(Hamilton) Dane Evans recorded a new career high with five touchdown passes as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats upset the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 48-31 on Saturday.
Posted yesterday at 7:49 p.m.
The Tiger-Cats (4-9) snapped a three-game losing streak with their biggest win this season. The Ontario team took third place in the Eastern Conference alone, two points behind the Montreal Alouettes (5-7).
The Blue Bombers (12-2) bowed out for the first time in four games and suffered their first loss on the road this season (7-1).
The Manitoba team will have to wait a little longer before securing a playoff game at home. With a win over the Tiger-Cats combined with a Calgary Stampeders loss to the BC Lions, she would have pulled off the feat.
Evans found takers on 25 of 32 passes for 327 yards. Evans started the duel at the top of the CFL with several poor statistics, including passes intercepted (13) and breakaways committed (seven).
The Blue Bombers gave the Tiger-Cats a hard time in the fourth quarter. Dakota Prukop scored a major just 33 seconds into the kick, then quarterback Zach Collaros spotted Rasheed Bailey in the end zone to cut the hosts’ lead to 41-31.
Evans, however, halted the Blue Bombers’ push by pairing his efforts with David Ungerer to score a touchdown. The middle finger concluded an offensive streak of 90 yards on 14 tries which also allowed seven minutes and 20 seconds to pass on the clock.
Collaros completed 23 of 34 passes for 342 yards. He threw two touchdowns and two interceptions. In the loss, rookie Dalton Schoen had 158 yards on six catches.
Tim White — twice — Malik Carney, Fred Dunbar Jr. and Kiondre Smith scored the other Tiger-Cats touchdowns. Seth Small had two placements.
Nic Demski netted the Blue Bombers’ other major. Marc Liegghio was credited with three placements.