Ballard Cup added motivation for Tiger-Cats

Ask some Hamilton Tiger-Cats players about winning back the Ballard Cup and you might get some blank stares.

Mention the fact the Canadian Football League team controls its playoff destiny and has some unfinished business against archrival Toronto and watch the conversation take off.

An Argonauts-Ticats matchup always holds special meaning, and Friday’s encounter at the Rogers Centre in Toronto at 7 p.m. ET is probably one the visitors will look back on should they fail to clinch their first playoff berth in five years.

The 3-12 Argonauts have already been eliminated from post-season contention, have been horrific offensively and have a couple of banged-up quarterbacks in starter Kerry Joseph and Cody Pickett.

“When we started the journey in training camp, we wanted to be in a situation where, if we win, we could have a home playoff game,” Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, whose team has dropped four straight games and five of six, told reporters Thursday. “We’re not counting on anyone else to take care of our business.”

Also Friday, the Calgary Stampeders host Edmonton at 8 p.m. MT. The Eskimos are fourth in the West Division with 14 points and could grab the third and final playoff spot in the East in a crossover scenario. The Ticats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are tied for second with 6-9 records and 12 points.

Hamilton might be favoured against Toronto, but it is important to remember the Argonauts have taken two of the first three meetings this season and a victory on Friday would allow them to capture the Ballard Cup, a trophy awarded to the winner of the season series.

Toronto prevailed 30-17 in the season opener, fell 34-15 on Labour Day and five days later won the rematch 25-22 in overtime on a Justin Medlock 28-yard field goal.

“Even if it’s a stapler you win, it’s still something to play for, other than why you really play, which is to win the game,” said Tiger-Cats receiver Arland Bruce, who was traded from Toronto earlier in the season.

Hamilton has won only once in seven starts on the road this season but enters Friday’s contest in a good frame of mind after losing a thrilling 41-38 decision to the 13-2 Montreal Alouettes on Sunday.

Veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn made just his fourth start of the season in place of Quinton Porter and had a career day, throwing for 506 yards and three touchdowns on 29-of-44 passing.

“I think the offence feels comfortable with Glenn back there and that’s what you need,” said Bruce, who was vocal in his support of the nine-year CFLer following the team’s 38-28 loss to Winnipeg on Oct. 12.

“When the quarterback brings that confidence to the huddle, it makes you want to be assignment perfect.”

Some would say Glenn’s next assignment, namely the Argonauts defence, poses an equally tough challenge as Montreal.

The unit leads the league with an average 239.2 yards against per game and sits second to the Alouettes in average gain per rush (4.7), fewest first downs (279) and fewest yards total offence (4,829).

“We have a good enough defence to win a championship,” said Toronto defensive end Jonathan Brown, who will start in place of injured Claude Harriott (torn knee ligaments). “But in football, one out of three is not good. You have to be three for three: offence, defence and special teams.”

The Argos’ offence ranks last in the eight-team CFL in scoring with just 18.9 points per game and total offence (4,377 yards). Joseph completed 25 of 42 passes for 331 yards in last week’s 22-19 loss to Edmonton but threw two interceptions.

Third-stringer Stephen Reaves could see action if either Joseph or Pickett is hurt or falters.

The Ticats will also attempt to take advantage of Toronto’s battered offensive line. Second-year Argo Mark DeWit and Chris Van Zeyl, a product of Hamilton’s McMaster University, will play in place of injured Jeff Keeping and Brian Ramsay.

Dylan Barker, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 Canadian player draft, will start at safety for the Tiger-Cats after Sandy Beveridge re-aggravated a hamstring injury versus Montreal.