Bo Levi Mitchell needed just one word to describe the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ latest win.
“Gritty,” the quarterback said of his Ticats, which is exactly how residents of Steeltown want their team to play football.
The 2025 version of the Ticats, fresh off its fourth win in a row in Ottawa last week, appears very much capable of becoming a beloved squad for a long-suffering football city.
Grey Cup-less since 1999 (by far the CFL’s longest active streak), the Ticats (4-2) seem to be able to win in many different ways this season.
Football coaches love when all three units of a team contribute to victory — and that’s how things went down Sunday night in the nation’s capital.
Special teams? Kicker Marc Liegghio booted three more field goals to extend his streak to 30 consecutive makes.
Defence? The Ticats held the Redblacks out of the end zone, as Ottawa was forced to settle for five field goals in a 30-15 Hamilton win.
Offence? Mitchell, 35, threw for 327 yards, including yet another deep touchdown pass to top free-agent acquisition Kenny Lawler, who leads the league with eight receiving majors. Lawler just might be the early favourite for the CFL’s most outstanding player award, though Mitchell could be in the mix to win it for a third time.
“Hats off to the defence, man,” Mitchell said. “It’s so fun to play football when your defence plays the way they’re playing right now and they have every game.
“… Just a hell of a performance from those guys. It’s inspiring the offence. We’re not having to be overly aggressive, I think that’s the thing. We’re trying to take what’s there and be smart. We have big-play potential so when it’s there, we take it.”
It was there when Mitchell hit Lawler for a 41-yard touchdown pass over the top of a depleted Redblacks secondary in the first quarter. And it was there again in the third quarter when Mitchell found Kiondre Smith for a 63-yard snag, setting up another touchdown.
That’s not to say Mitchell was perfect. He misfired on a few throws, including one that nearly went for a pick-six by Adarius Pickett, only to be chased down by Lawler early in the fourth quarter. Hamilton’s defence made another stand after the big play, holding the Redblacks to a field goal to cut the Ticats’ lead to 20-15.
Mitchell and Co. then responded with a textbook 70-yard TD drive to all but seal the home-and-home sweep.
This fast start is critical for a Ticats team that has made a habit of falling behind in the standings early in recent years (0-4 in 2022, 0-3 in 2023, 0-5 in 2025).
“It’s been huge,” Tiger-Cats defensive back Destin Talbert, who had two interceptions Sunday, said of the start. “Like I mentioned, I love getting any win. Having four right now and getting off to a good start for the first six games is really good. I’m glad we could do that for the whole city.”
The city also is getting an up-close look at a wonderful quarterback redemption story. Written off by some after losing his starting job in Calgary and then suffering through an injury-plagued first season with the Ticats in 2023, Mitchell started heading back in the right direction last year when he was named the East’s top player — albeit in a non-playoff season.
This season, Mitchell leads the league with 1,812 passing yards and has an excellent 12-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. On Sunday, he overtook Tracy Ham for 10th on the CFL’s all-time passing list with 40,835 yards. Doug Flutie, with 41,355 yards, is next in his sights.
“When you pass a guy, everybody congratulates myself but there’s a lot that goes into it,” Mitchell said. “It’s making sure you look back at the guys like Tracy Ham and what that guy did. What Doug Flutie did, trying to chase him now. Just continue to look back at the legends that played this game. Been so many great quarterbacks, so many great players in general. Just to climb that list and be a part of 10 of the top guys of all time is very, very special.”
This Ticats team might be special, too. A three-game road trip continues Sunday in B.C. and concludes next week in Edmonton before the Ticats come home for Hamilton’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander day on Aug. 7 against the Lions.
At least one current champion will be in the Hammer that day. Based on the way the Ticats are playing, perhaps the team can join SGA in making 2025 one of the best all-time years for Hamilton sports.
More QB woes
While Mitchell and Calgary Stampeders counterpart Vernon Adams Jr. are two of the feel-good stories of the league this year, overall, it’s been a rough campaign for quarterbacks.
After a series of injuries earlier this year, once again health is a concern heading into Week 8.
Montreal Alouettes QB Davis Alexander re-injured his hamstring last week and is now considered week-to-week. McLeod Bethel-Thompson starts in his absence on Thursday in Calgary.
Elsewhere, Toronto Argonauts QB Chad Kelly has been deemed week-to-week by the team, per 3 Down Nation. He has been out since fracturing his leg in last year’s CFL East final. Nick Arbuckle will remain the starter Saturday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Blue Bombers, meanwhile, got better news on QB Zach Collaros, who was knocked out of last week’s loss to Calgary when his helmet appeared to bounce off the turf after he was hit by Clarence Hicks.
Collaros was back taking first-team reps this week and should start against Toronto.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Redblacks will monitor Dru Brown over the bye week after he was forced out of last week’s loss to the Tiger-Cats with an apparent head injury.
Tiger-Cats defensive back DaShaun Amos was assessed a 25-yard penalty for roughing the passer on the play.
Finally, the Edmonton Elks are making a QB switch — but not because of injury. Struggling starter Tre Ford and Cody Fajardo split first-team reps this week ahead of their Friday road game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders before the team named Fajardo the starter Thursday.
Week 8 schedule
Thursday, Jan. 24: Montreal Alouettes (4-2) at Calgary Stampeders (5-1), 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT
Friday, Jan. 25: Edmonton Elks (1-4) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-1), 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CST
Saturday, Jan. 26: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-2) at Toronto Argonauts (1-5), 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 27: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-2) at B.C. Lions (3-4), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
from Sportsnet.ca
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