The Hamilton Tiger-Cats can clinch the East Division title with a victory on Saturday afternoon against the visiting Calgary Stampeders.
The Tiger-Cats (10-6) also would win the division — and the right to host the East Final on Nov. 8 — if Montreal loses to Ottawa on Thanksgiving Monday.
The Stampeders (8-7) have their own playoff-clinching scenario in the West. They can lock up a berth with a win at Hamilton coupled with a loss by the Edmonton Elks on Saturday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In other words, there is a lot on the line for both sides on Saturday at Hamilton Stadium in a rematch of their June 7 season opener.
The Stampeders kicked off the season with a 38-26 home win, leading 35-11 in the fourth quarter before the Tiger-Cats made the score respectable.
Dedrick Mills powered Calgary in that meeting with 94 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Bo Levi Mitchell paced Hamilton with 304 passing yards and a touchdown.
Both players have continued to lead their respective squads. Mills entered the weekend as the CFL’s top rusher with 1,120 yards — his first 1,000-yard campaign in his fourth year in the league. Mitchell entered as the CFL’s top passer with 4,726 yards, on pace for his fourth 5,000-yard season.
“It means a lot,” Mills said of reaching the milestone. “I admit this right here means a great deal to me because it’s a goal I’ve been chasing since I’ve been in the CFL, since I’ve been a professional. I’ve been ready to get to those 1,000 yards and now that I’m here, I’m aiming higher.”
Calgary comes in with four-game losing streak, with three of those setbacks on the road. The Stamps fell 38-24 last weekend against the host B.C. Lions.
Hamilton has won four of its last five games, including a 47-29 triumph at Toronto last weekend.
“There’s still plenty of things we can clean up and get better at,” Mitchell said. “We still gave up 29 points and a lot of that’s on me with (an interception) that turned into a touchdown. I just think we’re trying to find ways to be who we are as a football team.”
–Field Level Media
