In the end, they still had an opportunity. However, it was their early performance that ultimately led to their missed chance.
“After falling behind 19-7 at halftime and eventually losing 32-24 to the Stampeders, dampening Bo Levi Mitchell’s return to Calgary, Tiger-Cats head coach Scott Milanovich lamented, ‘Too many mistakes early in the game forced us to play catch-up in the second half.‘”
The Ticats will have to endure another year before attempting to break the disheartening streak of opening day losses, with just four Game 1 victories since the turn of the millennium.
Despite the setbacks, there were positive signs: noticeable changes in Mitchell’s physique and strategic approach to the game, a resurgence in the offense during the second half, James Butler making a strong debut for the season, promising displays by the receivers, and a late drive that could have turned the game around if they had been successful with an on-side kickoff.
There were numerous positive developments that we will discuss later in this article. However, there were too many negative factors that prevented the Tiger-Cats from securing a road victory in a close game, especially at a venue like McMahon Stadium where they have struggled historically with just one win in 19 years.
Starting from the failed last-minute on-side kick, the special teams for the Cats faced challenges throughout the game, despite some successful field goals by Marc Liegghio and decent punting by Nik Constantinou. The special teams failed to contain rookie Stampeder returner Erik Brooks, had issues with punting, and made critical mistakes like sending 13 players on the field for a field goal attempt.
A missed field goal by Liegghio was returned for a substantial gain by Brooks, leading to a pivotal swing in points. Additionally, the offense experienced drops and missed opportunities, including a failed catchable touchdown pass near the goal line.
The special teams were not the only unit making game-altering errors. The Calgary quarterback, Jake Maier, posed challenges for the Hamilton defense, capitalizing on opportunities and scoring consistently in the first half. The defensive adjustments against play-action plays and Maier’s ability to extend plays proved to be difficult for the Tiger-Cats.
While the Hamilton offense amassed 459 yards before their first snap of the season, they were penalized for having too many players on the field, leading to a disadvantageous first down situation. Despite some missteps, Coach Milanovich acknowledged the team’s improved performance as the game progressed.
Mitchell’s connection with White faced challenges throughout the game, with missed opportunities in the end zone and critical drops by various receivers, ultimately impacting the team’s chances of success.
“I missed about five easy passes that I should have completed,” Mitchell admitted. “So, I’m not going to blame any receiver for drops. It’s something we’ll address, review on film, and improve upon.”
Milanovich echoed Mitchell’s sentiment, stating, “It’s interesting because we haven’t had many dropped passes throughout camp, but we saw a few in the first preseason game and today. These guys have good hands. It’s a challenge we need to overcome.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with the initial outcome, Mitchell’s performance improved significantly during the game. Starting 8-for-15 for 65 yards in the first half, he completed 27 of 38 passes for 300 yards and orchestrated a 72-yard drive capped off with a touchdown pass to Kiondré Smith in the final minutes.
Mitchell showcased his running skills as well, accumulating 36 yards on the ground, more than in five of the past six seasons. He displayed agility in avoiding rushes, extending plays to find open receivers when under pressure.
Reflecting on his journey back from injury, Mitchell credited his readiness for the season opener to intense training sessions and guidance from the coaching staff. Despite a momentary scare with a hit to the head, he quickly recovered and led the team effectively.
Butler, who was a game-time decision, impressed with 131 scrimmage yards, largely from running the ball effectively as Milanovich emphasized a strong running game strategy.
Several other positive highlights included impactful plays from the defense, solid performances from various receivers including Bridges, Dunbar, and O’Leary-Orange, and successful connections with White.
An off-the-field positive moment occurred when the Stampeders greeted Mitchell back with a highlight reel, to which he responded with a subtle wave and then shifted his focus to the game. While some teammates watched the video, Mitchell stayed focused on the game ahead.
However, as mentioned earlier, despite some positives, the negatives slightly outweighed them, albeit by a mere eight points. To achieve a .500 record, the Tiger-Cats will need a victory in their upcoming home opener against Saskatchewan.
In other news, versatile running back Ante Litre, successful as a short-yardage quarterback in the previous preseason game against the Argos, replicated his performance on Friday by scoring a touchdown from under center on 3rd-and-goal from the one-yard line against Calgary. This narrowed the score to 22-14. Jake Maier completed 21 of 26 passes for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Reggie Beggleton proved to be a consistent threat with four receptions. Erik Brooks contributed 165 yards in total returns, and Clarence Hicks secured the only sack for Calgary. Milanovich expressed his optimism about Bo Levi Mitchell’s performance, particularly highlighting his mobility and ability to extend plays which provided a solid foundation for improvement.
Leave a Reply