Argonauts.ca Staff
Week three of the 2015 season saw the Argonauts take on the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.
Facing off in a rare Monday night matchup, the Argos headed to Calgary with the opportunity to start a season 3 – 0 for the first time since 1991.
The game began with a series of punts, as both defences stood tall in the early minutes of the first quarter. Making just his second career CFL appearance, Argos’ K/P Ronnie Pfeffer showed the poise of a veteran, booming his first punt 68 yards and pinning the Stamps in the shadow of their own goalposts for their first two drives.
A promising Stampeder drive came to an abrupt halt when DL Delano Johnson forced a fumble from Calgary RB Jon Cornish, as Toronto’s defence forced their ninth turnover of 2015. With favourable field position on the ensuing drive, the Argos appeared ready to strike, but after a couple of first downs, a tipped pass resulted in Trevor Harris’ third career interception, and Calgary regained possession.
After a Calgary drive that went nowhere, Harris recovered quickly from the interception, manufacturing a seven-play, 78-yard drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass to WR Kevin Elliott. Pfeffer cooly converted the point after, and the Argos’ led 7-0 after the first quarter.
Argos LB Cory Greenwood made his presence known early in the game, recording three tackles in the opening quarter including a couple of key second-down stops.
The second quarter began with a pair of punts before the Stampeders took their turn to score, as QB Bo Levi Mitchell led his team on a ten-play, 103-yard drive finished with a touchdown pass to WR Eric Rogers. Stamps’ K/P Rene Paredes missed the extra point, and the Argos retained a one-point lead.
The Argos’ following drive ended quickly, as a fumble from SB Chad Owens gave the Stampeders the ball inside Toronto’s five yard line. Just one play later, Cornish scampered four yards to the end zone, and a successful two-point convert from Mitchell to WR Marquay McDaniel gave Calgary their first lead of the game up 14-7.
The hits kept coming for the Argos when a Stampeder drive beginning at midfield resulted in a quick conversion for the home team, as WR Jeff Fuller hauled in a short pass from Mitchell to give Calgary a 21-7 lead late in the first half.
Facing a 14-point deficit with just over two minutes to play in the half, Harris wasted no time on the ensuing drive. Harris found Vidal Hazelton for a pair of first downs before hitting WR Tori Gurley on a deep seam route for his second touchdown pass of the game. The score was Gurley’s third touchdown in as many CFL games, and a Pfeffer extra point brought the Argos back within seven.
A single from Paredes on the ensuing Stampeders drive served as the final points of the half, and Toronto trailed by eight entering the second half of the game.
Harris completed 12 of 17 passes in the first half for 186 yards and two touchdowns to one interception, while Hazelton led all Argos’ playmakers with four catches for 81 yards. Toronto’s defence effectively contained Cornish in the first half, holding him to just 31 yards on the ground and forcing a turnover from the perennial all-star.
Toronto’s defence forced a quick Stampeders punt to start the second half, and Harris got the ball back down by just eight. A completion to Hazelton and RB Brandon Whitaker put the Argos into field goal territory, and Pfeffer kicked home a 47-yard field goal to cut the Stampeders’ lead to five.
The following Stamps’ drive was cut short by an Argos turnover as LB Brandon Isaac tipped a pass into the waiting arms of DB Devin Smith. The interceptions was the Argos’ 10th forced turnover of the season.
Toronto’s defence forced a quick punt on Calgary’s next drive, and Chad Owens gave the offence advantageous field position following a 39-yard punt return. Another Pfeffer field goal from 45 yards brought the Argonauts within two points early in the fourth quarter.
Toronto’s defence forced a Stampeders punt to start the second half, and Harris got the ball down by eight. A completion to Hazelton and a fortunate tip to RB Brandon Whitaker put the Argos into field goal territory, and Pfeffer kicked home a 47-yard field goal to cut the Stampeders’ lead to five.
The following Stamps’ drive was cut short by an Argos turnover, as LB Brandon Isaac tipped a pass into the waiting arms of DB Devin Smith. The interception was the Argos’ 10th forced turnover of the season.
Toronto’s defence forced a quick punt on Calgary’s next drive, and Chad Owens gave the offence advantageous field position following a 39-yard punt return. Another Pfeffer field goal from 45 yards brought the Argonauts within two points early in the fourth quarter.
Calgary would score the game’s next points, as Mitchell put together a five minute drive and eclipsed 300 yards passing before Paredes kicked home the field goal to put the Stampeders up by five.
The Argos had a final opportunity at the comeback with a minute left on the clock, but fell short on the final drive after a failed third down conversion. The Argonauts recorded their first loss of 2015, falling to the Stampeders 25-20.
Hazelton led all Argos with six catches for 98 yards while LB Greg Jones recorded eight tackles and a sack, his second straight game recording eight or more tackles.
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