SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 23, 2014
Tiger-Cats 40, Alouettes 24: Brandon Banks returned two punts for touchdowns as host Hamilton clinched its second consecutive Grey Cup berth.
Zach Collaros was 18-for-27 passing for 199 yards and Nic Grigsby scored a pair of rushing touchdowns off turnovers for the Tiger-Cats (10-9), who improved to 7-0 at their new stadium and will meet Calgary in next Sunday's Grey Cup. Delvin Breaux, Erik Harris and Courtney Stephen intercepted passes.
Jonathan Crompton completed 25-of-38 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns to S.J. Green for Montreal (10-10), which also lost to Hamilton in the 2013 East Semifinal. Green finished with a game-high 126 receiving yards, while Winston Venable forced a pair of fumbles.
Banks put Hamilton in front on a 93-yard punt return touchdown with 26 seconds remaining in the first half and added an 88-yard punt return touchdown with 4:05 remaining. Grigsby scored on a 5-yard rush 3:51 into the second quarter after Breaux picked off Crompton and Harrisกฏ interception led to Grigsbyกฏs 3-yard score 8:50 into the third.
Green caught touchdown passes of 22, 9 and 63 yards to pace the Alouettes, who pulled within three points of the Tiger-Cats on Greenกฏs third score 4:54 into the fourth quarter. A pair of field goals by Justin Medlock and Banksกฏ second touchdown gave Hamilton some insurance before Stephenกฏs interception sealed the victory.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Banks finished with 226 punt return yards, 35 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards. กญ Medlock was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts. กญ Montreal was limited to 73 rushing yards on 18 carries กญ Grigsby recorded a game-high 93 rushing yards on 18 carries. กญ Hamilton has not won the Grey Cup since 1999.