Argonauts.ca staff
TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts took to the field at SMS Equipment Stadium at Shell Place in Fort McMurray, Alberta on Saturday, as they squared off with the Edmonton Eskimos to open their 2015 CFL regular season.
Quarterback Trevor Harris made just his second career CFL start for the Argos while starting pivot Ricky Ray continues to rehabilitate from off-season shoulder surgery. The game was also the first appearance in Double Blue for veterans Dave Stala and Brandon Whitaker, who have a combined 20 years of CFL experience between them and previously played for Argos’ Head Coach Scott Milanovich in Montreal.
The Argonauts’ offence came out firing on all cylinders, as Milanovich took the pressure off of Harris by starting the game with a pair of short passes to SB/RB Andre Durie. RB Brandon Whitaker appeared destined for the end zone on a 59-yard rush, but a heroic defensive effort from Eskimos’ DB Ryan Hinds forced a fumble deep in Eskimos territory.
The turnover didn’t prevent the Argonauts from scoring the game’s first points, however, as DL Euclid Cummings broke through the Eskimos’ O-line and brought down RB Chad Simpson in his own end zone for a safety.
The Argonauts and Eskimos would trade singles on a punt and missed field goal, respectively, before a fumble by SB Chad Owens deep in Argos’ territory put Edmonton in prime position. QB Mike Reilly needed just one play to find WR Kenny Stafford for a 26-yard touchdown.
An unnecessary roughness penalty on Eskimos’ K/P Grant Shaw after a missed convert led to solid field position for the Argos, and it was Harris’ turn to shine. Brandon Whitaker redeemed himself for his earlier error when he streaked down the left flank and scored on a 57-yard pass-and-catch for Toronto’s first touchdown of the 2015 season. The first quarter ended with the Argonauts on top by a score of 10 – 7, with Harris a perfect nine-of-nine for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Jermaine Gabriel made his presence known in the second quarter with a couple of big tackles, including one that forced a fumble from Chad Simpson, which the Argonauts recovered in Eskimos’ territory. The drive went nowhere, however, as a gutsy attempt to convert on third-and-three resulted in an Eskimos sack and a turnover on downs.
An interception by DB A.J. Jefferson on the ensuing Eskimos’ drive was nullified by a pass interference penalty, but the Argos’ D stood strong, holding Edmonton to a field goal. The first half ended at a stalemate, with the two teams deadlocked at 10.
Argos K/P Swayze Waters left the game in the second quarter due to injury, which left all kicking duties to WR Dave Stala, who kicked during his time at Saint Mary’s and in spot duty with the Alouettes.
Argos’ sophomore LB Greg Jones came up with a big play early in the third quarter, ending an Eskimos drive by forcing a Mike Reilly fumble, which was recovered by fellow LB Brandon Isaac. The ensuing drive saw Trevor Harris continue his stellar play, finding rookie WR Kevin Elliott on a 53-yard pass before finishing the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass to fellow rookie WR Vidal Hazelton.
With no true kicker, the Argos opted to go for the two-point conversion, and despite two defensive penalties, QB Adrian McPherson couldn’t punch it in.
A punt single from K/P Grant Shaw brought the Eskimos within five points heading into the final frame, but it was the closest that Edmonton would get to a comeback.
Harris went to work on the ensuing drive, finding Chad Owens on three straight completions including a 42-yarder to bring the Argos’ into the red zone. He finished the short but productive drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to preseason sensation WR Tori Gurley and a successful two-point conversion to Owens to open up a 13-point Argonauts lead. Stala would pad the lead with a pair of singles on a punt and missed field goal.
Not enough can be said of the outstanding performance by Trevor Harris, as he finished the day 24 of 27 for 347 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers. Brandon Whitaker also impressed in his Double Blue debut, compiling 172 all-purpose yards including over 100 yards on the ground. Chad Owens was one of five Argos to record over 50 receiving yards, and finished just one yard shy of his first 100-yard game of 2015.
A strong performance by Casey Creehan’s defence was upstaged only by Harris’ stellar game, limiting the Eskimos to under 250 total yards and forcing five turnovers. National DL Cleyon Laing had a particularly productive day, racking up four tackles and two sacks to lead all Argos’ defenders in both categories.
The Argos’ entered the 2015 season with question marks at many positions including quarterback, due to the lengthy absence of incumbent starter Ricky Ray. Trevor Harris and his teammates provided emphatic answers to many of those questions Saturday, with a convincing 26 – 11 victory over the heavily-favourited Eskimos in Fort McMurray.
Pleased with the win but never satisfied, the Argos will return to the practice field this week in preparation for another trip out west, when they take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders in week 2.