The Lions and Tiger-Cats met at the Jungle Sunday and the Leos proved to be the feline kings.
Wherever the future home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats is, it simply cannot be as maddening as Ivor Wynne Stadium.
At one time the Tiger-Cats promoted Ivor Wynne Stadium as The Jungle - and little has changed.
Ivor Wynne will be replaced as the home of the Ticats some time before Hamilton plays host to some of the events in the 2015 Pan Am Games in Southern Ontario. Where that new stadium will be and what it will be named are hot topics in Steeltown.
But could this stadium possibly have the personality that created as much action off the field as there was on it Sunday in the first Canadian Football League post-season game played in Steeltown since 2001?
An announced crowd of 27,430 - all of whom paid by the way - watched the game between the hometown Tiger-Cats and the visiting B.C. Lions. While not a sellout, which became part of the storyline going into the game, let it be said that it wasn't until last Sunday that Hamilton knew it would play host to the game. It's a reason why Ticats' owner Bob Young and his management team collectively decided not to buy the game from the league. Call it risk management.
Those who came to the game actively participated. Four individuals ran on to the field, unaware or unconcerned that it could lead to misdemeanour charges. Three of the four made their dashes at the same time, and one of the sprinters had a 50-50 bib. Presumably, he wasn't the one who sold the winning ticket.
It can be reported that the police literally put the arm of the law on these individuals and, in one case, a Lions player did a solo stop.
But perhaps the most intriguing moment happened with 22 ticks to go after Hamilton scored a touchdown and needed a two-point convert to tie the score at 27. A fight in the stands ensued and included some serious physicality by the police. Whether by design or mere coincidence, the convert took a few moments to actually happen while the action in the stands settled.
And when the Ticats made good on the play, it created a euphoria that has been part of the team's rebirth this year.
It only took one series, however, to deflate the inflated souls of the fans when the Lions scored a touchdown to take the lead in overtime. When the Ticats failed to match, the game ended 34-27 in the Lions' favour.
Ticats' quarterback Kevin Glenn, who engineered a three-game win streak in the last three games of the regular season when installed as the starting quarterback, finished with 31 completions from 51 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns.
Yet it was B.C. pivot Casey Printers who proved to be the difference. Printers finished with 24 completions in 35 attempts for 360 yards and one touchdown while avoiding numerous tackles for losses. The Lions quarterback showed no effect of the thumb damage that forced him to the sidelines early in the final regular-season game. Printers started the two games previous to that, and even though the Lions lost both, Printers showed the athletic brilliance that made him the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2004.
He has had an interesting journey since then that included a stint in Hamilton. He signed a multi-year deal in September, 2007 that included a $500,000 bonus for putting his name to paper.
"Kids get your popcorn ready," he said at the media conference to unveil the latest Ticats' saviour. "Folks, when you get home get your chips and cakes all ready and kick back and let's play some real football. I'm ready to go and hopefully this is the start of something great."
A year and half later, the Ticats shed Printers and his hefty contract, and nobody claimed him.
A couple months ago, following an embarrassing 45-point loss by his team, Winnipeg head coach Mike Kelly was asked about persistent rumours the Blue Bombers might sign Printers. The Bombers tried out Printers in an off-season free-agent camp.
"Look in my eyes folks, Casey Printers is not coming to Winnipeg," Kelly said. "OK? There we go."
The Argos, struggling all season at quarterback, didn't bother with Printers, either.
It was only B.C., which ran into a rash of injuries, that made overtures to Printers, and he returned to his former team older and more mature.
And as the Lions' quarterbacks fell by the wayside, Printers moved up from fifth to first on the depth chart.
And he led the Lions to a victory and a place in the East Final next Sunday in Montreal.
Lest it be said Hamilton played a good game. But in The Jungle, the Lions proved stronger than the Cats.