Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:

Tre Smith ripped off a 73-yard punt return with just over one minute to play to spark the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 28-21 pre-season victory over the Argonauts last night.

Smith’s explosive burst set up quarterback Quinton Porter for a eight-yard clinching major.

It was Smith’s second big play of the contest. He burst 44 yards at the end of the third quarter.

But the victory, before 21,422 at Rogers Centre, could prove costly. Rookie Dylan Barker, the first overall pick in the 2008 Canadian college draft, left in the first quarter with a suspected broken left leg.

GM Bob O’Billovich said if Barker’s left tibia is indeed broken, the rookie would be placed on the nine-game injured list, meaning he would be lost at least until mid- September.

The Argos took the lead in the fourth quarter when star receiver Bethel Johnson fired off a 76-yard punt return for a score to put his club ahead 21-18. But that set the stage for the Ticat comeback with rookie Porter at the controls for the final seven minutes.

Head coach Charlie Taaffe said the victory gives his club some momentum heading into the season opener Thursday against Montreal.

“I hope so. But again I’m not going to get too excited. We were 2-0 in the pre-season last year too,” he said. “But this (the Argos) are a good football team and success breeds success. Winning is more fun than losing.”

The Boatmen wasted little time igniting the cannons. Kerry Joseph hit Johnson coming over the midde on the Argos’ opening drive and the receiver lugged it 46 yards. Tack on another 15 for Jermaine Mays roughing on the tackle.

Two plays later, Dominique Dorsey scooted nine yards for the major, just one minute in.

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