WINNIPEG (CP) — Toronto rookie running back Jamal Robertson scored a pair
of touchdowns as the Argonauts defeated the Blue Bombers 23-16 in the
teams’ CFL regular-season opener Friday night.
The game marked the first CFL victory for new Toronto head coach Rich Stubler.
It was the first of four games between the clubs this season.
Winnipeg rookie kicker Alexis Serna tallied field goals from 15, 22 and
34 yards and running back Charles Roberts scored a TD on a one-yard run
in front of 26,155 fans at Canad Inns Stadium.
Serna also gave up a safety midway through the fourth quarter, handing Toronto a 17-16 lead.
Toronto kicker Mike Vanderjagt, making his return to the CFL and Argos after nine years in the NFL, didn’t have a great night.
The veteran missed three field goals, going wide left on a 32-yard
attempt, wide right on a 39-yarder and short and left on a 51-yard try.
He got a single off the first miss.
He did redeem himself late in the fourth quarter when he finished the
game’s scoring by connecting on attempts from 49 and 44 yards, the
latter one after a Bombers’ turnover. Winnipeg’s last-gasp efforts
included going for it on third down with eight yards to go and 2:24
left on the clock, but quarterback Kevin Glenn was intercepted by
defensive back Kenny Wheaton. Glenn threw his third interception of the
game with 33 seconds remaining when he tossed a long pass that was
picked off by cornerback Willie Middlebrooks.
With Winnipeg leading 6-1 in the second quarter, Robertson scored the
game’s first TD when quarterback Michael Bishop tossed him the ball and
he missed three tackles on the way to a 52-yard catch-and-run score
with a minute left in the second quarter.
Robertson was acquired in a trade with Saskatchewan on June 5. In
Toronto’s previous series, Argos starting QB Kerry Joseph fumbled the
ball while being sacked by Bomber linebacker Cam Hall. Bomber defensive
end Tom Canada recovered at Toronto’s 17-yard line and Serna ended up
booting his 22-yarder.
At halftime with an 8-6 lead, Stubler said Joseph got a bit “whacked”
in the game so he decided to replace him with Bishop for a few series.
Joseph took back the controls in the third quarter, but relinquished
them to Bishop again with five minutes left in the game.
Robertson notched his second TD after a turnover in the third quarter.
Argo defensive back Wayne Shaw blocked a Serna punt and teammate wide
receiver James Robinson recovered at Winnipeg’s four-yard line.
Robertson ran it in from that distance two plays later at 9:02.
Roberts put the Bombers ahead 16-15 early in the fourth quarter with a
one-yard TD run after Toronto linebacker Chuck Winters was called for
pass interference on Derick Armstrong in the end zone.
Notes: Argo LB Mike O’Shea moved past Alondra Johnson into
second place on the CFL’s career tackles list … Bombers LB Barrin
Simpson moved past Calvin Tiggle into fifth place on the same list …
Winnipeg centre Dominic Picard left the game late in the first quarter
with an ankle injury.