Ticats roar back, beat Bombers - HAMILTON 28 WINNIPEG 7; Glenn leads Hamilton to huge victory over Winnipeg

It's easier to call it a must-win if you actually win it.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, facing the prospect of an 0-3 start, used a series of clock-eating, yardage-killing drives to avenge a season-opening loss with a 28-7 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last night at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Quarterback Kevin Glenn was ruthlessly accurate, completing more than 80 per cent of his passes -- including the first 14 straight -- on his way to a 340-yard, three-touchdown day. Receiver Dave Stala led the way with nine catches for 124 yards and Maurice Mann had two touchdown grabs.

"Everybody understood the ramifications of the game," Glenn said in a near-jubliant locker-room after the game. "Everybody knew we had to get this win."

The Ticat D contained Bombers' quarterback Buck Pierce and then drove him from the game in the third quarter after the last in a series of hard hits. Pierce finished with 119 yards on 10-for-19 passing and, perhaps more importantly, a big fat zero in the rushing column. Ticat linebacker Markeith Knowlton also had a key interception.

Redemption was evident elsewhere on the field. The offensive line, much maligned after giving up seven sacks in week one, gave up just one this time around.