Tiger-Cats kick off CFL pre-season with 33-26 victory over Alouettes

MONTREAL – Lindsay Lamar scored on an 88-yard punt return as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats held on for a 33-26 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night in the CFL pre-season opener for both teams.

Hamilton quarterback Dan LeFevour threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Chevon Walker just before half-time and Delbert Alvarado kicked three field goals in the first half.

Ticats QB Jeremiah Masoli scored on a one-yard run 1:13 into the fourth quarter to put Hamilton up 33-12 in front of a Percival Molson Stadium crowd of 20,174.

Quinton Porter threw a pair of touchdown passes as Montreal mounted a comeback bid.

The former Tiger-Cats quarterback connected with Kenny Stafford on a 75-yard touchdown 3:04 into the fourth to draw the Alouettes within 33-19. Porter also threw a 20-yard touchdown to Tyron Carrier at 10:34.

Hamilton head coach Kent Austin won in his first CFL game since 2007, when he coached Saskatchewan to the Grey Cup.

Brett Lauther kicked a 14-yard field goal for the Tiger-Cats in the third quarter after Hamilton conceded a safety.

LeFevour completed 10-of-19 passes for 149 yards in the first half.

Chris Jennings scored a touchdown on a one-yard run as the Alouettes took a 7-0 lead 2:28 into the game, which marked Montreal head coach Dan Hawkins’ pro coaching debut.

There was a long delay, 9:31 into the second, after Montreal receiver David Clowney was injured. Players from both teams kneeled on the field and sidelines while Clowney was attended to by medical staff as he lay on the field.

Clowney was placed on a spinal board and his neck was immobilized with a cervical collar before he was carried off the field.

Anthony Calvillo completed a 50-yard pass to Jamel Richardson on the Alouettes’ first play from scrimmage. The 40-year-old quarterback guided Montreal through its first offensive series, a five-play touchdown drive capped by Jennings’ one-yard plunge.

Josh Neiswander came in for Calvillo on the Alouettes’ second offensive series. He completed 8-of-23 pass attempts for 99 yards in the first half, including a 23-yard catch by Wallace Wright.

Porter ran the Als’ offence for most of the second half, taking over after Tanner Marsh guided Montreal through its first two series of the third quarter.