ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – The Boatmen came into BC Place looking to head back home with a win for the first time since 2002.
Unlike last week’s first half shootout, it took more than half of the first quarter for the first points to be scored by either team.
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Related: Argos vs. Lions |
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Eventually, the Lions marched down the field and Lulay found WR Courtney Taylor in the back of the endzone on 2nd & goal to give the Leo’s a 7-0 at the 6-minute mark.
Another thwarted Argos offensive drive led to the Lions stringing together an eleven playdrive that ended with a Hugh O’Neill field goal to make it 10-0 BC at the beginning of the second quarter.
The Lions would again take the ball right down the Argos throat around the midway mark of the second quarter, but the Boatmen defence would withhold the potent BC attack and turn 7 points into 3 with a well timed sack by former Lion, Khalif Mitchell. 13-0 Lions on Hugh O’Neills second FG of the quarter.
One highlight to note from the first half is that Argos QB Ricky Ray officially passed the 45,000 yards passing mark in his CFL career on a pass to his favourite target, Chad Owens. And he just keeps chugging along…
The Boatmen would answer back with their first points of the match, and they would come from the foot of Noel Prefontaine. After multiple completions between Ray and Chad Owens, Prefontaine stepped into his first field goal attempt in just under a calendar year (July 14, 2012 was his last attempt) and made it from 42-yards out to make it 13-3 Lions.
Hugh O’Neill would miss a 32-yard attempt at the 1:00 mark of the second quarter, and S Matt Black would concede the single to put the Lions lead back to 11 points.
The teams would exchange unsuccessful offensive drives, and the Lions would take a 14-3 lead into halftime.
Nearly 10 minutes into the third quarter until points went up on the board and once again they came from the boot of the Lions rookie kicker Hugh O’Neill. From 24 yards away he would connect to make the Lions lead 17-3.
DB Jalil Carter earned his first CFL interception at a crucial time, giving the Argos their first chance to start a drive in Lions territory all night. The Boatmen decided to take a chance on 3rd and 3 and earned the first down to set-up first and goal. However, they could only muster three points for their efforts, making the Lions lead 17-6.
DB Janzen Jackson, who came off the practice roster for his first opportunity in Double Blue made his first big play in an Argos uniform. Blocking an O’Neill punt at the 13:00 mark of the fourth to give the Argos another chance at putting some points on the board. They were unsuccessful once again, and the bionic man Noel Prefontaine came in and made his third FG of the night, this time from 37 yards out, to make the score 17-9 BC.
The Argos defence forced the Lions to punt, but they got the ball right back in Argos territory after former Argos DB Lin-J Shell forced Ricky Ray into the Argos first turnover of 2013. The ensuing Lions drive would end up in a 5-yard TD run by Andrew Harris, giving the Lions a 24-9 lead.
With under a minute left, Ray would call his own number and rush for a TD with the Lions defence blanketing all his receivers and no other option but to jet for the endzone.
The Argos attempted the onside kick but the Lions successful recovered the boot and ran out the clock.
That’s how it would end as the Argos West Coast losing streak extends to eleven games.