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lingzi
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Dec 7 2012, 02:25 PM
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HAMILTON, Ont. Coby Fleener Womens Jersey . -- The Hamilton Tiger-Cats next game is pivotal for their playoff hopes, but Avon Cobourne was wondering out loud Thursday if many of his teammates fully understood that fact. You can watch the game live on TSN and TSN Mobile TV, tonight at 7pm et/4pm pt and join our Live Game Night Blog to talk football. The Ticats host the league-leading B.C. Lions on Friday night fighting for their post-season lives. Hamilton (5-9) is third in the East Division two points ahead of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but trails the Edmonton Eskimos (6-8) in the crossover battle for the third and final post-season spot in the Eastern conference. But Cobourne felt some of his teammates didnt have their minds firmly set on the task at hand during Hamiltons walkthrough. "Its a big game and to be honest, I dont think we were as focused as we needed to be today as important as this game is," the veteran running back said candidly. "It was shocking to me for that to happen, to come out here and things not to go smoothly in the walkthrough as they need to be. "Its a serious game for us and I dont know how serious most guys are about it. Its a big game and I feel like we should win the game if we play well, theyre missing a lot of key players which opens up opportunities for us." The defending Grey Cup-champion Lions (10-4) boast the CFLs top record and are coming off a 27-22 home win over Calgary minus all-star receivers Geroy Simon and Arland Bruce III, offensive lineman John Hamiester-Ries and defensive tackles Khalif Mitchell and Eric Taylor. All wont play Friday night. That, combined with the Lions -- who play their home games at domed B.C. Place -- being forced to play outdoors on a cool, potentially blustery fall evening would be two factors working in Hamiltons favour. Despite his feeling from practice, Cobourne believes his teammates will come ready to play Friday night. "Im not worried because everybody handles things differently," he said. "I like things to be sharp and crisp and I just feel from my (perspective) I would prefer it to be a lot sharper than it was. "But its like that sometimes. People are different." Ticats head coach George Cortez agrees. "I think were ready to play and they understand its an important game," he said. "As long as we win games we have control of what goes on. "This is an important game and we need to win it." The Lions also have something to play for. They can cement a home playoff game with a win over Hamilton and a Calgary Stampeders road loss Saturday to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. "Its a large game in terms of where both teams stand," said Lions rookie head coach Mike Benevides. "We have a tremendous challenge in front of us knowing that we have a desperate team. "The fans here are always very boisterous, its always very loud. They love their football and our team knows that and were going to have to play extremely well to get the result we want." Hamiltons offence is averaging a league-best 30.1 points per game and is second overall in passing at 294.3 yards per contest. Quarterback Henry Burris has already thrown a club-record 34 TD passes, has completed 64 per cent of his passes and is second among CFL passers with 4,120 yards. By comparison, Hamiltons defence is allowing 31.7 points and a whopping 418.4 yards per game, both league highs. So, predictably, Cobourne believes Hamiltons offence holds the key to victory. "The key is to keep our offence on the field," he said. "We have to make plays on offence . . . we do that and I think we win the game." Cobourne has become an offensive force, rushing for 564 yards on 89 carries (5.6-yard average) in just six starts this season. He has combined with rookie Chevon Walker (631 yards, 5.1-yard average) to give the Ticats a solid two-headed rushing attack. Receiver Chris Williams is Hamiltons biggest threat, having scored a CFL-high 13 touchdowns, including a league-record six return TDs. The leagues top rookie last season is just two yards shy of registering a second straight 1,000-yard receiving season. But B.C. counters with a defence thats allowing the fewest points (19.4), fewest rushing and passing yards (72.5 and 245.4 yards, respectively) and is tied with Winnipeg for most sacks with 32. "Theyre a good defence, theres no doubt about it," Cobourne said. "Theyre playing with a lot of confidence, I mean, even when they mess up they still get plays made. "Its not going to be easy but its an opportunity for us to get a win." Cortez said Lions quarterback Travis Lulay, the CFLs outstanding player last year who has thrown a TD pass in 21 straight games, is the key to B.C.s success. "Lulay is the reason they are