Tiger-Cats lay beating on 1st-place Alouettes

Hamilton Tiger-Cat defensive end Stevie Baggs hasn't run that far since college.

But his 80-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the first quarter set the tone for the Ticats' 40-3 romp over the Montreal Alouettes in CFL action Friday night.

Baggs, who signed with Hamilton after failing to crack the Arizona Cardinals' lineup, also had a key interception on Montreal's next possession with the Als at first-and-goal on the six-yard line, catching a ball that was tipped by teammate Otis Floyd.

Montreal committed seven turnovers in the game, three of them coming deep in the red zone. The turnovers also resulted in 13 early Hamilton points, including Baggs' score.

"It's just a sign of how we're coming together as a defence and as a team," said Baggs, who recalled he'd had an 80-yard TD run back in his days at Bethune-Cookman.

But this would be his longest as a pro.

"They made a play. We made a play … [Anthony] Calvillo is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play this game. We just had to stay resilient and read our keys and play the game. When it's your opportunity to make a play, make it."

Kevin Glenn added two touchdowns through the air to Chris Bauman as Hamilton steamrolled the East Division leaders.

7 turnovers

Montreal committed seven turnovers in the game, three of them coming deep in the red zone. The turnovers also resulted in 13 early Hamilton points, including Baggs' 80-yard fumble return for a score.

The Als, who have already clinched the division title, fell to 11-5. The Ticats, at 9-7, had already sewn up a playoff berth, but they now need a Toronto loss to clinch home-field advantage in the East semifinal.

Hamilton hadn't beaten Montreal since 2008, and many felt they needed to win to show they were contenders heading into the playoffs.

"I think it gives us a lot of confidence and it's not just the fact that we beat Montreal, but . . . we're playing well at the end of the year," said Glenn, who completed 21 of 32 pass attempts for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Those two TD passes give him 29 on the season, tying him with Danny McManus (2004) for the club record.

"Teams that play well going into the playoffs usually have success in the playoffs. So that's one thing we want to concentrate on."

Four different Tiger-Cats scored touchdowns on a night where its defence neutralized the league's most potent passing attack.

Calvillo threw for 258 yards but had a fumble, an interception and zero touchdowns before he was pulled for backup Adrian MacPherson with five minutes left in the third.

Backup quarterback Quinton Porter, and running back DeAndra' Cobb also scored touchdowns for the Ticats. Kicker Sandro DeAngelis was good on both field-goal attempts, from 24 and 11 yards, but had one convert blocked.

Mental mistakes

Montreal kicker Colt David was good on his 31-yard field goal attempt.

"We had so many mental mistakes offensively that kept on killing us," said Calvillo. "And you've got to give them credit. They came out and played well. But for us, offensively it was a very poor performance and just too many mental mistakes that just destroyed us tonight. … We've got to get our act together as we move forward."

Two consecutive Montreal fumbles in the first quarter led to 10 Hamilton points. A Jamel Richardson fumble at midfield led to a 24-yard field goal to open the scoring. On its next possession, Montreal was deep in Hamilton territory, when Jamall Johnson sacked Calvillo and forced the fumble. Baggs picked up the loose ball and was escorted by a pack of Ticats 80 yards down field.

Montreal squandered another scoring opportunity on its next possession after its third turnover in as many drives. The Als had first-and-goal at the Hamilton six-yard line when Otis Floyd tipped a Calvillo pass into the hands of Baggs, giving the Ticats possession at their own seven.

In the second quarter, a 15-yard no-yards penalty on a punt return gave Hamilton possession on the Montreal 47. Ticat receiver Maurice Mann made receptions of 19 and 17 yards, and drew a 14-yard pass interference call in the end zone to set up Porter's one-yard TD run to put Hamilton up 17-0.

David hit field goal to get Montreal on the board late in the second quarter, but when Hamilton took over, a 41-yard reception by Chris Bauman to the Montreal one-yard line set up Cobb's TD. Montreal blocked the convert attempt for a 23-3 lead at the half.

Hamilton went up 30-3 on a 78-yard drive with their first possession of the third quarter, highlighted by a roughing-the-kicker penalty and a 31-yard pass to Cobb at the nine-yard line. On the next play Glenn hit Bauman for the score.

Montreal was threatening again midway through the quarter but couldn't convert on a third-and-goal at the four-yard line. Hamilton took over and marched down field to set up the 11-yard field goal and take a 33-3 lead. Midway through the fourth, Glenn hit Bauman again, this time for a 29-yard TD and the 40-3 lead.

It was Hamilton's first win against the Alouettes since Oct. 4, 2008. Montreal, with only a short week of preparation after Sunday's win over Winnipeg, was playing without some of its main characters — running back Avon Cobourne (ribs), kicker Damon Duval (hamstring) and special teams star Tim Maypray (family illness).