Redblacks and Ticats both aim to end losing streak in meeting in the nation’s capital

“We plan on being a play-off team, so we want to make sure that every time we get a chance to get those two points, whether you call it four-point games or whatever, Hamilton happens to be the team this week. They’re an Eastern team.”

Oddly enough, the Redblacks won’t play an East Division opponent again until September.

“You want to dig into it a little extra because you know the seeding and all that stuff matters later,” linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox said. “So, you know, it’s a little weird not to be playing another Eastern opponent until September, but it’s also something that we want to embrace and leave the East on the right note.”

The Ticats, meanwhile, have started the season 0-3 and want to prove they are better than their record indicates.

A meeting with the Redblacks might be just what they need.

Hamilton struggled at the start of the last two seasons, going 0-4 in 2022 and 0-3 in 2023, breaking his losing streak each time with wins over Ottawa.

The Redblacks will look to bounce back after a disappointing 47-21 loss to Montreal last week, with the Redblacks trailing 30-1 at halftime.

Quarterback Dru Brown is looking to do the same after completing 21 of 35 passes for 292 yards in that loss, with one touchdown and one interception.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a seasoned vet, but I’ve been around long enough to know how long the season is,” Brown said. “It’s important that we stick together.

“Often teams experience this at least one game, even the good ones, so we obviously looked at it and improved it and then flushed it because it doesn’t matter anymore. We have complete confidence in each other to move forward and do what we need to do.”

The Redblacks know they have to contain Ticats QB Bo Levi Mitchell. The veteran threw three interceptions in a 36-20 loss to Saskatchewan last week, but he remains one of the league’s best.

“I think he’s back to his old form,” Santos-Knox said of Mitchell. “He looks very mobile and he can escape things that he couldn’t really escape last year… we know we’re going to get the best of him.

“He can read every defense and has seen every defense, so with him we just have to respond well to the assignment and know that he is still a great player.”

Sherrod Baltimore will be part of that effort after winning the battle for the starting cornerback position. The opening occurred after Ottawa Money placed Hunter on the one-game injured list.

Tarvarus McFadden and Baltimore had both vied for the opportunity, but ultimately Dyce said Baltimore showed a “great comfort level” there and performed at a high level.

Greg Bell will fill Hamilton’s running back position in place of James Butler.

TIGER CATS (0-3) WITH RED BLACKS (1-1)

HISTORY ON OUR SIDE: The Ticats have the longest winning streak in the CFL against a single team, having won the last 10 meetings with the Redblacks.

DYNAMITE DEVONTE: DeVonte Dedmon is the CFL’s all-time leader in kick return TD frequency. In 26 career games, he has six kick-return touchdowns, including the only one recorded in 2024: a 101-yard kickoff return last week.

KEEP IT GOING: Hamilton’s Kiondre Smith has a string of three TD receptions on Sunday. He had just one TD in 36 career games before this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2024.

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press