HAMILTON - Seven quarterbacks saw action in Thursday's CFL pre-season game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
But it was Hamilton's third-string quarterback Timmy Chang who had the biggest grin for reporters after engineering the game-winning drive in the Ticats' 12-10 victory in front of 15,231 fans at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
Chang came in with 2:17 left in the third quarter and drove his team 75 yards, culminating in a five-yard touchdown run by Tre Smith at the start of the fourth. That gave the Ticats the lead for good in the team's first outing of the pre-season.
The 26-year-old sophomore, who started two of 18 games last season, is in a battle for the back-up pivot spot with Richie Williams. Chang was loose and all smiles about his ability to move the ball, but he stuck to the party line.
"It feels good, but it feels better that we won," said Chang, who completed five of nine pass attempts for 59 yards.
Casey Printers started at pivot for the Ticats and completed six of 10 pass attempts for 41 yards, leaving the game midway through the second quarter with his team up 6-0 on two Nick Setta field goals from 38 and 49 yards out.
Winnipeg quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie started the contest for the Blue Bombers and recorded a touchdown pass in two-and-a-half quarters of play. He completed 15 of 19 pass attempts for 118 yards, including the 70-yard scoring drive.
With presumed starting QB Kevin Glenn left to rest back home, Dinwiddie got the second start of his pro-career, this one with a little less import. His first start came in last year's Grey Cup loss to Saskatchewan after Glenn had broken his arm in the East Division championship.
"Nothing's going to be as hard as that (Grey Cup) game," said the 27-year-old who hopes to solidify his spot as the back-up pivot behind Glenn. "I was actually a little bit more nervous for this game than the Grey Cup. I don't know why."
Aaron Fairooz scored Winnipeg's lone touchdown, catching that three-yard pass from Dinwiddie at the end of the second quarter. Winnipeg had also threatened earlier in the quarter but Fred Reid fumbled the ball on the goal line and Hamilton ran it back 25 yards.
Dinwiddie was replaced by Bryan Randall midway through the third. He went six-of-seven for 48 yards before being replaced by Cleveland McCoy with 6:16 left in the game. McCoy completed two of four pass attempts for 23 yards.
Hamilton kicker Setta hit two of three field-goal attempts and hit the uprights from 41 yards out. Winnipeg kicker Troy Westwood went 0-for-1, missing wide right from 42 yards. He added punt singles of 44 and 51 yards.
Richie Williams replaced Printers at pivot for about nine minutes of the second quarter, and most of the third but had only an interception to show for his efforts. He completed four of nine pass attempts for 53 yards and one interception before Chang came in and recaptured the lead.
Chang left with Hamilton up 12-9 and Quinton Porter entered the game with 5:13 left. He completed one of two pass attempts for 11 yards and one interception.
Both sides sat out their big names, including Winnipeg's Glenn, running back Charles Roberts, stand-out defensive end Tom Canada and receivers Milt Stegall, Terrence Edwards and Derick Armstrong.
Hamilton kept running back Jesse Lumsden, receiver Chris Bauman and linebacker Zeke Moreno out of the line-up.