ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – Coming off the second-biggest comeback in franchise history with a thrilling shootout defeat of the Tiger-Cats, the Toronto Argonauts continued their 4-game homestand against the visiting Montreal Alouettes on Saturday.
The game wasn’t a must-win for either team, but with both squads locked in at 6-8 and the Tiger-Cats advancing to 7-8 after beating over Ottawa on Friday, it was close. With a win, the Argos would clinch the season series, guaranteeing a tiebreak in the standings.
Toronto had won the past three-straight but Montreal has been just as hot taking five of their last six. Both squads were covered in pink attire for the CFL Pink game, doing their part to raise awareness for women’s cancers.
Quarterback Ricky Ray came into this one as the reigning Offensive Player of the Week in the CFL, throwing for 431 yards, three touchdowns and adding a fourth on the ground against Hamilton in Week 16. Leading the league in passing yards (3,861), touchdowns (27) and completion percentage (68.6), he’s a heavy favorite to win the East Division’s nomination for Most Outstanding Player.
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Related: Argos vs. Als |
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As has been their problem all year, Toronto turned the ball over on their first possession of the game when RB Curtis Steele fumbled the ball on the team’s second rushing attempt of the game. Allan-Michael Cash recovered, but the Alouettes were unable to accomplish much of anything on the ensuing drive.
Toronto’s second drive was far more efficient, highlighted by a top-ten-worthy one-handed grab by SB Chad Owens. K/P Swayze Waters kicked a 30-yard field goal to open the scoring. 3-0 Argonauts 7:03 into the game.
Montreal tied it up with a 35-yard field goal on the ensuing drive.
QB Jonathan Crompton strung together the first touchdown drive of the game at the end of the opening quarter, capped by a 10-yard pass to WR S.J. Green to put the Alouettes up 10-3 going into the second.
Waters hit another field goal minutes into the second quarter, this time from 49-yards out to cut the lead to 10-6. Ray utilized a number of different weapons on the drive, including SB Anthony Woodson who started in place of Trent Guy, who was recently placed on the practice roster.
DB Orhian Johnson, who started at CB after being activated from the practice roster to cover his college teammate WR Duron Carter, went down with a knee injury early in the second quarter and was replaced by DB Matt Black.
Owens, who was quiet throughout much of the second quarter, brought the Argos deep inside Alouette territory with a returned punt and lengthy reception, however he fumbled on what should have been flagged as a horse collar tackle by Montreal, and the Als regained possession.
The score remained 10-6 for Montreal heading into the half.
The quarterbacks were fairly even at the midway point with Ray completing 14 of 20 passes for 122 yards and Crompton completing 13 of 17 for 130 and a touchdown. The teams were separated by two yards in total net yards. But Toronto’s two turnovers to Montreal’s none, combined with a number of crucial dropped passes were the deciding factor in their lack of success on offense.
The Argos offence was buried deep in its own zone early in the second half and was unable to generate a first down when throwing from inside the end zone. However, Scott Milanovich used Waters’ powerful leg to punt them out of danger rather than concede a safety. The Als, however, strung together a quick drive capped by a 37-yarder from Sean Whyte to extend their lead to 13-6.
Montreal continued to dominate the field position battle, repeatedly pushing the Argos within their own 15-yard line to begin each drive. From there, the Argos had a tough time gaining any traction, as the Als pass coverage prevented any separation for the receivers, forcing Ricky Ray to throw the ball away and cause quick two-and-outs.
Green hauled in an impressive leaping grab to complete a deep reception from Crompton to bring Montreal to Toronto’s 1-yard line to end the third quarter. The Als began to separate from the Argos, extending their net yard total lead to 242-181. The Argos, unable to do much of anything on offence in the third, gained 18 total yards in the quarter.
Tanner Marsh cashed in six points for the Als with a QB sneak on the first play of the final quarter. Whyte made the convert to extend the Montreal lead to 20-6.
The Argos got their first big play of the game on the defensive side of the ball when Crompton fumbled and the Double Blue recovered. They were still unable to get into the end zone, however, and settled for a 37-yarder from Waters to make it 20-9 Montreal with 8:15 remaining. Much like last week, the Argos were going to have to rely on late-game heroics to win this one.
James Yurichuk gave the Boatmen their first break when he blocked a Whyte punt setting up the Argos drive at midfield. It was the Argos first blocked punt of the season.
The Argos would capitalize but not how they wanted, as the Als defence held strong forcing another field goal. This time from 48-yards out from Waters cutting the lead to 20-12.
After the Argos force the Als to punt again, the offence started to get back on track. Multiple completions to Owens put the Argos in 3rd and short. However Ray would come up short on the play and following a challenge, the ruling stuck and the Argos turned over on downs.