiver Kiondre Smith, who caught a six-yard touchdown pass. “We came retired successful the 2nd half, and we scored points connected our archetypal drive.

“Once it’s a one-score game, it’s anyone’s game. Down the stretch, we’re 1 of those teams that gets amended arsenic we go.”

With conscionable implicit 5 minutes left, and Hamilton facing a third-and-three, backmost Bo Levi Mitchell recovered Smith successful the extremity portion to chopped the Lions pb to 23-18.

After a Lions two-and-out, Mitchell marched Hamilton down the tract again, hitting Brendan O’Leary-Orange for a 10-yard touchdown. The two-point person was good, giving Hamilton a 26-23 lead.

With little than a infinitesimal remaining Lions backmost Nathan Rourke connected with Keon Hatcher connected passes of 23 and 15 yards to acceptable up a 12-yard Sean Whyte tract extremity that tied the crippled 26-26.

On their archetypal possession of overtime the Lions settled for a 24-yard Whyte tract goal, giving B.C. a 29-26 lead.

Rick Campbell, B.C.’s caput manager and co-general manager, said his squad struggled successful the 2nd half.

“They (Hamilton) look to travel retired successful the 2nd fractional with truly bully energy,” said Campbell. “We were missing immoderate tackles and they were making immoderate plays. They were playing astatine a faster level than we were.”

Hamilton caput manager Scott Milanovich watched his squad commencement the crippled with 4 two-and-outs and not mange a archetypal down until aboriginal successful the 2nd quarter.

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“We conscionable got disconnected to a atrocious commencement and didn’t person immoderate bushed offensively,” helium said.

“The offence didn’t get settled successful until halftime, but they ne'er quit. A batch of spot is gathering successful that locker room.”Mitchell completed 34 of 40 passes for 309 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. He caught a two-point person connected a razzle-dazzle play and was sacked 3 times.

Running backmost Greg Bell scored connected a 13-yard run.

Marc Liegghio deed a 47-yard tract goal.

Rourke shouldered the blasted for an offence that started blistery past cooled off.

“In this league your offence goes arsenic overmuch arsenic your backmost allows you to go,” said Rourke, who completed 22 of 36 passes for 264 yards.

“I deliberation determination were times erstwhile I was playing good and moved the ball. I deliberation determination were times we weren’t moving the shot and that was due to the fact that I wasn’t making the throws oregon making the reads.”

Rourke ran for touchdowns of 7 and 2 yards. Whyte besides kicked tract goals of 50, 45 and 26 yards.

Running backmost William Stanback had 15 carries for 105 yards and went implicit the 1,000-yard people for the 3rd clip successful his career.

B.C. was coming disconnected a bye week pursuing a 33-17 nonaccomplishment to Toronto. The Lions are 2-7 successful their past 9 games.

Earlier Friday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-6) defeated the Edmonton Elks (5-11) 55-27.

The Lions (7-8) stay 2nd successful the CFL West, 4 points behind Winnipeg.

Hamilton (6-9) is 4th successful the East.