HAMILTON, Ont. (CP) - DeAndra Cobb rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown to power the Hamilton Tiger-Cats past the Saskatchewan Roughriders 24-6 on a windy Saturday afternoon.
The Ticats, before 24,586 spectators, better handled the blustery conditions - the wind gusted between 59 and 81 kilometres an hour throughout the contest - holding the Roughriders to just six points with the wind and forcing four turnovers (two fumbles, one interception, once on downs) and six sacks overall. That's the most since registering five against Toronto in September 2005.
Offensively, Hamilton scored 21 points with the wind but it was the unit's ability to control the ball with a solid rushing attack and short passing game when marching into it that was most telling. That helped the Ticats snap an 11-game losing streak against Saskatchewan.
Hamilton (8-9) moved into second in the East Division with its second straight win. The Ticats can cement the No. 2 spot - and home field for the conference semifinal - with a win next weekend against Winnipeg. The Blue Bombers (7-9) can grab a share of second with a win Sunday over Montreal, but regardless of that outcome can still secure second with a home victory over Hamilton.
The Ticats haven't played in a playoff game since '04 and last hosted a post-season contest in 2001.
Saskatchewan (9-7-1) could've clinched a home playoff game for the third straight year with a win. But the Riders, who have at least five players battling the flu, remain tied atop the West Division standings with Calgary, although the Stampeders were scheduled to face the B.C. Lions later Saturday night.
Regardless of that outcome, the Riders and Stamps square off next weekend with the winner finishing first and securing home-field advantage for the conference final.
Hamilton's defence harassed Riders starter Darian Durant, who was just 8-of-20 passing for 66 yards and an interception before giving way to Steven Jyles in the fourth.
Arland Bruce III scored Hamilton's other touchdown. Nick Setta booted three field goals, two converts and a single.
Hamilton starter Kevin Glenn finished 22-of-35 passing for 237 yards and a touchdown. Slotback Dave Stala was Kevin Glenn's favourite target with nine catches for 126 yards.
Saskatchewan's Luca Congi had a field goal but missed attempts of 55 and 50 yards with the wind in the third. Louie Sakoda added a single while the other points came on a safety.
Hamilton dominated the first half for a well-deserved 21-6 half-time lead. The Ticats scored 18 points in the first quarter with the brisk wind and forced three turnovers, then put together a sparkling 74-yard drive into the wind in the second.
Glenn's 12-yard TD strike to Bruce at 8:31 of the first put Hamilton ahead 10-0 before Cobb gave the home team an 18-0 advantage thanks to a 23-yard touchdown run 1:01 into the second, capping a 69-yard, nine-play drive.
But Hamilton's best offensive showing of the half came in the second when Glenn marched the unit 74 yards on 13 plays before Setta capped it off with a 10-yard field goal for a 21-3 lead at 14:26. The Ticats kept the ball away from the Riders' offence for 6:05.
Saskatchewan did end the half on a positive note, marching 42 yards on six plays as Congi's 33-yard field goal on the final play of the quarter made it 21-6. Otherwise, that was about it as the Riders struggled mightily with the ball, mustering just three first downs and 49 total offensive yards in the half.
By comparison, Hamilton had 13 first downs and 234 total yards and controlled the ball for 20 minutes 29 seconds.
NOTES - Cobb went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season on his TD run, the first Ticat to do so since Troy Davis in 2004, the last time Hamilton made the CFL playoffs. Cobb is also the record seventh player to do so in '09 . . . At halftime, the Ticats honoured their '99 squad that won the club's last Grey Cup title . . . The first quarter had been a problem this season for Hamilton. Coming into Saturday's game, the Ticats had been outscored 131-58 in the opening frame, the only one they've been outscored in all year . . . Glenn began his CFL career with Saskatchewan, signing with the club as a free agent in 2001 . . . Saskatchewan has seven players on its active roster who were selected in the first round of the CFL's Canadian college draft . . . Durant surpassed the 4,000-yard passing plateau, becoming the fourth Riders quarterback to do so in a season, joining Kent Austin, Henry Burris and Kerry Joseph.
