Fired-up Burris throws five touchdown passes as Ti-Cats rout Als

Hamilton, ON, Canada (4E Sports) – After a poor performance in Week 13′s loss to Winnipeg, a more focused Henry Burris threw five TD passes to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats over the Montreal Alouettes 41-28 Friday night in a key East Division clash.

It was Hamilton’s fifth straight win at Ivor Wynne Stadium against the Als.

It not only gave the Tabbies the longest home winning streak of any club over the Alouettes, but enabled Hamilton to win the season-series with the Alouettes.

Burris, who threw for 156 yards on just 11-of-24 passing in last Friday’s 34-12 loss to the Bombers, was instrumental in the playoff-boosting triumph against Montreal. Burris completed 28-of-32 passes with one interception for Week 14′s victors.

Burris, who entered Friday’s tilt second in the league in total passing yards, trailing only Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo (3,711), with his 3,520 yards, got the Tigers on board on their first possession.

The 37-year-old Burris orchestrated a brilliant nine-play, 73-yard drive that was capped off by a five-yard strike to receiver Andy Fantuz for his fifth major of the season.

That score marked the Ti-Cats’ first since Week 12, as they were shackled in last week’s road setback to Winnipeg, which held them to a mere 237 yards.

That effort gave Burris 285 career TD passes. It moved him past Tracy Ham for fifth all-time in the CFL.

Burris threw four of his TD passes in the first half for the Ti-Cats, who never punted the ball way as they took a 31-14 lead into the locker room.

It marked the fifth time in Burris’ sterling 13-year career that he has thrown five TDs in a contest.

Fantuz and Dave Stala each had two TD catches for Hamilton (5-8), while Chris Williams caught the other.

Avon Cobourne also bounced back by rushing 111 yards on 19 carries. In last week’s loss to the Bombers, Cobourne carried the ball 18 times for 77 yards and also caught three passes for another 33 yards but was held out of the end zone.

Calvillo completed 12-of-23 passes for just 197 yards and two TDs for the Alouettes (8-5), who were hoping to bolster their four-point advantage over the Argonauts heading into Friday’s game.

The Als have not triumphed in Hamilton since Sept. 11, 2010.

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