ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – The tale of this game was revenge.
Following a 20-9 loss to the Alouettes on Tuesday, the Argonuats had a short week of practice to work on adjustments hoping to change their fate and maintain their spot atop the East Division.
It was an especially tough task as along with QB Ricky Ray and RB Chad Kackert, reigning MOP SB Chad Owens was ruled out of the game and placed on the one game injured list. In his place, RB Jerious Norwood was tasked with the running back and kick return duties in tandem with RB Quinn Porter
The game however, would not start out how the Boatmen had hoped…. but just wait.
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Related: Argos vs. Als |
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MUST SEE: Kiante Trip 54-Yard Pick Six VIDEO: Collaros Hits Inman For Winning TD
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On the third play from scrimmage, WR John Chiles took a quick screen pass and while getting tackled had the ball stripped. The Als scooped up the loose ball and took it back for the first score of the game and an early 7-0 lead.
After the Argos got on the board with a missed field goal single, the Argos defence held the Als to a quick two-and-out after Marcus Ball flew into the backfield to stop RB Jerome Messam for negative yardage on second down.
The Argos proceeded to go two-and-out as well and were forced to punt back to the Als.
Montreal found their groove on offence on the subsequent drive with QB Tanner Marsh completing passes to former Argo Arland Bruce III and SB S.J. Green. WR Brandon London however, dropped a crucial second down reception and the Als settled for the field goal and the 10-1 lead.
Before the end of the first quarter the Boatmen tacked on another missed field goal single to bring the score to 10-2 at the end of the first frame.
Montreal tacked on another three to start off the second quarter on a 40-yard Whyte field goal before the Argos stole some momentum back on the Als next drive.
On defence, LB Marcus Ball would jump a Marsh route and come up with the interception, his third of the season.
Collaros though, gift wrapped the momentum back to the Als, overthrowing WR Dontrelle Inman in the endzone resulting in an interception for CB Geoff Tisdale.
After both teams exchanged stunted drives, the Argos finally got their offence working inside the three minute warming of the second quarter.
Using WR Dontrelle Inman heavily on the drive, Collaros found the big wide receiver for completions of 14, 11 and 6 yards in addition to a 14-yard completion to SB Andre Durie.
On second down, Collaros went to the endzone for Chiles but no flag came down on what Chiles thought was a pass interference on the play and the Argos were forced to settle for the chip shot field goal cutting the deficit to 13-5.
Montreal would add on another field goal before the half came to an end and took a 16-5 lead into the locker rooms at half time.
Teams exchanged punts to start the second half before it looked like the Argos had their first TD of the game, and their first since the first quarter of week 10.
Collaros aired out a deep pass to SB Jason Barnes who leapt for a full extension lay-out but was unable to bring down the pass. The Argos were forced to settle for the field goal cutting the lead to 16-8.
After an Als punt and Argos two-and-out, the Montreal Special Teams unit made their presence felt by causing Argos punter Noel Prefontaine to fumble the football. Als DB Ed Gainey scooped up the loose ball and returned it to the one yard line.
The Als challenged the play but the ruling on the field stood.
It didn’t matter as Marsh plunged in on the next play extending the Als lead to 23-8.
The Argos finally found the end zone for the first time on Sunday after Collaros took a QB draw and walked in for the score. The play was set up by a deep strike to WR Spencer Watt.
On Montreal’s next drive the Argos defensive unit got their change to score.
Marsh was hit from behind on a throw and the ball fluttered right into the hands of DL Kiante Tripp. Tripp took off and found the end zone for his first CFL touchdown.
Argos Head Coach Scott Milanovich called for the two-point conversion but the ball landed incomplete leaving the score 23-21 in favour of the Als.
The Argos defence forced the Als into another two-and-out and a punt giving the ball back to the hot third quarter Argos offence.
Collaros made the Als pay as he found WR John Chiles for a deep strike to give them three touchdowns in the third quarter and their first lead of the game 28-23.
The lead would not stick for very long as on the next possession Marsh found WR Duron Carter for his first CFL touchdown. Montreal back ahead 30-28.
After the Argos added a punt single at the 9:25 mark of the fourth quarter to bring the game to within one, the Als went for a very risky play on their next drive.
Calling for the wide receiver reverse pass, the Argos defence made the Angry Birds pay as Jamie Robinson picked off Als WR SJ Green and the Argos took over just outside Montreal territory.
Driving down into the field goal range the Argos looked poised to take the lead back but a fumbled hold on the field goal resulted in another miss for the kicking unit and another single to tie the game up at 30-30.
Again the Als offence sputtered and the Argos got the ball back and Zach Collaors orchestrated a 7 play, 70-yard drive to eat up a large chunk of fourth quarter clock. Collaros finished off the drive with a touchdown strike to Inman who capped off his huge day receiving with the major.
1:17 left on the clock and a 37-30 lead.
Marsh would march the Als down the field and it all came down to a 3rd down conversion for Montreal.
The Als rookie QB tossed the ball into the endzone but was intercepted by DB Alonzo Lawrence to end the game.
The Argos complete the comeback and take the rematch with the Als 37-30.