Argos Win Wild Finish In Home Opener

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO – The night started with a celebration as the 100^th Grey Cup Champions unveiled their championship banner.  Making it even sweeter it could happen in front of their provincial rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

After the opening kickoff was fielded by newcomer defensive lineman Nekos Brown, the Argonauts offence began to roll.  A run up the middle from Grey Cup MVP Chad Kackert got the ball moving and completions to Andre Durie and Dontrelle Inman set the Double Blue up in the redzone.

Ricky Ray would cap the drive with an 8-yard strike to Jason Barnes and the defending champs stormed out to an early 7-0 lead.

The lead evaporated quickly however, as Lindsey Lamar – the replacement for training camp no-show Chris Williams – took the ensuing kickoff 104-yards for the touchdown on his first career CFL touch.  A quick momentum change and a tie ball game.

After a missed field goal from Swayze Waters put the Argos up by a single, the Ticats offence finally took the field with fresh faces on the defensive side for the Argos.

Marching down field to the red zone, the Ticats made the Argos defence pay on a blown coverage.  Marcus Ball came free to QB Henry Burris, which left Ticats running back C.J. Gable wideopen in the middle of the endzone for the score.  14-8 for Hamilton.

Following an Argos two-and-out the Ticats took the field and extended their lead even further.  A 60-yard bomb from Burris to Andy Fantusz would put the Ticats in front 21-8 to end the first quarter.

Just when it looked like the Ticats were spoiling the Argos party, Scott Milanovich went back to the ground game.  Chad Kackert took a handoff and busted up the middle for the 57-yard score to get both the Argos and the crowd back into the football game.

After the Ticats tacked on a field goal, it was the Argos turn for the big play.  Ricky Ray hung in the pocket just long enough to find Jason Barnes on an island in the secondary.  A busted coverage and a 73-yard TD for Barnes brought the score to 24-22 Ticats.  Two catches, two touchdowns for Barnes.

With a Ticat punt on the next possession, the Argos could finally take the lead back via the boot of Swayze Waters.  Connecting on a 44-yard field goal with just over two minutes left the Boatmen took the lead 25-24.

The Ticats however, responded with a drive of their own highlighted by a deep bomb to Greg Ellingson and capped off with Gable’s second TD of the half.  31-25 Ticats at the half.

Half number two started in the worst possible way for the Argos as Waters injured himself on the kickoff.  With no other kicker active Spencer Watt took over for the Argos kicking duties.

A Luca Congi field goal extended the Ticats lead to 34-25 but the Double Blue would respond.

Finding Spencer Watt downfield on a bomb Ray set the Argos up in the red zone.  With Waters hurt the Argos elected to go for it on third down and the gamble paid off. 

Ray found Watt on the corner of the endzone for the touchdown but he would also come out to kick the extra point.  Watt would connect on the convert and walk away with the TD and convert combo meal.  The first time in CFL history a player scored a touchdown and then kicked and completed the convert afterwards.

Following stunted drives from both teams the Argos kicker corral continued as Dontrelle Inman would get the opportunity for his first CFL punt.  A 36-yard boot and no return for the new Argos punter.

Offences on both sides would continue to stall through the third quarter and the game remained 34-32 into the fourth.

With under seven minutes left to play in the fourth quarter the Argos finally took control of the game.  Ray found Andre Durie on a crossing round for a large pick up and then in the red zone went to his favourite target. 

A fade to the corner of the endzone was hauled in by Inman and after booth review the call on the field stood.  39-34 Argos.

Much to the surprise of everyone, the Argos fourth kicker of the game Zander Robinson handled kickoff duties for the Double Blue.  Ticats ball with just under four minutes left to play.

On the Ticats drive the Argos defence finally got to Burris.  Rookie CFLers Cleyon Laing and Nekos Brown would register back to back sacks, both their first in the CFL.

The Argos offence could not extend the lead and Burris and co. would get a chance to lead the Ticats for the win.

Downfield completions and great blocking set the Ticats up with a goal to go and 9 seconds left on the clock opportunity.

After a drop pass set up a final play with three seconds left, Jalil Carter played the role of hero knocking down an endzone pass with no time left on the clock.

Argos pull out the last second victory and defend home turf on banner night in front of 29.852 fans with a 39-34 victory.