TORONTO — Brandon (Speedy) Banks hauled in the ball, knowing he was wide open with the goal-line beckoning.
“Then I got hit and I was like, ‘What hit me?’” he recalled.
It was the goalpost at the south end of BMO Field.
“It was the first time ever. I won’t do it next time. I know it’s there now,” he added with a smile.
Banks, a toothpick of a receiver listed at five foot seven and 150 pounds, bounced off the post, but held onto the ball for a 17-yard TD reception that gave Hamilton a 16-10 lead midway through the second quarter Friday night.
“All I can say is Speedy is a gamer. He’s a big-time football player,” said head coach June Jones. “Average guys don’t make that play.”
After regaining his feet — and equilibrium — Banks made straight for the seats when he handed the ball off to his excited eight-year-old son, known as Little Speedy, in the stands.
Hamilton (8-7-0) went on to win 34-20, consigning the Toronto Argonauts (3-12-0) to their seventh straight loss.
Banks finished the night with eight catches for 178 yards. It was the ninth time this season he has surpassed 100 yards receiving, setting a Ticats’ single-season record (which he had shared with Tony Champion, who did it in eight games in 1989).
Fellow receiver Luke Tasker also had a night to remember, posting his first three-TD reception night in the CFL. He finished with six receptions for 63 yards.
Tasker, who has 65 receptions for 979 yards and nine TDs this season, passed Mike Morreale (5,179 yards) to move into ninth place in receiving yards in the Hamilton record book.
With 406 career catches, Tasker also passed Darren Flutie (405) to move into fourth place in Ticat history in receptions.
Banks and Tasker have been Argo-killers this year, combining for 42 receptions, 763 yards and 10 touchdowns in Hamilton’s three wins over Toronto.
Banks credited Jones and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli for the numbers.
“I’m enjoying myself,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever been in the type of offence like that where I’m getting all those opportunities.”
Banks, who has missed two games through injury and is still dealing with a groin issue, now has 86 receptions for 1,290 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. That stands as the eighth-most receiving yards in a single season in Ticat history.
With three games to go, Banks needs 364 yards to match Champion’s club record of 1,656 receiving yards.
Tasker, who is playing through toe and rib injuries, applauded Banks’ goalpost catch.
“That was nice,” he said with a chuckle.
“That play could make a ‘Not Top 10’ pretty easily if something happens a little different,” he added. “Good for him.”
“I haven’t really seen one like that. But I just appreciated the catch,” Masoli added with a laugh.
The performances of Banks and Tasker have been timely for Hamilton, which is missing injured receivers Chris Williams, Terrence Toliver, Jalen Saunders and Shamawd Chambers.
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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
