HAMILTON – Kenny Lawler knew it was only a matter of time earlier than the Hamilton Tiger-Cats would come calling.
Lawler registered 4 catches for a team-high 81 yards and a landing in Hamilton’s 41-27 residence win over the B.C. Lions on Friday evening. Lawler had six catches for 75 yards over the Ticats’ first two contests, however reasonably than publicly demand to get the ball extra, Lawler lived vicariously by way of the achievements of others.
“I do know on the finish of the day we’ve bought guys at each vast receiver place who’re in a position to make performs,” Lawler stated. “To be trustworthy, I discover rather more happiness when all people eats … as a result of I do know I’m doing my job with out the ball.
“We’re simply seeing a number of double protection and a number of zones rotating to my aspect, and I anticipated it.”
And with good motive, because the six-foot-one, 180-pound Lawler loved a stellar ’25 marketing campaign, his first with Hamilton. The 31-year-old American led the CFL in TD catches (14) and 30-plus yard grabs (14), was second in targets (144) and yards (1,443) and tied for third in catches (86).
But when defences double-team Lawler or swing their coverages his manner, that leaves different Ticats receivers with beneficial matchups. And Lawler’s teammates have responded as Canadian Kiondre Smith (six catches, 75 yards) and Keric Wheatfall (three catches, 102 yards whereas Smith added two TD grabs) have been Hamilton’s receiving leaders over its first two video games versus Montreal and Winnipeg, respectively.
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Lawler delivered a pivotal play Friday evening. His 49-yard TD seize not solely gave Hamilton a 27-9 lead coming into halftime but in addition instantly adopted Stavros Katsantonis’s interception.
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“Simply go watch that play,” Mitchell stated. “He (Lawler) is 5 yards behind the defensive backs (and) I throw the ball to a spot (the place) I feel he could make a play.
“He takes his eyes utterly off the ball, runs across the DB, retracks (the ball) and finds it and places his arms on it. It simply exhibits you who Kenny Lawler actually is and the appreciation you must have for a number of the nice performs he’s made.”
Mitchell stated Lawler simply reinforces the quarterback’s long-standing perception CFL receivers ought to by no means surrender on a route.
“It’s one thing I’ve preached for a very long time that as a receiver you simply must run,” Mitchell stated. “It’s an enormous area and despite the fact that they (defensive backs) are again there … and so they’re imagined to have that play coated, as a receiver, for those who simply run, I can put the ball on the market and allow you to go discover it.
“Our guys are nice at monitoring it.”
Mitchell has definitely accomplished his half, finishing 68-of-81 passes (84 per cent) for 879 yards with eight touchdowns and just one interception.
On Friday evening, Mitchell led Hamilton’s offence to touchdowns on its first three possessions. B.C. additionally scored on its opening three drives however solely area targets earlier than Lawler delivered his decisive TD catch.
Nonetheless, Mitchell went deep on three of his first 4 passing makes an attempt. Two have been 56-yard completions, whereas the third resulted in a 47-yard move interference name towards B.C.
“There’s a number of belief between us (Mitchell and playcaller Milanovich) proper now,” Mitchell stated. “Simply making an attempt to do the appropriate factor, and he (Milanovich) is trusting me to take the photographs once I see them.
“I’ve bought a tremendous receiving crew, each single particular person could make loopy catches and performs down the sector. It makes it powerful on DBs and to run zone, however nobody will run man towards us. It simply exhibits groups know and perceive who we’re as an offence. If you happen to’re going to return down and provides us an opportunity to go excessive, we’ll. If you happen to again up, we’ll give the ball to (working again Larry Rountree III) and let him do his factor. Simply take what sort of involves us.”
Milanovich stated Hamilton’s offensive recreation plan requires downfield photographs, however typically defensive coverages negate these alternatives.
“Bo has bought actual good at understanding when to take these and when to examine it down and maintain the sticks shifting,” Milanovich stated. “Bo was on hearth (Friday evening) … you simply sort of must feed him when he’s sizzling like that.”
Hamilton enters its bye week tied atop the East Division with Montreal (2-1). After a season-opening 30-27 time beyond regulation loss to the Alouettes, the Ticats will chase a 3rd straight win after they host Winnipeg on July 5.
“Hopefully we discovered a superb lesson in that first recreation,” Milanovich stated. “Simply maintain our foot on the gasoline, play for 60 minutes, simply do our job and make our performs till the sport is over.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed June 22, 2026.
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