Mitchell throws two TD passes as Ticats down Redblacks 35-15 to clinch first in East

By Canadian Press on October 24, 2025.

HAMILTON — Bo Levi Mitchell threw two touchdown passes as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats clinched top spot in the East Division with a 35-15 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night.

Hamilton (11-7) will now host the East Division final Nov. 8. The TD strikes give Mitchell a CFL-high 36, which also marks a career best for the 13-year veteran.

Hamilton also improved to 11-3 coming off a bye week since 2021 while sweeping the three-game season series with Ottawa (4-14). The Ticats also earned an eighth straight home win over the Redblacks dating back to 2018, delighting an announced Hamilton Stadium gathering of 22,030 on a night when the Toronto Blue Jays and L.A. Dodgers opened the World Series at Rogers Centre.

Ottawa ended its regular season with a sixth straight loss.

It also marks just the third time in Ticats history that they’ve gone from last to first in consecutive years after finishing fourth in the East Division last year with a 7-11 record.

Mitchell finished 21-of-31 passing for 264 yards.

Greg Bell ran for 94 yards to crack the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time as a pro. Tim White registered four catches for 69 yards and two TDs to surpass the 1,000-yard receiving threshold for the fourth straight year.

White is only the second Ticats receiver to register four straight 1,000-yard campaigns after Darren Flutie (1998-2001).

Ottawa starter Tyrie Adams completed nine-of-14 passes for 119 yards and a TD and two interceptions before giving way to Matt Shiltz to start the second half. Shiltz, a former Ticat, was seven-of-15 passing for 78 yards with four picks.

Ottawa receiver Justin Hardy had three catches for 51 yards to surpass the 1,000-yard barrier for a third straight year.

Hamilton’s Marc Liegghio added two converts and seven field goals, one off the club record.

William Stanback and Shiltz scored Ottawa’s touchdowns. Lewis Ward kicked two converts and a single.

Shiltz ended a 14-play, 81-yard march with a one-yard TD run at 4:36 of the fourth, cutting Hamilton’s lead to 29-15. Liegghio countered with a 47-yard boot at 7:20 to put the Ticats up 32-15.

Liegghio’s seventh field goal of the game, this one from 34 yards out at 10:09, pushed Hamilton’s lead to 35-15.

Liegghio hit a 29-yard field goal 2:31 into the third, putting Hamilton ahead 29-7. Ward’s missed 38-yard field goal went for a single at 8:34.

Liegghio’s 28-yard field goal to end the second quarter staked Hamilton to a 26-7 halftime lead It came after Mitchell and White combined on a second 21-yard TD pass at 13:52.

Liegghio gave Hamilton a 16-7 lead with a 40-yard field goal at 10:37 after Stanback’s five-yard TD catch at 6:27. Stanback’s run capped a smart six-play, 96-yard march set up by Cleyon Laing’s recovery of Mitchell’s fumbled snap.

Mitchell opened the scoring with a 21-yard TD pass to White at 5:34 of the first. Liegghio put Hamilton ahead 10-0 with a 24-yard field goal at 9:11 before connecting from 36 yards out at 12:06.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press