THE CANADIAN PRESS
REGINA — Jermaine Copeland caught a 28-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and the Toronto Argonauts spoiled the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ bid to clinch a home playoff game with a 24-19 win Saturday.
Toronto’s special teams provided the assist on Copeland’s score, blocking a Luca Congi field goal attempt and then faking their second punt of the quarter to set Copeland and quarterback Cleo Lemon up on the Saskatchewan 28.
The Argos faked a punt on their first drive of the fourth as well, getting extra yardage when Saskatchewan’s Mike McCullough was called for a horse-collar tackle.
Lemon finished the game 17 of 26 for 150 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception.
Toronto took advantage of an inconsistent start by Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant, who was 19-for-34 with two interceptions and one touchdown pass, and held an 11-1 lead after the first quarter.
Argos kicker Justin Medlock kicked a 17-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive and missed from 50 for a single point on Toronto’s next possession.
Two plays later, Jeremy Urnetl ran a Durant interception back 69 yards for Toronto’s first touchdown of the game.
The Roughriders used contributions from all three dimensions of their team to rally in the second.
Linebacker Tad Kornegay ran a Lemon interception 18 yards back to the Toronto 30, setting the table for a one-yard Wes Cates touchdown run.
Saskatchewan’s special teams forced a Chad Owens fumble on the ensuing kickoff and, three plays later, the Riders had their first lead of the game on an eight-yard touchdown reception by Neal Hughes.
But Medlock booted a field goal to end the first half and another early in the third quarter to give Toronto a lead they would not relinquish.
Congi kicked a fourth-quarter field goal from 42 yards and Eddie Johnson added a punt single to round out the scoring for the Roughriders.