Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Saskatchewan Roughriders Match Player Stats On Nov 24, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 24, 2013

Roughriders 45, Tiger-Cats 23: Kory Sheets rushed for a Grey Cup-record 197 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries while being named the game's MVP to lead host Saskatchewan to a championship-worthy rout of Hamilton.

Darian Durant found Geroy Simon for two touchdowns and completed 17-of-24 passes for 245 yards and three TDs for the Roughriders, who won their fourth Grey Cup - first since 2007 - and became the third straight team to capture the championship at home. Weston Dressler also caught a touchdown and Weldon Brown made an interception, while John Chick added two sacks.

Henry Burris was 20-for-43 passing for 272 yards and added 34 rushing yards and a touchdown on two carries for the Tiger-Cats. Brandon Banks had 162 yards on seven kick returns, often setting Hamilton up with good field position.

Hamilton opened the scoring with a field goal, but Durant hit Simon for a 15-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Sheets and Jock Sanders scored rushing touchdowns in the second to break the game open. Durant connected with Simon again for 42 yards with 1:56 remaining as Saskatchewan finished the first half with a Grey Cup-record 31 points.

The Tiger-Cats briefly appeared to gain momentum in the second half after a Roughriders punt was blocked and Burris ran for an 18-yard score in the third quarter followed by a Hamilton field goal to open the fourth. A penalty-aided drive by Saskatchewan ended in Sheets’ second rushing touchdown with 5:23 remaining and Chick forced a fumble on the Tiger-Cats’ next possession, leading to Dressler’s 26-yard touchdown catch on the next play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tom Hanks, good friends with Hamilton native Martin Short, was in attendance. Hanks was booed for putting on a Tiger-Cats toque in the second half and changed to a Roughriders toque, much to Short’s chagrin. … Johnny Bright held the previous record for rushing yards in a Grey Cup with 169 in 1956. … Hamilton coach Kent Austin, who coached the Roughriders to the 2007 Grey Cup championship, saw his CFL playoff coaching record fall to 5-1. Austin also won the 1989 Grey Cup with Saskatchewan as a quarterback.