ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – The Argonauts began a four-game road swing in Edmonton on Saturday afternoon, highlighted by the return of SB Chad Owens, who had missed the previous five games due to a foot injury.
At 3-5 and coming off a loss to BC at home on Sunday, the Argos looked to extend their first place lead in the Eastern Division against the league-best Eskimos (6-1). Edmonton entered the game as the best rushing team in the CFL, a method of attack the Argonauts have had some trouble defending this season.
Toronto QB Ricky Ray entered the game 367 yards shy of surpassing the 50,000 passing yard mark which would make him the yongest player in CFL history to reach the milestone.
The game got off to a feisty start with numerous shoving matches throughout the first few opening drives.
The defence shown through for both sides early on, highlighted by a Tristan Okpalaugo interception on Matt Nichols, who was in after QB Mike Reilly injured his hand. DB Brandon Underwood recovered a WR Devon Bailey fumble minutes later and the Argos capitalized on the second turnover, promptly marching down the field and ending the drive with a 17-yard Jason Barnes touchdown pass. Waters hit the conversion to make it 7-0 Argos.
The Eskimos promptly responded, as RB Kendial Lawrence broke through the Argos’ front 6 and ran it in from midfield to tie the game. The score was tied 7-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
The turnovers continued into the 2nd quarter, as Dexter McCoil picked off Ricky Ray’s pass minutes later. Nichols threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to WR AJ Guyton on the first play of the drive to put Edmonton up 14-7.
Following a Grant Shaw field goal, the Eskimos continued to pile it on in the 2nd quarter with an interception by DL Odell Willis, who helps finish the play off by lateralling it to McCoil who takes it to the house. Shaw hits the convert. 24-7 Eskimos.
Minutes later QB Pat White scrambled from inside the Argos’ 15 and ran it in himself to put Edmonton up 31-7, making it 31 straight points by the Eskimos. K/P Swayze Waters would hit a late field goal before the end of the quarter to cut the lead to 31-10, but the Argonauts were visibly frustrated going into halftime.
The Argos D came out swinging in the 2nd half, as Underwood picked off a Nichols pass to put the offence in good field position. Toronto took advantage, as Waters hit another field goal, this one from 22 yards out, to bring the score to 31-13.
Waters would continue his good day minutes later, booting a 42-yard field goal, his third of the game. The lead is cut to 15. 31-16 Eskimos with 7:09 left in the 3rd.
Whatever Coach Milanovich told his team at halftime worked, as the Argos continued to seize the momentum and put together an impressive comeback. Minutes later, Ricky Ray connected with Chad Owens who squeaked into the corner of the end zone. Waters hit the convert to bring Toronto within 8. 31-23 Eskimos.
The Argonauts had a scare at the beginning of the 4th quarter as Chad Owens, who just returned from a lengthy rehab stint, took a nasty hit and was down for four minutes. However, he walked off the field under his own power but would not return to the game.
The Eskimos later extended their lead to 10 with a 25-yard Shaw field goal. 34-24 Eskimos midway through the fourth.
With 1:50 left, Waters hit a 45-yarder, his fourth FG of the game to bring the Argos back within one score. 34-27 Edmonton with 1:44 left.
Toronto got the ball back on their own 5 yard line with a minute left, hoping to put together a 105-yard drive to tie the game, but Ricky Ray was picked off by McCoil, who then scored his second defensive touchdown of the game. That sealed it, as the Eskimos won this one 41-27.