Ray Hurt As Argos Fall In Grey Cup Rematch

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO – Riding a four game winning streak – their first since 2007 – the Argos welcomed the Calgary Stampeders to Rogers Centre for a 100^th Grey Cup Rematch.

It was an extra special night down at the dome as the club honoured the 1983 Grey Cup Champions.  An autograph session pre-game and halftime celebration brought the whole gang back together as Argonauts legends Condredge Holloway, Joe Barnes, Jan Carinci, Carl Brazley and the whole ’83 team reunited for the first time in 30 years.

A game with such hype started just how the Argonauts would hope.

With 100^th Grey Cup déjà vu, the first offensive play from scrimmage would result in a turnover.  However, this time, instead of a Ricky Ray interception, the Stamps would fumble the football and DL Cleyon Laing pounced on the loose ball.  The fumble was forced by DB Antareis Bryan, making his return to the Argos lineup.

Ray and the offence made sure the Stamps paid for their turnover, making quick work of the Calgary defence.  Completing five straight passes to open the drive, Ray found SB Jason Barnes wide open in the end zone for the touchdown.  7-0 Argos, and Barnes’ fourth straight game with a touchdown.

On the Stamps next offensive possession, it looked like the Argos had another turnover as it initially appeared CB Jalil Carter and DL Jonathan Williams came together on a force fumble and recovery.  Calgary challenged the play and won but were unable to put any points up on the drive.

The Argos took the field on offence once again.

Calgary blitzed and flushed Ray out of the pocket.  Ray dodged one would-be tackler only to get hit from behind as he threw and driven into the turf.  He remained down on the field for a few minutes before being escorted off the field and into the locker room. 

Zach Collaros came in and took over at Quarterback for the Boatmen.  Ray would not return.

The Double Blue were pinned on their goal line and conceded the safety giving the stamps their first points.

Another Stamps stalled drive and punt followed by another Argos two-and-out saw the Boatmen concede their second consecutive safety bringing the score to 7-4.

After some help from a pass interference penalty, the Stamps found themselves on the goal line but the Argos defence was not content to just roll over.  Goal line stops from both LB Jason Pottinger and DL Ivan Brown forced the Stamps to kick the field goal.  Rene Parades connected and tied the game up at sevens.

Glenn and the Stamps finally found the end zone on their next drive as Glenn aired it out to WR Marquay McDaniel who brought in the heave over a fully extended Argos DB.  Stamps ahead 14-7.

Just when it looked like the Argos offence could not get anything going, Collaros came through with a huge possession.  Long completions to Barnes and WR John Chiles set up the Boatmen in the redzone for the first time since Collaros entered the game.

Curtis Steele punched in the touchdown to bring the Argos back to even.

Hufnagel and the Stamps had a response for the Boatmen, immediately marching down the field and finding WR Tim Hawthorne for the touchdown.  Stamps back out in front 21-14.

Following a 1983 ceremony at half time (click here for photos) the teams would take the field for the second half.

The third quarter solved nothing as both defences made perfect halftime adjustments leading to a scoreless frame.  Still 21-14 at the end of three.

The Stampeders would finally get on the board in the second half from a missed field goal rouge from Rene Parades.  The miss would end Parades’ consecutive streak at 47 but put the Stamps up 22-14.

On the next Argos possession Collaros found Owens down the seam but the Flyin Hawaiian would get rocked by a Stamps defender and fumble the football.  Jonathan Hefney scooped up the loose ball for a Stamps takeaway.

The turnover proved costly for the Argos as Bo Levi Mitchell (in for the injured Kevin Glenn) found the endzone on the ensuing drive, scampering to pay dirt on the QB sneak.  Stamps 29, Argos 14.

With the desperation mounting, the Argos would try one last attempt to swing momentum as Special Teams Coordinator Mike O’Shea went to the trick play book for a fake punt.  The play was inevitably unsuccessful as Prefontaine was intercepted on a pass intended for RB Quinn Porter.

Parades tacked on a two late field goals to extend the lead to 35-14.

That is how the game finished as the Argos four-game winning streak would come to an end with a date in week 10 with the division rival Alouettes.