Tiger-Cats 23, Roughriders 17: Jeremiah Masoli threw for a touchdown and Frankie Williams brought back a punt for another score as Hamilton outlasted visiting Saskatchewan in the CFL season opener.

Masoli completed 17-of-28 passes for 169 yards while Brandon Banks finished with six receptions for 77 yards and a TD as the Tiger-Cats won their home opener for the third time in five seasons. Williams recorded 159 yards on 10 total returns and Sean Thomas-Erlington gained 103 yards from scrimmage for Hamilton, which snapped its five-game losing streak in the series.

Rookie Isaac Harker, the third quarterback used by the Roughriders, completed 8-of-14 passes for 128 yards with two late interceptions after starter Zach Collaros suffered an apparent concussion early in the contest. Cody Fajardo also saw action, as he was 9-of-17 for 66 yards and ran for a score, while William Powell rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown to lead Saskatchewan.

Collaros was lost during the first possession on a penalized late hit by Hamilton linebacker Simoni Lawrence, but the Roughriders took the lead later in the drive on Fajardo's 2-yard TD run. Masoli hit Banks with a 41-yard scoring strike on the first play of the second quarter to put the Tiger-Cats in front 10-7, but Powell found the end zone from 1 yard out with 2:17 left to give Saskatchewan a three-point advantage at intermission.

Williams busted up the middle and broke several tackles en route to a 68-yard punt-return score with 6:12 left in the third quarter and Lirim Hajrullahu booted a 39-yard field goal as Hamilton took a 20-13 lead into the fourth quarter. Brett Lauther (19 yards) and Hajrullahu (33) traded field goals and the Roughriders crept within six points after scoring a rouge, but Lawrence and Michael Daly each made an interception in the final two minutes to seal the win.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Saskatchewan LB Solomon Elimimian and WR Manny Arceneaux, newcomers to the team, sat out the opener with lower-body injuries. … Hamilton DL Ja'Gared Davis, who came over from Calgary in the offseason, recorded a team-leading seven tackles while Lawrence finished with six and a sack. … Roughriders LB Derrick Moncrief led the way for his team with seven tackles and a sack. … Hajrullahu was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts. ... Saskatchewan WR K.D. Cannon made four catches for 66 yards.