Collins recovers fumble, scores late as Elks edge Tiger-Cats for 1st win of season
.jpg?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:*510w "Collins recovers fumble, scores late as Elks edge Tiger-Cats for 1st win of season")
Tre Ford was in his completely happy place Friday in Hamilton.
The Edmonton Elks quarterback bought a win in his first profession CFL begin half-hour down the Queen Elizabeth Freeway from his hometown of Niagara Falls, Ont.
The Elks got here from behind to beat the Tiger-Cats 29-25 in entrance of 20,233 at Tim Hortons Discipline.
Amongst Ford’s supporters have been his spouse, mother and father, sister, sister-in-law and mother-in-law, his highschool soccer coach from A.N. Myer Secondary, his College of Waterloo head coach Chris Bertoia, eight of his former college teammates and extra pals.
Ford was shaky at instances because the Elks trailed by 13 factors early within the second half.
WATCH l Collins’s late TD fingers Elks 1st win of CFL season:
Rookie quarterback Tre Ford of Niagara Falls, Ont., led Edmonton to the win in his first profession CFL begin.
However the 2021 winner of the Hec Crighton Trophy winner that goes to essentially the most excellent Canadian college soccer participant threw a game-tying landing go to Kenny Lawler early within the fourth quarter.
The successful play for the Elks (1-3) arrived with 1:38 remaining when defensive again Scott Hutter tackled Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans and knocked the ball unfastened.
Jalen Collins recovered for a 14-yard landing.
“I noticed him sort out him and thought, ‘please punch the ball out,” Collins stated. “All we would have liked was a chance to shut the sport out. We have been combating all evening. It was ugly.”
The winless Tiger-Cats opened a season with 4 straight losses for the primary time since 2017 after they began 0-8.
‘I put each residence losses on me’
“I wish to apologize to all the fellows. I put each residence losses on me,” Evans stated. “I simply must maintain it, and we win the sport.”
Evans was 20-for-31 in passing for 197 yards and a landing throw. He was intercepted twice.
Ford’s numbers did not sparkle, though he did rush for 61 yards on six carries. The 24-year-old competed 15 of 26 passes for 159 yards and a landing. He was intercepted as soon as.
Edmonton’s defence helped out with interceptions by Sheldon Brady and Matthew Thomas, in addition to the pivotal late-game recovered fumble by Collins.
“A giant shout out to the defence,” Ford stated. “They received us that recreation. They made what, three or 4 turnovers? They did tremendous effectively.
Hamilton went after the rookie with varied blitzes within the first half.
“My legs are going to open issues up for my arm,” Ford stated.
Ford credited teammate and quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who began in Edmonton’s three losses this season, for advising him in the course of the recreation on defensive reads.
“He is been like that since day one, regardless that we’re rivals for the place,” Ford stated.
He admitted to early jitters as Hamilton led 16-6 after the primary quarter and 19-9 at halftime.
“I all the time get nervous for the primary play of each recreation,” Ford stated. “I believe it is a good factor as a result of it means I care and that I wish to win.”
Evans hit Steven Dunbar for a 21-yard strike, and Lawrence Woods returned a kickoff of 72 yards for Hamilton’s first-half touchdowns.
Edmonton’s Kai Locksley scored on a one-yard plunge.
Elks kicker Sergio Castillo made two of his three field-goal makes an attempt, whereas Hamilton counterpart Michael Domagala nailed his three and gave the Ticats at lead with a 33-yarder with 3:10 remaining within the recreation
“We’re not ok proper now,” Hamilton head coach Orlondo Steinauer stated. “We’re not executing on the degree which must occur. We’re simply not making these performs we have to make.”
