Riders rough up toothless Ticats

The Saskatchewan Roughriders dismantled the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the second time in eight days Saturday night at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

The Roughriders forced eight turnovers and cruised to a lopsided 51-8 win over the inept Ticats, who were continually booed by their long-suffering fans.

The game mirrored the Riders' 46-15 pummelling of the Tiger-Cats last Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.

The win moves Saskatchewan (5-5) to within a game of second-place Calgary in the CFL Western division, while the lowly Ticats (2-9) remain cellar-dwellers in the East.

Saskatchewan was also playing its first game for new general manager Eric Tillman, who replaced the fired Roy Shivers earlier this week.

"[The best way] to pay tribute to Roy is to play the way we played tonight for the rest of the year and not just one game," Riders head coach Danny Barrett said.

"I don't think we'll have any satisfaction until we win it all. I think that's the greatest way that we can pay tribute to Roy. We're all appreciative of what he did for us and believed in us and in giving us an opportunity. So we've just got to continue to play hard every week."

The Roughriders received little resistance from the confused and undisciplined Ticats, despite starting third-string quarterback Rocky Butler.

Butler, replacing injured pivots Kerry Joseph and Marcus Crandell, threw for 191 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair to Matt Dominguez.

Defence burned

The Riders wide receiver burned Hamilton's defence with several big plays, catching six passes for 119 yards.

The Roughriders opened a 10-1 lead at 5:16 of the first quarter following Hamilton's first miscue.

Defensive tackle Scott Schultz stripped Ticats quarterback Jason Maas of the ball, enabling linebacker Fred Perry to recover the fumble and run untouched for the 15-yard touchdown.

"We kept getting turnovers and we kept getting a short field," said Barrett.

The Riders increased their lead to 12-1 moments later when Hamilton kicker Pat Fleming conceded two points.

Saskatchewan continued the onslaught with less than four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Butler hit an open Dominguez down the left sideline for a 35-yard touchdown and a 19-1 advantage.

After a single point, the Roughriders extended their lead to 27-1 at 3:13 of the second when Butler rolled to his left and scored on a three-yard run.

Fumble costly

The Riders then conceded two points before taking advantage of another Hamilton fumble with 41 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Butler hooked up with Dominguez again for a 37-yard touchdown reception, giving Saskatchewana 34-3 bulge at the end of the first half.

Maas, pulled in the second half for the second straight game, failed to generate any offence for Hamilton. The Ticats quarterback completed only 16 passes for 118 yards and one interception.

The Riders added two cosmetic touchdowns and a field goal in the second half to end the misery for Hamilton.

"It was painful to play and painful to watch," said Ticatsslotback Mike Morreale.

"I can't figure this thing out. The offence couldn't get going...Basically we were shut out. It's a disturbing, disturbing situation we have here and I don't know how to fix it, I really don't. People say we're so great on paper. But what do you do with paper, you roll it up and throw it away. We're not good on the field."

The Ticats, who fumbled four times in the first 30 minutes, also failed to score a touchdown or a field goal for the third straight home game. In fact, Saskatchewan's concession of six points Saturday night was four more than the two singles Hamilton posted.

The Ticats' struggles have not been limited to playing the Roughriders, however. The worst team in the CFL is last in the league in rushing yards for and against, and last in points allowed.

It was such a terribleouting for the Ticats that veteran head coach and former broadcaster Ron Lancaster refused to speak to the media after the game.

"Ron's fed up," acknowledged Morreale. "He doesn't want to talk to us and I don't blame him...I don't think he's seen a couple [of] worse games that we've put together back to back."