The Toronto Argonauts are significant favourites over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in this year’s Labour Day Classic.
The Argonauts are coming off a 20-19 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders during which they outgained the visitors by almost 100 yards but turned the ball over at the goal line three times. Lirim Hajrullahu attempted a last-second field goal that sailed wide left but went out the back of the end zone for a game-winning rouge.
The contest marked the return of franchise quarterback Chad Kelly from his nine-game suspension and he showed few signs of rust, completing 24-of-39 pass attempts for 322 yards and one interception. He also carried the ball three times for 11 yards.
The Tiger-Cats are riding a four-game losing skid, most recently falling to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 26-23.
Chris Jones was hired to replace defensive coordinator Mark Washington and the move paid early dividends as Hamilton limited Zach Collaros to only 177 yards and intercepted him three times at Princess Auto Stadium. However, the two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player capped a game-winning six-play, 62-yard drive when he hit Kenny Lawler for a touchdown with 19 seconds remaining.
Bo Levi Mitchell, who was temporarily benched as the team’s starter, is expected to start again this week with Taylor Powell on the six-game injured list. Mitchell has completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 3,036 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions this season.
Hamilton won seven straight Labour Day Classics from 2014 to 2021 but has lost the last two to their archrivals by a combined 33 points. Steeltown holds an all-time record of 36-15-1 in Labour Day Classics dating back to 1950 and won the first matchup between these two teams earlier this season, beating the Argonauts 27-24 at home.
The Toronto Argonauts (6-4) will visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-9) at Tim Hortons Field on Monday, Sept. 2 with kickoff slated for 2:30 p.m. EDT.
