The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' 25-year Grey Cup drought will continue for another season after a conservative coaching decision in the final minutes of the Eastern final cost them a championship opportunity.
The Fateful Decision
With just two minutes remaining in Saturday's Eastern final, Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich faced a critical choice that would define the game. His Tiger-Cats trailed the Montreal Alouettes 16-13 and faced third down with three yards to go at Montreal's 15-yard line.
Instead of going for the first down with veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who had completed 29 of 36 passes that afternoon, Milanovich opted for a field goal to tie the game. The successful kick made it 16-16, but handed possession back to Montreal with 100 seconds remaining - enough time for the Alouettes to drive downfield and kick the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Missed Opportunity for Championship Berth
The decision proved particularly puzzling given Mitchell's accuracy throughout the game and Hamilton's inability to secure a lead. The Tiger-Cats never led during the entire Eastern final, which stood tied 0-0 after the first quarter and saw Montreal leading 6-3 at halftime.
Hamilton had fought back from a 13-3 deficit to make it 13-10, then 16-10, before the two late field goals created the 16-16 tie. A successful third-down conversion would have put Hamilton in position to score a touchdown and take their first lead of the game while also consuming valuable clock time.
Montreal's Unlikely Hero
While Hamilton played conservatively, Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander displayed the kind of daring play that defines CFL football. Playing with an injured hamstring that required attention after nearly every play, Alexander remained undefeated in his CFL starts, now standing at 13-0.
Alexander made two critical plays that demonstrated his instinctual style. He avoided a sack to complete a pass to Charleston Rambo that resulted in a first down when a Hamilton linebacker over-committed. Earlier, he rolled out to avoid pressure and found Canadian receiver Tyler Snead deep in the end zone for a touchdown.
These schoolyard-style plays, born of instinct rather than careful planning, provided the margin of victory for an Alouettes team now headed to the Grey Cup while Hamilton faces another long offseason contemplating what might have been.
The Tiger-Cats haven't won the CFL championship since 1999, during which time every other team in the league has captured at least one Grey Cup. Toronto has won five times, Montreal and Calgary four each, Edmonton and British Columbia three apiece, while Saskatchewan and Winnipeg have two championships each and Ottawa has one.
