08-10-2019, 12:50 AM
Hamilton, ON - The Calgary Stampeders will attempt to keep pace atop the West Division standings this afternoon when they travel to Ron Joyce Stadium to take on the struggling Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Stamps have come storming out of the gate this season with wins in five of their first six games, which has them tied for first place in the West with Edmonton. After suffering its first loss of the season on Aug. 1, Calgary bounced back at home last Saturday with an easy 38-17 victory over Ottawa, and now it heads back out on the road looking to win its third straight away game. You can watch the game live today on TSN starting at 2:30pm et/11:30am pt. Hamilton has undoubtedly been one of the most disappointing teams in the CFL this season. A season removed from an appearance in the Grey Cup Final, the Ticats have floundered, opening up just 1-5. Their 36-29 loss to British Columbia on Aug. 8 was their second consecutive setback (and their fourth this season coming by seven points or fewer), but the silver lining is that they are situated in the much-inferior East Division, where they are only a game and a half behind Toronto (3-4) for first place. The teams squared off in Calgary back on July 18, with a fourth-quarter field goal lifting the Stamps to a 10-7 victory, their fifth straight win over the Ticats. Calgary won last weeks contest fairly easily behind another outstanding performance from Bo Levi Mitchell, who threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another major. The third-year signal caller has been excellent this year, completing 62.8 percent of his passes for 1,421 yards. Hes also tied for the league lead in touchdown passes (11) and has tossed only two interceptions. Marquay McDaniel was Mitchells preferred receiving target last week, hauling in nine passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. McDaniel now has 24 receptions for 308 yards and three scores on the season, and he and Jeff Fuller (23 receptions, 307 yards, four TDs) make up a formidable receiving duo. The Stamps do not feature a true lead back but instead get solid production from a rotation of rushers. Matt Walter (139 yards) and Jock Sanders (136 yards) have earned the most work, while Martell Mallett (132 yards) has been the most explosive with 7.8 yards per carry. While Calgarys offensive production ranks in the middle of the CFL pack (341.2 ypg), it has shined on the defensive side of the ball, ranking third in allowing just 321.6 ypg, which includes the top-ranked passing defense (198.2 ypg). Brandon Smith anchors the unit in the defensive backfield, as he ranks second in the CFL in tackles with 32. Linebacker Juwan Simpson has also been a solid stopper with 22 tackles. Joining Smith in arguably the leagues most talented secondary are Joshua Bell and Fred Bennett, who have both collected a pair of interceptions on the young season. Leading the pass-rush is Charleston Hughes, whose six sacks ranks second in the league behind only John Chick of the Roughriders (nine). Freddie Bishop III, Micah Johnson and Simpson also have multiple sacks. Hamiltons lackluster season has been well-represented in the league standings, as its total offense (331.5 ypg) and total defense (374.2 ypg) both rank eighth in the league. Dan LeFevour was solid under center in last weeks loss, completing 23-of-34 passes for 298 yards, while also turning nine carries into 103 yards and a touchdown. The Ticats appear to have found their answer at quarterback after Jeremiah Masoli (14-of-35, 225 yards, TD, two INTs) and Zach Collaros (23- of-41, 212 yards, TD, two INTs) both struggled early in the season. LeFevour also has more interceptions (three) than touchdown passes (two), but he has completed more than 67 percent of his passes is an outstanding threat out of the pocket with 272 rushing yards and four majors. Samuel Giguere showed outstanding big-play ability last week by racking up 130 yards on just three receptions, upping his yearly totals to 16 catches for 248 yards in the process. Rounding out the deep group of pass-catchers are C.J. Gable (30 receptions, 138 yards, two TDs), Luke Tasker (17 receptions, 208 yards, TD) and Cary Koch (13 receptions, 199 yards). The Ticats running backs were lost in the gameplan against BC their last time out, rushing just three times for -3 yards. Gable is typically a solid rusher, as hes added 30 carries for 138 yards and two scores to his impressive receiving totals. Defensively, Hamilton has allowed 28.6 ppg in the three contests since allowing only 10 points to Calgary last month. Simoni Lawrence is in the midst of a breakout campaign at linebacker, as his 31 tackles ranks third in the league and is already more than halfway to his career high of 52 set last season. Rico Murray has also been solid at linebacker, collecting 18 tackles while picking off two passes. Hamiltons pass-rush has been virtually non-existent. The defense has just three sacks in six games, with Bryan Hall recording two of those. As the last line of defense, Brandon Stewart (22 tackles) and Emanuel Davis (20 tackles) have been put to the test on a defense that gives up the most passing yards per game (278.8). Cheap Yeezy Black Friday . -- The court fight over NFL concussions should heat up soon as a judge in Philadelphia weighs the fairness of the proposed $765 million settlement. Yeezy Black Friday China .Y. - Phil Varone was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Rochester Americans edged the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. http://www.blackfridayyeezy.com/.com) - Jimmie Johnson won Sundays AAA Texas 500 while championship contenders Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski as well as their teams were involved in a post-race fight on pit road after the two clashed in the closing laps at Texas Motor Speedway. Wholesale Yeezy Black Friday . Beanballs were the theme Friday night as the Red Sox and Rays had another AL East rumble, with Boston earning a 3-2 victory on A. Discount Yeezy Black Friday . On Sunday, head coach Patrick Roy said the teams leading scorer will skate at Mondays morning practice and the club will make a decision on his status for Game 6 at that point.SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Isaiah Thomas heard a sound he had never heard before in Sacramento during one of his hot-shooting spurts in the fourth quarter: silence, then a few light boos.It was just the kind of welcome he had hoped for in his return.Thomas keyed the decisive run against his former team, and the Phoenix Suns got contributions from all over to outlast the short-handed Sacramento Kings 115-106 on Friday night for their fifth straight win.Thomas attributed the reaction to a loyal fan base in Sacramento — some of whom wore his old No. 22 Kings jersey — that wants to see wins and took it as a sign of respect.It was nice for me, Thomas said. It probably wasnt too nice for them.In his first game back in Sacramento, Thomas led an 18-7 spurt to start the fourth quarter that put Phoenix up by 15. The former Kings fan favourite finished with 17 points, five assists and three rebounds in just 29 minutes.But he was hardly alone.Marcus Morris had 20 points and nine rebounds, Eric Bledsoe added 18 points and six assists, Markieff Morris scored 17 points and Goran Dragic finished with 16 points and six assists for the surging Suns.Were small a lot of times. We get hurt on the boards some times. But the guys play hard, Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said.Darren Collison scored 19 points, and Rudy Gay added 16 points and five assists for the Kings, who sorely missed DeMarcus Cousins inside. The franchise centre sat out with a stomach illness.Interim coach Tyrone Corbin said the illness is unrelated to the viral meningitis that sidelined Cousins for 10 games previously. Regardless of the issue, Sacramento has struggled without him.The Kings are 2-9 when Cousins hasnt played this season.Reggie Evans tried to make up for Cousins absence, going for 11 points and 16 rebounds, but the lack of Cousins left the middle open on both ends.The Suns shot 48.9 per cent, including 14 for 33 from 3-point range, pushing the pace and creating all kinds of space. Sacrameento shot 44.dddddddddddd per cent and 7 of 29 from beyond the arc.Thats who they are and they are going to shoot a lot of 3s, Corbin said. Unfortunately, they made a fair share of them tonight.The teams traded scores for the first three quarters in what was a sloppy but fast-pace contest most of the way.Thomas received a moderate round of applause — with some giving him a standing ovation — when he checked in during the first quarter, though he didnt do much at the start. Thomas, selected by Sacramento with the 60th and final pick of the 2011 draft, went to Phoenix in a sign-and-trade deal over the summer.As he so often did in Sacramento, the 5-foot-9 guard came up big in the biggest moments.Thomas found Marcus Morris for a 3-pointer and then made two layups between a free throw to open the fourth. He added a couple more dazzling plays and a layup that put Phoenix up 112-97 with 5:09 to play.Thomas scored nine of his 17 points in the final quarter.You could tell, Marcus Morris said, he had an extra hop in his step.TIP-INSSuns: Phoenix improved to 5-0 when it uses the starting lineup of Bledsoe, Dragic, P.J. Tucker, Markieff Morris and Alex Len.Kings: Sacramento started 9-5 this season and is 3-12 since. ... Reserves Ramon Sessions (strained lower back) and Ryan Hollins (personal reason) also sat out.RESPECT FOR MALONEThomas said he was surprised by the Kings firing Michael Malone as coach two weeks ago. Same as everybody elses reaction, like, Why? What else did you guys want? Thomas said. Its none of my business. I know thats the NBA. Nobodys job is guaranteed. It just (stinks) because hes such a great guy and a great coach. They had different plans.STOUDEMIRE SCOUTINGNew York Knicks big man Amare Stoudemire, wearing a black beanie and sunglasses, watched the game from a front-row baseline seat. The Knicks play in Sacramento on Saturday.UP NEXTSuns: At Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.Kings: Host New York Knicks on Saturday. ' ' '