where they are, to be quite honest," he said. "If you let him get outside the pocket hes very dangerous because you can only cover the guys for so long. "Its a big, wide field. He will run but hes really looking downfield to make a play." Lulay is third overall in passing with 3,800 yards and has 25 TD passes with 10 interceptions. Hes also the leagues top rushing quarterback with 467 yards on 64 carries (7.3-yard average). "Travis has been spectacular, Travis has taken care of the football, he has delivered the ball and taken what the defence has given him so he has done an outstanding job," Benevides said. "Theres no doubt the MVP of this league is the reason why we are where we are." But Lulay also spearheads a potent Lions offence that even without Bruce and Simon still boasts versatile Winnipeg native Andrew Harris at running back. Harris is third in CFL rushing with 915 yards, averaging a solid 6.4 yards per carry. He has also registered 43 catches for 403 yards and leads the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,544. The Lions offensive line not only anchors the leagues top ground attack (130.6 yards per game) but has allowed a CFL-low 14 sacks. "What Im most proud of this group this season is the expectations, adversities, all the things we deal with, it has been about team," Benevides said. "Travis is what makes us go but theres a tremendous offensive line that protects the quarterback better than anybody else. "Theres a tremendous balance in the running game." Lulay said while the Lions lose veteran experience with Simon and Bruce out of the lineup, they gain plenty with youngsters Earnest Jackson, Kierrie Johnson and Nick Moore lining up at receiver. "What we lose in savvy and experience not having Geroy and Arland we gain a little bit with youthful exuberance, the excitement to play and appreciation for an opportunity," Lulay said. "Those guys are hungry to go out and play and want to play well for their teammates." NOTES -- A Cobourne supporter went to great lengths to put his name on Hamiltons Wall of Fame at Ivor Wynne. Someone scaled the roof of the stadium and put a banner with Cobournes full name over Don Sutherins No. 22 (the number Cobourne wears). Cobourne was of two minds about it Thursday. "I appreciate the fans doing that but that guy (Sutherin) worked hard to get his name up there and its kind of disrespectful but at the same time its an honour for someone to take the time to do that." . . . Players on both teams will be donning pink-coloured apparel as part of the CFLs effort to help raise awareness for womens cancers . . . Veteran Canadian Kevin Eiben and rookie Brock Campbell will start at linebacker for Hamilton with Markeith Knowlton and Jamall Johnson both injured. T.Y. Hilton Womens Jersey . Lewis caught the last of his three touchdowns in overtime as the Calgary Stampeders rallied from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit for a 41-38 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday. Andrew Luck Womens Jersey . Shawn Evans had four goals and added an assist as the Roughnecks clinched first place in the NLL and home dates throughout the playoffs with a 9-6 victory over the Rush on Saturday. Jeff Shattler and Nolan Heavenor each had two goals and Dane Dobbie also scored for the Roughnecks (12-4), who closed out the regular season with seven wins in their last eight games. http://www.coltsteamstore.com/pat-angerer-jerseys .S. Cellular Field. Chicago, which has the third-best run differential (plus-63) in all of baseball, has rattled off four straight victories and is 8-2 over the last 10 games thanks in part to a 4-2 victory in the series opener on Friday. Pat Angerer Youth Jersey . Bostons 7-4 victory on Saturday helped it keep pace in the American League East standings. The Red Sox head into the series finale in fourth place in the division, but only two games back of the Rays and Orioles, who will break their first-place tie in their own series finale on Sunday. Coby Fleener Youth Jersey . So when they scored seven in the first three innings on Monday night, the Astros were pretty confident they were headed for a win. Jason Castro and Chris Johnson each hit three-run homers and Norris threw seven scoreless innings to give the Astros an 8-4 victory over the slumping Chicago Cubs.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls say they have signed first-round draft pick Marquis Teague. Teague was taken with the 29th selection out of Kentucky and is expected to fill a backup role at point guard. The Bulls signed Kirk Hinrich and Nate Robinson in an effort tto get by while Derrick Rose recovers from a major knee injury. Donnie Avery Jersey. Teague averaged 10.0 points and 4.8 assists to help Kentucky win a national title in his lone season. Older brother Jeff plays for Atlanta. The Bulls announced the deal Wednesday. ' ' '
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