Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Kevin Glenn launches a pass during Saturday's game. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

DeAndra Cobb rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown to power the Hamilton Tiger-Cats past the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders 24-6 on a windy Saturday afternoon.

The Ticats, before 24,586 spectators, better handled the blustery conditions. Win gusts hit 81 kilometres an hour throughout the contest.

The 'Cats held the Roughriders to just six points with the wind and forced four turnovers (two fumbles, one interception, once on downs) and six sacks overall. That's the most for the team since it registered five against Toronto in September 2005.

"The defence was dominant," Ticats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille said. "I had a feeling they could play that type of football game.

"They've been poised for a big game like that. I thought the front seven did a great job and the secondary as well in coverage. We played good situational defence."

Offensively, Hamilton scored 21 points with the wind, but it was the unit's ability to control the ball with a solid rushing attack and short passing game when marching into it that was most telling. That helped the Ticats snap an 11-game losing streak against Saskatchewan.

"It [offensive line play] was critical, especially when you get these windy games," Bellefeuille said. "You're trying to eat up clock going against the wind.

Hamilton (8-9) moves into second spot in the CFL's East Division with its second straight win. The Ticats can cement the No. 2 spot — and home field for the conference semifinal — with a win next weekend against Winnipeg.

The Blue Bombers (7-9) can grab a share of second with a win Sunday over Montreal, but regardless of that outcome can still secure second with a home victory over Hamilton in the final game of the regular season.

The Ticats haven't played a playoff game since 2004 and last hosted a post-season contest in 2001.

Saskatchewan (9-7-1) could've clinched a home playoff game for the third straight year with a win.

Riders battling flu

The Riders, who have at least five players battling the flu, sit just behind the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL's West Division standings. Calgary is in first place after a 28-26 win over B.C. Saturday night.

"We weren't able to generate anything with any consistency on offence and we left our defence on the field too long," said Riders head coach Ken Miller. "We're not going to make an excuse of any kind [due to flu bug]."

"We got our fannies beat by a team that was well prepared and executed well."

Regardless of that outcome, the Riders and Stamps square off next weekend with the winner finishing first and securing home-field advantage for the conference final.

"We all know what lies before us," Miller said. "We all know what needs to be done so it's incumbent on every one of us to do the very best we can to be successful in that game next week."

Hamilton's defence harassed Riders starter Darian Durant, who was just 8-of-20 passing for 66 yards and an interception before giving way to Steven Jyles in the fourth.

Arland Bruce III scored Hamilton's other touchdown. Nick Setta booted three field goals, two converts and a single.

Hamilton starter Kevin Glenn finished 22-of-35 passing for 237 yards and a touchdown. He said dealing with the wind was difficult.

"It was pretty bad," he said. "I actually thought I was going to throw a pass to myself, let the wind blow it back to me."

Slotback Dave Stala was Kevin Glenn's favourite target with nine catches for 126 yards.

Saskatchewan's Luca Congi had a field goal but missed attempts of 55 and 50 yards with the wind in the third. Louie Sakoda added a single while the other points came on a safety.

Hamilton dominated the first half for a well-deserved 21-6 lead at the break. The Ticats scored 18 points in the first quarter with the brisk wind and forced three turnovers, then put together a sparkling 74-yard drive into the wind in the second.

Glenn's 12-yard TD strike to Bruce at 8:31 of the first put Hamilton ahead 10-0 before Cobb gave the home team an 18-0 advantage thanks to a 23-yard touchdown run 1:01 into the second, capping a 69-yard, nine-play drive.

But Hamilton's best offensive showing of the half came in the second when Glenn marched the unit 74 yards on 13 plays before Setta capped it off with a 10-yard field goal for a 21-3 lead at 14:26. The Ticats kept the ball away from the Riders' offence for 6:05.

Saskatchewan did end the half on a positive note, marching 42 yards on six plays as Congi's 33-yard field goal on the final play of the quarter made it 21-6.

Otherwise, that was about it as the Riders struggled mightily with the ball, mustering just three first downs and 49 total offensive yards in the half.

By comparison, Hamilton had 13 first downs and 234 total yards and controlled the ball for 20 minutes, 29 seconds.