TICATS ADVANCE WITH 48-18 WIN OVER LIONS IN EASTERN SEMIFINAL

HAMILTON - Jeremiah Masoli threw three first-half TDs to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a lopsided 48-8 East Division semifinal win over the B.C. Lions on Sunday afternoon.

Hamilton advances to the East Division final next Sunday against Ottawa at TD Place. The Redblacks swept the regular-season series 3-0.

Masoli, the East Division nominee for the CFL's outstanding player award, helped Hamilton emphatically snap a three-game losing streak. The Ticats were the last team to reach the East final after losing their final three regular-season games, doing so in 2015.

Masoli finished 14-of-19 passes for 259 yards and three TDs before giving way to Dane Evans in the fourth.

B.C. reached the East Division playoffs as a crossover team after finishing fourth in the West with a 9-9 record. But the Lions ended their season with three straight losses, an unceremonious end to head coach Wally Buono's illustrious CFL career.

The 40-point playoff loss was also the worst in Lions' history. No crossover team has reached the Grey Cup since the rule was adopted in 1996.

(The Canadian Press)

Tweet

Subscribe to receive free email updates: