HAMILTON – Tre Ford was in his happy place Friday in Hamilton.
The Edmonton Elks quarterback earned a win in his first CFL race 30 minutes down the Queen Elizabeth Highway from his hometown of Niagara Falls, Ont.
The Elks came from behind to beat the Tiger-Cats 29-25 against 20,233 at Tim Hortons Field.
“Going back to Hamilton and having my whole family watching me make the first outing and that first win has been fantastic,” Ford said.
Ford supporters included his wife, parents, sister, sister-in-law and mother-in-law, his AN Myer Secondary football coach, his head coach at the University of Waterloo. , Chris Bertoia, eight of his former college teammates and more. friends.
Ford proved unstable at times, as the Elks fell below 13 points early in the second half.
But the 2021 Hec Crighton Trophy winner who goes to the most prominent Canadian college football player threw a touchdown pass to Kenny Lawler early in the fourth quarter.
The Elks ’winning play (1-3) came with 1:38 from the end when defensive end Scott Hutter tackled Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans and dropped the ball.
Jalen Collins recovered from a 14-yard touchdown.
“I saw him tackle it and I thought,‘ Please hit the ball, ’” Collins said. “All we needed was an opportunity to close out the game. We were fighting all night. It was ugly. “
The winless Tiger-Cats opened a season with four straight losses for the first time since 2017, when they started 0-8.
“I want to apologize to all the guys. I put both defeats at home,” Evans said. “I just have to take care of myself and we’ll win the game.”
Evans made 20 of 31 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown throw. He was intercepted twice.
Ford’s numbers didn’t shine, though he ran for 61 yards on six carries. The 24-year-old competed in 15 of 26 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once.
Edmonton’s defense helped with the interceptions of Sheldon Brady and Matthew Thomas, as well as the extra balance recovered at the end of the game by Collins.
“A big shout out to the defense,” Ford said. “We won that game. Did they do what, three or four bills? They did it super well.
“I have room for improvement. I won’t complain because we won. But I’ll go to the movie theater to see what I can critique and where I can improve.”
Hamilton was behind the debutant with several blitzes in the first half. “My legs will open things up for my arm,” Ford said.
Ford credited his teammate and quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who started in Edmonton’s three losses this season, for advising him during the game on defensive readings.
“It’s been like this since day one, even though we’re competitors for the position,” Ford said.
He recognized the nervous first, as Hamilton led 16-6 after the first quarter and 19-9 at the break.
“I always get nervous about the first play of every game,” Ford said. “I think it’s a good thing because it means I care and I want to win.”
Evans hit Steven Dunbar for a 21-yard shot, and Lawrence Woods returned a 72-yard throw for Hamilton’s touchdowns in the first half.
Edmonton’s Kai Locksley scored in a one-yard fall.
Elks kicker Sergio Castillo made two of his three field goal attempts, while his Hamilton counterpart Michael Domagala nailed his three and put the Ticats in the lead with a 33-yard play at 3: 10 from the end of the match.
“We’re not good enough right now,” Hamilton head coach Orlondo Steinauer said. “We’re not running at the level that needs to happen. We’re just not making the plays we need to make.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 1, 2022.