Medlock Boots Overtime Winner

THE CANADIAN PRESS/ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO — Justin Medlock’s 28-yard field goal earned the Toronto Argonauts an exciting 25-22 overtime win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday night.

Medlock’s boot came after Hamilton’s Nick Setta missed on a 49-yard try on the Ticats’ second possession of the extra session. Both kickers had 27-yard field goals on their clubs’ opening drives.

Hamilton forced overtime on Kevin Glenn’s 18-yard TD run on third down with 25 seconds remaining as Setta’s convert made it 19-19. Glenn’s score capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive that came after Toronto went ahead 19-12 on Jamal Robertson’s one-yard TD run — his second of the game — at 11:49, then Cody Pickett’s pass to Tyler Scott for the two-point convert.

Toronto (3-7) snapped a five-game losing streak overall before an energetic Rogers Centre gathering of 26,421 — a stark contrast to the crowds of roughly 11,000 fans the Toronto Blue Jays played before earlier in the week.

The home victory was the Argos’ first since Aug 1, 2008 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Toronto split the home-and-home series with Hamilton after losing 34-15 at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Monday and leads the head-to-head series 3-1 with a game remaining.

Hamilton (5-5) suffered its ninth loss in its last 11 appearances at Rogers Centre.

Ticats receiver Arland Bruce III had a touchdown against his former teammates. Bruce — who was dealt to Hamilton in late July after getting into public spat with Argos head coach Bart Andrus — hauled in a five-yard TD strike late in the first half.

Bruce, who was fined by the CFL for a bizarre end-zone celebration honouring former pop star Michael Jackson in Toronto’s season-opening win in Hamilton, had a milder one this time. After scoring, he stood on one leg and stretched out his other leg and both arms, still clutching the ball in one hand. He then jogged to the bench, thumping his chest as he played to the Hamilton fans seated in the lower bowl.

Bruce was also involved in a strange play in the second half when he caught a short pass, then tried to lateral to running back DeAndra Cobb. But Cobb was tied up and the ball bounced past him, finally recovered by the Ticats for an 18-yard loss.

Toronto’s win was its first in six games since dealing Bruce while Hamilton dropped to 3-3 since acquiring him.

After a somewhat entertaining first half where both offences moved the ball, neither unit was especially effective in the second half. After a scoreless third, Toronto pulled to within 12-11 at 4:20 of the fourth when Medlock missed from 48 yards and Hamilton conceded the single.

Medlock had a field goal, a convert and a single in regulation for Toronto.

Setta booted two field goals in regulation for Hamilton, but his blocked convert attempt to close out the first half came back to haunt the Ticats.

Bruce’s five-yard TD catch with four seconds remaining in the second quarter earned Hamilton a 12-10 half-time lead after Setta’s convert attempt was blocked.

Bruce’s touchdown culminated an entertaining first half, one that saw Toronto’s beleaguered offence somewhat come to life. Despite being outgained 244-162, the Argos were at least able to execute a vertical passing attack in the second quarter, in stark contrast to Monday when Hamilton’s defence continually pressured Pickett. Afforded some time to look downfield, Pickett was at least able to move the offence in the quarter.

Toronto’s first-half TD was set up by a Hamilton miscue.

The Argos got the ball at the Hamilton 34-yard line after Ticats’ cornerback Lawrence Gordon dropped a third-down pass from punter Setta. Gordon was wide open for an obvious first down but simply mishandled Setta’s perfect lob pass.

Robertson took advantage of the miscue, scoring on a sparkling 34-yard run at 6:57 of the second that put Toronto ahead 7-3.

NOTES — A moment of silence was held prior to the game in memory of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Two members of the Toronto Fire Department were part of the pre-game coin toss . . . Toronto added defensive lineman Jim Stillwagon to its all-time team. The former Ohio State star spent five seasons with the club (1971-’75) and is the 20th player named to the all-time squad and first since 2006. Prior to the game the Argos honoured equipment manager Danny Webb and community relations manager Jason Colero for their 25 years of service with the CFL club . . . . Receiver Reggie McNeal, cornerback Byron Parker, linebacker Alphonso Hodge and defensive lineman Walter Curry didn’t dress for Toronto. Receiver Airese Currie, tailback Terry Caulley, offensive lineman Cedric Gagne-Marcoux and defensive tackle Jermaine Reid were Hamilton’s scratches.