ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – Thursday night marked the start of the 2014 CFL season as the Argos and Bombers kicked off the festivities at Investors Group Field with former Boatmen Mike O’Shea making his Head Coach debut.
Swayze Waters and the Argos got the game underway with the season’s first kick-off as the Bombers began the game on offence and did not waste the opening possession.
After two Argos penalties extended a Bombers drive, QB Drew Willy aired the ball out to WR Aaron Kelly for the game’s first score and an early Winnipeg 7-0 lead.
The Argos first drive of 2014 ended after a quick Chad Owens first down and a two-and-out but the Boatmen D responded forcing a two-and-out of their own.
Now a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, former Argos LB Ejiro Kuale would come back to burn his former team as he would come away with the first turnover of the game. Following a completion over the middle, SB Andre Durie was hit hard by DB Johnny Sears and coughed up the pig skin and the Bombers took over at midfield after the Kuale recovery.
Winnipeg made the Argos pay for the turnover as Willy found Kelly for his second TD of the quarter jumping the Bombers out to a 14-0 lead.
Following another stunted Argos drive, the Bombers took over once again driving right down to the goal line. Failing on two short yardage runs, Mike O’Shea called for the field goal unit and took a 17-0 lead to end the first quarter.
Bomber dominance continued into the second quarter.
Though the Argos were able to stem the tide, just after the three minute mark Willy found Corey Watson for his third passing TD of the contest growing the Bombers lead to 24-0.
The Argos finally got a spark on the ensuing kick-off as DB Branden Smith returned the ball all the way into Bombers territory.
After a successful 2nd and one plunge by short yardage QB Mitchell Gale, Ray would check back in and connect for his first TD of 2014 finding SB Jason Barnes for the duo’s 21st TD in their careers together.
That is how the first half would end as the Bombers took a comfortable 24-7 lead into the lockeroom at halftime.
In the third quarter CFL history was made as the game saw the first coach challenge for a non-called pass interference. Winnipeg challenged that Argos DB Brandon Underwood held receiver Aaron Kelly in the endzone even though there was no call during the live play. The review was a success for O’Shea and the Bombers took over on the 1-yard line.
An easy plunge at the goal line saw QB Rob Marve pick up his first TD of 2014 and an extension of the Bombers lead to 31-7.
Again the Argos offence could not manufacture any yardage but a Bombers too many men penalty on the Waters punt returned Ricky to the field.
Ray made the Bombers pay as he completed passes to Barnes and WR Spencer Watt to get the Argos into the red zone. Then the Boatmen ran a fake sweep and Ray found RB Jeremiah Johnson for his first CFL touchdown. 31-14 for Winnipeg.
The Argos stole some momentum back as Brandon Underwood came down with his first CFL interception off Willy, giving the Boatmen life.
That momentum was short lived when RB Jeremiah Johnson fumbled on his next carry and the Bombers scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown. 38-14 Bombers.
Toronto once again marched into the Bombers red zone but could not come away with any points as they failed to convert on third down.
A former Argonaut then put his own mark on the game as Willy found WR Julian Feoli-Gudino in the flats for another Bombers touchdown, Willy’s fourth of the game.
Ray’s day was over with the game well out of hand as Trevor Harris took over at quarterback. Ray finished the contest 27-for-38 for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
As the clock ticked down, the Argos tacked on a punt return touchdown when Chad Owens found a lane and broke one loose for 83-yards to bring the score to 21-45.
That is how the game would end as the Argos fall in the season opener. The team will return to Toronto for its home opener on July 5th against the defending Grey Cup Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.