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Tiger-Cats use late rally to down Roughriders

Jul 29, 2012 - 2:55 AM Regina, SK (Sports Network) - Henry Burris threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats overcame a 19-point fourth quarter deficit to earn a 35-34 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a thrilling contest held at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday.

Burris, who played for Saskatchewan from 2003-2004, took over the game in the final frame by orchestrating three straight touchdown drives to erase the home team's lead in the final minutes.

Chris Williams grabbed nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown as Hamilton (3-2) picked up its third win in a row. Onrea Jones caught the go-ahead five- yard touchdown pass with 3:26 left to play. Jones finished with 65 yards and two touchdowns. Andrew Fantuz had two catches for 39 yards in his first game in Mosaic Stadium as a visitor.

Brandon Boudreaux made a big impact for the Tiger-Cats on the other side of the ball with two sacks and a forced fumble.

Darian Durant completed 21-of-39 attempts for 380 yards and two touchdowns and also threw an interception for Saskatchewan (3-2), which has now blown a double-digit lead in back-to-back contests. Durant threw three straight incomplete passes on Saskatchewan's final possession with less than a minute remaining.

Weston Dressler grabbed nine catches for 121 yards while Taj Smith was second with 74 yards and a major.

The Roughriders struck first as Kory Sheets capped off a nine-play, 60-yard drive with a one yard run to give the home team an early 7-0 advantage.

Luca Congi answered with three points as he connected on a 32-yard field goal try on Hamilton's first possession.

Josh Bartel added a punt single early in the second quarter to make it 10-4. Chris Milo gave the Roughriders a 10-4 lead by making a 47-yard field goal with 9:10 remaining in the opening half.

Congi made another field goal, this one from 27-yards away, to bring Hamilton within three points once again. Milo ended scoring in the first half with a 13- yard field goal that sent Saskatchewan into the intermission ahead 13-7.

Milo scored a single on a missed 51-yard field goal less than five minutes into the second half. Burris led the Tiger-Cats on a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard pass to Williams for a major. Congi converted the extra point to tie the score up, 14-14.

Durant put the Roughriders back in front by completing a 74-yard strike to Hamilton. Milo converted the extra point, scored a single on the ensuing kickoff, then ended scoring in the third period by making a 33-yard field goal to put the home team up 25-14.

Saskatchewan extended its lead early in the final frame as Durant found Jock Sanders for a 20-yard major to go up 32-14.

Burris began the comeback with a 10-yard pass to Jones for a major with 12:35 left to play. Burris then completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dave Stala to cut the lead to just five points with 9:36 remaining. The go-ahead toss to Jones put the visitors up 35-33.

Milo missed a go-ahead field goal with 1:41 remaining that turned into a single which brought the score to its final, 35-34.

Game Notes

Jock Sanders's touchdown reception was the first of his career...Henry Burris passed Doug Flutie for sixth all-time on the CFL's career touchdown passes list...Hamilton wideout Andy Fantuz made his first visit to Mosaic Stadium wearing a visiting uniform after playing for the Roughriders from 2006-2011...Saskatchewan had its two-game winning streak versus the Tiger-Cats snapped but it has still won 15 out of its last 18 matchups with Hamilton.