Andy Fantuz of the Hamilton Tiger-cats is about to be taken down against the Ottawa Redblacks in a CFL football game at Tim Hortons Field on October 17, 2014 in Hamilton, Ontario.Claus Anersen/Getty Images
Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros threw a touchdown pass to Bakari Grant to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 16-6 victory over the Ottawa RedBlacks on Friday.
Hamilton remains undefeated in five games at Tim Hortons Field and improves to a 7-8 record and a temporary spot atop the CFL East.
The Ticats entered the week in a three-way tie for first place in the East with Toronto and Montreal. But all three teams are in must-win situations this week as the B.C. Lions, who sit fourth in the West with an 8-7 record, currently hold the crossover playoff spot — meaning one of those three teams will likely be bumped from a playoff appearance and only the top-two will go through.
Ottawa falls to 2-13.
A 44-yard run by Hamilton's Terrell Sinkfield to the Ottawa nine-yard line ended the third quarter and set up Collaros' seven-yard TD pass to Grant, who tiptoed just inbounds early in the fourth for the 14-6 lead. Hamilton kicker Justin Medlock kicked a 94-yard single on the ensuing kickoff to go up 15-6. He added a 75-yard punt single midway through the fourth to make it 16-6.
Medlock made two of three field-goal attempts, hitting from 21 and 26 yards but hitting the left upright and falling short from 36.