The Hamilton Tiger-Cats secured a 35-22 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday afternoon at TD Place . Driven by Tre Ford's passing and a dominant kicking performance from Marc Liegghio, Hamilton capitalized on multiple Ottawa errors to claim the win.
Marc Liegghio’s seven field goals nearly broke a club record
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats relied heavily on the leg of Marc Liegghio during their 35-22 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks this past Saturday. Liegghio was nearly perfect, connecting on seven field goals, including a massive 53-yard kick to end the first half.. According to The Canadian Press, his performance left him just one successful kick shy of the club record held by Paul Osbaldiston.
The kicking game defined much of the afternoon at TD Place. While Ottawa's Paul Geelen managed three field goals and a convert, Liegghio's ability to stretch drives into points kept Hamilton in control. His 42-yard and 37-yard strikes helped build a lead that the Redblacks could never quite overcome. This special teams dominance provided a safety net for a Hamilton offense that was navigating a difficult 6-12 season.
Ottawa’s historic 16-loss start to the CFL season
The Ottawa Redblacks continue to endure a historically difficult campaign, setting a new CFL record for the most losses to open a season with 16. This loss brings their recent record to a staggering 1-17, following a season that has seen them lose 23 of their last 24 games dating back to the previous year. This follows a narrow 40-39 win against Toronto that had briefly offered hope.
Despite a late-game surge from veteran Jake Maier, who completed 13 of 15 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the damage was already done. Maier found Ayden Eberhardt for a five-yard score and Justin Hardy for a three-yard touchdown, but these efforts were too little, too late to reverse the team's downward trajectory.
Four turnovers and a blocked punt fuel Hamilton's momentum
Hamilton's victory was built on capitalizing on Ottawa's mistakes .. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats took advantage of four specific turnovers from the Redblacks, including a fumble, two interceptions, and a downed ball. As the report notes, a partially blocked punt proved particularly devastating, allowing Hamilton to convert the error into 20 points through two touchdowns and two field goals.
Tre Ford played a pivotal role in managing these opportunities. The Tiger-Cats quarterback finished the day 18-of-25 for 170 yards and added 52 yards on the ground. Ford's ability to find Jaelen Gill for a 16-yard touchdown pass followed a 33-yard interception return by Wynton McManis, illustrating how Hamilton's defense and offense worked in tandem to exploit Ottawa's instability. Additionally, Isaiah Wooden Sr. helped set the stage with a 45-yard punt return.
The uncertainty surrounding Bryson Barnes and Ottawa's quarterback room
While Jake Maier showed flashes of competence late in the game, much of the scrutiny remains on Bryson Barnes. In his second CFL start, Barnes struggled with efficiency, completing only 13 of 26 passes for 163 yards and throwing two interceptions. This was a significant regression from his previous week against Toronto, where he threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns.
This performance raises significant questions for the Ottawa Redblacks' coaching staff: Can Barnes improve his decision-making to avoid the turnovers that haunt the team, or will the organization lean more heavily on veterans like Maier to salvage the remainder of the season? The source does not clarify if a permanent change in the starting lineup is imminent, leaving the direction of the Redblacks' offense an open question.
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