The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are set to start Tre Ford at quarterback for their upcoming game against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday night. This decision comes as the team seeks a spark for its offence.
Ford, a 28-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont., will be making his 24th career CFL start. His previous 23 starts were with the Edmonton Elks, where he began his professional career in 2022. He joined Hamilton as a free agent this off-season.
Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich indicated the change was made to utilize Ford’s distinct skill set. Milanovich stated, “Just looking for a spark,” adding, “It’s no blame on Jake. Obviously Tre has a different skill set that we’re looking forward to trying to utilize this week.”
Ford has completed eight of 13 passes for 59 yards with an interception in limited action with the Tiger-Cats this season. He served as Jake Dolegala‘s backup in the team’s recent 38-7 road loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a game played without star quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.
Mitchell, 36, sustained an ankle injury on July 5 during Hamilton’s 14-13 home loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, an injury that required surgery. Following Mitchell’s injury, both Ford and Dolegala took snaps against Winnipeg. Ford completed three of seven passes for 12 yards and an interception, while Dolegala had no completions on two attempts.
In the game against Saskatchewan, Dolegala completed 17 of 30 passes for 122 yards and one interception, also rushing eight times for 33 yards. Ford saw late-game action, completing five of six passes for 47 yards and rushing twice for 24 yards.
Ford’s career record as a CFL starter is 10-13. He has completed 367 of 547 passes (67.1 per cent) for 4,710 yards, with 29 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Additionally, he has rushed 128 times for 1,176 yards, averaging 9.2 yards per carry, and scored four rushing touchdowns.
Milanovich noted Ford’s mobility, explaining that he “can escape the pocket.” This characteristic requires Hamilton’s receivers to adapt on the field, joining the play if Ford scrambles.
Preparation Amidst Air Quality Concerns
The team’s preparation for Saturday’s game was affected by air quality issues in the city. The Tiger-Cats conducted their practice sessions indoors for most of the week. On Friday, they were able to practise outdoors, though it was limited to a walk-through.
Ford downplayed the impact of not having full, traditional practices. He acknowledged the different feeling of game day but expressed confidence in the experienced players to quickly adjust to timing issues.
The Argonauts also held their walk-through indoors on Friday in Guelph, Ont., due to air quality concerns. Both the CFL and CFLPA are monitoring the situation in Hamilton. If the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI+) reaches eight or higher during warm-up or the game, both teams will be sent to their dressing rooms until conditions improve. However, there is optimism for game-day conditions, with forecasts predicting wind gusts up to 53 kilometres per hour and a 90 per cent chance of afternoon rain.
Team Lineup and Opponent Outlook
Hamilton linebacker Wynton McManis is set to face his former team for the first time. McManis, who helped Toronto win two Grey Cups during his four seasons there, joined the Tiger-Cats in the off-season. He has recorded 10 tackles and an interception in two games.
The Argonauts will be without several players for Saturday’s game. Returner/receiver Janarion Grant (knee) and punter John Haggerty (hamstring) are out. Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge (head/hamstring) will miss his second consecutive start. Grant has 18 punt returns for 271 yards and one touchdown, and 15 kickoff returns for 348 yards. Haggerty leads the league in punting with a 52-yard average and a net average of 40.8. Global James Burnip, recently acquired from Ottawa, will replace Haggerty.
Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly leads the CFL in passing with 1,804 yards and is tied for the league lead with 14 touchdown passes. Kelly also holds a 4-2 record against Hamilton. Receiver Makai Polk has made 10 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games. Rookie Tyler Kahmann has five touchdown grabs in as many career CFL games.
The Argonauts are looking to end a two-game losing streak, which includes a 30-21 loss to Winnipeg in Week 6. Hamilton, following their 38-7 loss to Saskatchewan, is also navigating its season without Mitchell.
Hamilton’s secondary has limited opposing teams to an average of 294.6 yards per game. However, Kelly’s ability and his array of receiving options present a challenge. Kelly has thrown eight interceptions in five games, which could be an area for Hamilton’s defence to exploit. Defensive backs Stavros Katsantonis, Jamal Peters, and Destin Talbert, along with defensive linemen Julian Howsare and Philip Ossai, will aim to pressure Kelly.
The Argonauts’ run defence has been strong, with linebackers Isaac Darkangelo and Adarius Pickett playing key roles. Toronto’s offence features four receivers with over 300 yards this season: Kevin Mital (392), Makai Polk (378), Damonte Coxie (372), and David Ungerer III (330). The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
