TORONTO (CP) — Dominque Dorsey’s 94-yard punt return for a touchdown led
the Toronto Argonauts to a lacklustre 19-11 win over the Winnipeg Blue
Bombers on Friday night.
Toronto (3-3) moved into a first-place tie with Montreal in the East
Division with the win but offensively was woefully inconsistent and
wasted several good scoring chances to easily cement the win. Instead,
the Argos had to rely on Dorsey and a stellar defensive performance to
get the victory.
Toronto’s defence made life miserable for quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie,
who threw for 450 yards and a TD to lead Winnipeg (1-5) to its lone win
of the season last week against Calgary. Dinwiddie was sacked four
times and intercepted twice.
Bombers star Milt Stegall wasn’t much of a factor in his first game of
the season. Stegall, who missed the opening five weeks recovering from
off-season knee surgery, had three catches for 38 yards.
Still, Winnipeg got the ball twice within the final three minutes
trailing only 18-11. Both times Toronto’s defence effectively blanketed
Dinwiddie and Co., delighting the 28,523 spectators with the Rogers
Centre roof rolled back.
The Argos offence did come up big with less than 57 seconds when Arland
Bruce’s nine-yard reception gave the Argos a crucial first down to
retain possession and eventually run the clock out with Mike
Vanderjagt’s 57-yard punt single.
Dorsey wasted no time giving them something to cheer about. After
settling under an Alexis Serna punt, Dorsey ran upfield at about
half-speed, then kicked into overdrive once a hole opened.
He then broke to the centre of the field, made a move to get by Serna,
then left three Bombers in his dust en route to the end zone at 8:58 of
the first. Toronto failed to convert the TD due to a bad snap that left
the Argos ahead 9-0.
Despite controlling the opening half, Toronto couldn’t put Winnipeg
away and allowed the visitors to hang around. The missed convert meant
when Dinwiddie hit Romby Bryant on an 86-yard TD strike at 8:52 of the
third the Bombers pulled to within 18-10, making it a one-possession
game. The long completion came a play after Vanderjagt mishit a 48-yard
field goal attempt.
Winnipeg then dodged a bullet late in the third when a Charles Roberts
fumble on a punt return was successfully challenged. That gave the
Bombers the ball at their 30-yard line instead of Toronto.
But Serna didn’t do Winnipeg any favours when he missed a 36-yard field
goal early in the fourth, the single moving the visitors to within
18-11.
Vanderjagt returned the favour, though, missing from 43 yards out with under six minutes left to keep it a seven-point game.
Vanderjagt kicked four field goals and a single.
Serna had a field goal, convert and single.
Dorsey’s huge return staked the Argos to their 18-3 half-time lead but
they could’ve led by much more with a little red zone proficiency late
in the second quarter.
Twice Toronto had possession inside the Winnipeg 10, yet came away with
just three points. A solid nine-play, 83-yard drive to the five-yard
line ended with the Bombers’ Cam Hall intercepting Joseph’s pass in the
end zone.
The Argos regained possession at Winnipeg’s 20 on Byron Parker’s
interception. However, they settled for Vanderjagt’s 13-yard field goal
to make it 15-3 at 13:50. Toronto added its final points on a
Vanderjagt 44-yard boot to end the half following a 20-yard catch by
Andre Talbot.
Toronto’s defence also did a nice job on Dinwiddie, who was 9-of-16
passing but for just 79 yards with two interceptions. All Winnipeg
could muster in the first half was Serna’s 39-yard field goal in the
second.
NOTES : There was a pre-game video tribute to Leif Pettersen, the
former CFL player and broadcaster who died of a heart attack Wednesday
at the age of 57 … Receiver Nathan Hoffart and linebacker Kevin Eiben
were among Toronto’s four scratches. With Stegall returning to the
lineup, receiver Kerry Johnson didn’t dress for Winnipeg … This
contest was the first of six straight against East Division rivals for
Toronto. Winnipeg played the first of three straight games versus
Eastern squads.