ARGONAUTS.CA/CFL.CA STAFF
WINNIPEG — Jeff Johnson and Chad Rempel each had touchdowns as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-22 on Friday night.
Toronto (5-12) had a 24-3 lead in the second quarter and 24-6 at halftime, including Parker’s interception of a Buck Pierce pass that he ran back 48 yards for the touchdown.
It was the ninth pick for a TD in Parker’s seven-year career and set a new CFL record for career interceptions for a touchdown.
CB Byron Parker set a new CFL benchmark for interception touchdowns when he returned an errant Buck Pierce pass 50 yards for a major. He now sits alone as the all-time leader in career interception touchdowns with nine. Click here for more.
The loss hurt Winnipeg’s quest to finish first in the CFL East Division and get a bye into the conference final.
The Bombers (10-7) had been tied for first in the East with the Montreal Alouettes (10-6), who host Calgary on Sunday.
Winnipeg finishes the regular season in Calgary while Montreal visits the B.C. Lions.
If the Bombers and Als are tied at the end of the season, Winnipeg gets first place by virtue of winning the season series with Montreal 2-1.
Winnipeg bounced back in the second half, scoring 16 straight points to close the gap 24-22 early in the fourth.
Bomber kicker Justin Palardy was good on all five of his field-goal attempts, including a pair from 42 yards out and the others from 10, 12 and 26 yards.
Toronto also got touchdowns from receiver Chad Rempel and running back Jeff Johnson.
Argos kicker Noel Prefontaine booted field goals from 37 and 19 yards and was short on a 50-yard attempt.
Winnipeg also got a touchdown from receiver Greg Carr.
Pierce threw his interception to Parker after he was rushed before his throw by defensive back Lin-J Shell, who fell on him.
Pierce left the game with what the team called an injury to his right leg after completing 5-of-11 pass attempts for 50 yards with the one pick. He was replaced by Alex Brink.
Toronto quarterback Steven Jyles was injured with 9:03 left in the game when he was sliding and got hit helmet-to-helmet by Bomber defensive back Johnny Sears.
Players started scrapping as Jyles laid on the turf and Sears and Argo linebacker Jason Pottinger were kicked out of the game.
Dalton Bell, who went into the game briefly for Jyles when he took a hard hit during the first quarter, finished the game.
Jyles was 9-of-13 for 100 yards with two TDs and one interception. Pierce completed 5-of-11 for 50 yards with one pick.
Brink finished 16-of-27 for 219 yards with one TD. Bell was 2-of-4 for 13 yards.
The game marked the seventh straight sellout at Canad Inns Stadium (29,751) and helped Winnipeg set a single-season attendance record of 266,008.