Tiger-Cats get mad when Alouettes spoils Hamilton’s home opener with a dominant win

The Cody Fajardo-Jason Maas reunion continues to bring results for the Montreal Alouettes in the fledgling 2023 CFL season.

Fajardo, 31, signed a two-year freelance contract with Montreal in the off-season to reunite with Maas.

The latter was hired by Montreal as head coach two months earlier after spending three years with Fajardo as the Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive coordinator.

The pair has given the Alouettes (2-0) a perfect start.

“Coach Maas made the transition easy,” said Fajardo. “He put me at ease, as did my receivers and the rest of the lads.

“I’m just thankful to be here. It’s a second chance for me. Last year it didn’t go the way I wanted it to. Winning makes it fun.”

Fajardo completed 19 of 25 for 292 yards and no turnovers to spoil the Ticats (0-3) home opener in front of a crowd of 23,180 at Tim Hortons Field.

Mack caught five passes for 81 yards, while Kaion Julien-Grant accounted for six catches and 94 yards.

After trailing 6–0 on first quarter 13-yard field goals from Hamilton kicker Marc Liegghio, the Alouettes offense was ignited by a 77-yard punt return from Chandler Worthy to end the opening 15 minutes.

A 48-yard pass to Mack was Fajardo’s first touchdown pass coming midway through the second quarter.

Ciante Evans’ 34-yard interception return set up Fajardo’s four-yard rushing touchdown and a comfortable 21–6 first half advantage.

“It was three football phases for us,” said Fajardo. “We got a huge spark with Chandler on special teams scoring for us early. We had a bit of a slow offensive start to the game, but then we started to finish with the ball in the end zone. We didn’t make any field goals. We finished with touchdowns and our defense held them to field goals.”

All of Hamilton’s attacks came from Lieggio’s right leg. He scored a third 32-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half and a fourth 44-yard field goal in the third quarter.

‘Everyone could use a break’

Tiger-Cats head coach Orlondo Steinauer hoped a week off would help his club recover from its early season problems. The Ticats began hearing the boo birds late in the third quarter.

“I think everyone could use a break,” said Steinauer. “We have to play better football to win. We have to get out of the bye and be 1-3.

Julien’s reception on 43 yards set up Mack’s second touchdown—a five-yard catch—late in the third quarter.

Hamilton quarterback Matt Shiltz completed 25 of 47 for 345 yards and two interceptions. The second interception resulted in a 71-yard touchdown return from Montreal defenseman Wesley Sutton in heavy rain with 6:58 left.

Shiltz connected with slot back Tim White on passes for 61 and 54 yards on the first two drives. But Hamilton settled for field goals at every opportunity.

A 15-yard field goal from Montreal’s David Côté completed the scoring with 2:10 remaining.

Ticats puts Mitchell on 6 injured list

Hamilton moved injured quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (groin) to the list of six injured on Friday.

He departed in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field last Sunday after completing 16 of his 24 pass attempts for 161 yards and two interceptions.

Hamilton signed 24-year-old Florida Atlantic product N’Kosi Perry with Mitchell out for long term.

On July 1, the Alouettes will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-1) at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. The Tiger-Cats return to action when the Ottawa Redblacks (0-2) visit on July 8.