TORONTO – Thursday night’s win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders was way too close down the stretch – likely every Toronto Argonauts player or coach will admit that – but as one of the most cliché sports terms goes, ‘a win is a win’ and the Double Blue will gladly take it.
It is rare that a CFL team enters a must-win situation in August but the Boatmen got about as close to that as possible, entering a crucial four-game set against the Riders and B.C. Lions. Their playoff hopes largely rest on a solid showing during this set.
“We needed this. We have always been a confident group but maybe this can put us over the top. We know the things that we need to work on and get better at, but we can ride this thing out to try and finish the season off strong.”
– Argos CB Byron Parker
The Argos were by no means satisfied with their performance but there was an overwhelming sense of relief in the club’s locker room following their 24-18 win. Now they hope can start turning some momentum in their favour when they return from their bye week.
“It is vital that we continue to grow on this and play together as a football team,” said Argos’ GM & Head Coach Jim Barker. “Now we are heading into the break with a win and hopefully this can catapult us moving forward.”
The Argos have believed all year that they were better than their 1-6 record heading into the game. In fact, they have played decent football over the last four weeks.
Cleo Lemon, who has started to get the offence rolling in recent weeks, admits that this victory goes a long way in reinforcing a winning attitude amongst his teammates.
“It gets us on the right track,” he said. “Just to get that good taste in our mouth and going into the break with a win, we have a good feeling but we will be ready to work when we get back.”
Cornerback Byron Parker, who had one of his better performances of the season, echoed his quarterback’s words, “We needed this. We have always been a confident group but maybe this can put us over the top. We know the things that we need to work on and get better at, but we can ride this thing out to try and finish the season off strong.”
Now the focus turns to getting prepared for a home-and-home with the Lions. Two wins over the Leos could potentially put the Argos back in the playoff picture heading into the second half. B.C. has also struggled mightily this year; something Barker says his team cannot take lightly.
“I expect us to come in as a better football team,” he said. “We are a team that is coming off a win and will be playing a team that will either have one or two wins (B.C. Lions) and they will be scratching and clawing for everything to win so we need to continue to move forward.”