Roughriders pound Tiger-Cats

Aug 27, 2006, 3:00 GMT

Hamilton, ON - Rocky Butler went 15-for-24 for 191 yards and three touchdowns as the Saskatchewan Roughriders stampeded the Hamilton Tiger- Cats, 51-8, at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Matt Dominguez had six receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns and Butler and Shermar Bracey each added rushing touchdowns for the Roughriders, who have won their last two games.

The game marked the debut of new general manager Eric Tillman. He was hired this past Wednesday after the club fired previous general manager Roy Shivers.

Jason Maas was 16-for-27 with 118 yards and one interception and Terry Vaughn had four receptions for 44 yards for the Tiget-Cats, who have lost their last three games.

The Roughriders jumped all over the Tiger-Cats in the first quarter.

Hamilton got a single on its first possession of the game, but Luca Congi capped off Saskatchewan's first possession with a 34-yard field goal for a 3-1 lead 4:30 in.

Two plays into Hamilton's ensuing drive, Scott Schultz sacked Maas causing him to cough up the ball. Fred Perry picked up the ball and rumbled 15 yards into the end zone to make it a 10-1 game.

Again the Tiger-Cats sputtering offense resulted in points for the Roughriders as punter Pat Fleming conceded a safety to increase the score to 12-1 with 6:40 left in the first quarter.

After getting the ball back for the safety, Saskatchewan marched down the field in five plays and scored when Butler connected with Dominguez for a 35-yard touchdown for a 19-1 lead.

Saskatchewan continued to pour it on in the second quarter.

After getting a single early in the quarter, Butler capped off a six-play drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 3:13 left until halftime.

Congi conceded a safety to Hamilton with 1:15 to play, but Julian Radelin coughed up the ball on Hamilton's ensuing possession and two plays later. Butler again found Dominguez for a 37-yard touchdown pass to give the Roughriders a 34-3 lead heading into the locker room.

After the Tiger-Cats got a single halfway through the third quarter, Mass had a pass picked off deep in Hamilton territory and Butler hit Ibrahim Tounkara for a nine-yard touchdown reception to make it 41-4 with 1:34 left in the third.

Congi conceded a pair of safeties to the Tiger-Cats in the fourth quarter, but Bracey's 11-yard touchdown run increased the Roughriders lead to 48-8 with under six minutes to play.

Congi's 10-yard field goal with 1:02 remaining accounted for the game's final score.

Game Notes

Shivers spent 6 1/2 seasons as the Roughriders general manager. He hired head coach Danny Barrett, and together they compiled 52-64-1 record as the only African-American management team in professional football.

Hamilton is 1-4 at home and 1-3 versus the West Division. The Tiger-Cats have an overall record of 2-9.

Saskatchewan is 2-3 on the road and 2-1 against the Eastern Conference. The Roughriders improved to 5-5 on the season.

Roughriders running back Kenyon Keith carried the ball 12 times for 76 yards.

Hamilton quarterback Kevin Eakin went 6-for-14 with 70 yards and two interceptions in the game.

© 2006 The Sports Network