Dan LeFevour’s TD run earns Ticats overtime semifinal win over Alouettes

GUELPH, Ont. – Rookie Dan Lefevour’s two-yard TD earned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats a thrilling 19-16 overtime win over the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday in the CFL East Division semifinal.

LeFevour bulled into the end zone a play after running 11 yards. Twice Lefevour successfully converted third-and-inches gambles to keep the drive alive.

The Alouettes opened overtime with Sean Whyte’s 34-yard field goal on its first possession.

Montreal forced overtime with Whyte’s 32-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in regulation, capping a six-play, 43-yard drive with his first successful boot after five straight misses.

Hamilton surged ahead 13-10 on Henry Burris’s 17-yard TD strike to C.J. Gable with 1:04 remaining in regulation time. That ended a smart 97-yard, 12-play drive against a cold, brisk wind.

The weather was the big story of the game. An Alumni Stadium gathering of 13,320 endured intermittent rain and a biting 45-kilometre an hour wind that gusted up to 66 kilometres throughout, making it feel like -1 C with the windchill.

Predictably, both teams struggled with the conditions, committing four turnovers apiece.

At least Hamilton won’t have to worry about weather in the East Division final. The Ticats will face the defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts next weekend at Rogers Centre, which is a domed facility. The conference champion will advance to the Grey Cup on Nov. 24 in Regina.

Hamilton was hosting its first home playoff game since 2010 after taking the season series with the Alouettes 2-1.

But Montreal won the opening coin toss and elected to defer, giving it the wind for the fourth quarter. And when play began, the Alouettes had both the wind and a 9-6 advantage.

Troy Smith’s 29-yard TD strike to Duron Carter against the wind at 10:27 of the third put Montreal ahead 9-6. Carter’s grab capped a four-play, 75-yard drive.

Hamilton then drove to the Als’ 34-yard line and used some imagination with receiver Dave Stala throwing to the end zone incomplete for Andy Fantuz. But on the next play, Burris was intercepted by Winston Venable at the Als’ 13-yard line.

Luca Congi put Hamilton on the board with a 29-yard field goal at 3:15 of the third, set up by Rico Murray’s recovery of Arland Bruce III’s fumble at the Montreal 21. Congi connected after missing earlier in the third from 48 yards out.

Hamilton took over at its 51 after Evan McCullough recovered Bo Bowling’s fumble but the Ticats went two and out. Congi connected from 35 yards out at 8:03 to put the home team ahead 6-2.

Whyte had a convert and a single for Montreal while Burke Dales booted two singles.

Congi finished with two field goals for Hamilton.

Montreal led 2-0 at halftime as both teams struggled with the weather. Hamilton made it interesting as Neil King blocked Dales’ punt on the final play of the half however the Ticats couldn’t return it for the go-ahead TD as time expired.

Hamilton could’ve taken the lead late in the second with a chip-shot field goal try from the Montreal two-yard line. But Ticats coach Kent Austin chose to gamble, which backfired as Montreal’s Chip Cox tackled C.J. Gable for a four-yard loss. The Als then marched to centre field before Dales’ punt into the wind put the home side at its own 21-yard line.

Whyte seemed to put Montreal ahead 5-0 early in the second but his 22-yard field goal was nullified by Shea Emry’s procedure penalty. White then missed from 27 yards out, his fifth straight failed attempt.

Montreal opened with the wind, but could only muster singles off Whyte’s missed 40-yard field goal at 6:62 and Dales’ 63-yard punt at 9:42.

NOTES — As expected, linebacker Kyries Hebert (knee) was among Montreal’s pre-game scratches . . . Cornerback Delvin Breaux and slotback Greg Ellingston both returned to Hamilton’s starting lineup from injury . . . Hamilton was 6-3 the second half of the season, tied with Toronto for the best record in the CFL behind Calgary (7-2). Montreal was 4-5 . . . . Montreal’s defence features six East Division all-stars, including outstanding defensive player nominee Chip Cox, who had a CFL-high 115 tackles and team-leading 12 sacks . . . Hamilton’s Marc Beswick is the East nominee as outstanding special-teams player. He’s only the second non-kicker or returner to win the award as B.C.’s Jason Arakgi was the first in ’09 . . . Hamilton dressed a CFL-record 88 players this season, with 57 making at least one start.