October 15, 2016

Argos fall to streaking Riders in final home game of 2016

Brandon Whitaker (3) during the game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field in Toronto, ON. Saturday, October 15, 2016. Toronto, ON. (Photo: Johany Jutras)

TORONTO — The Argonauts dropped to 5-11 on the season, falling 29-11 to the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-10), who now own a four-game winning streak.

Joe McKnight put together an impressive debut for the Riders, rushing for 150 yards on 17 carries in his first career CFL start. The Riders also received a solid outing from QB Darian Durant, who completed 15 of his 22 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.

For the Argos, the loss was their fifth in as many games. Drew Willy and the offence struggled to find a rhythm against an attacking Saskatchewan defence, as the QB, who is still learning the ins and outs of the Argo playbook, connected on 47% of his passes for 87 yards and no touchdowns.

Simply put, it wasn’t a great day for the Double Blue. However, the Argos playoff hopes are still very much alive.

Both teams traded punts in the early goings of the first quarter until the Riders – led by a 29-yard run by McKnight and consecutive completions by Durant – put the first chink in the Argos’ defensive armor.

The drive would eventually stall; with kicker Tyler Crapigna drilling a 41-yard field goal for the game’s opening points.

The first quarter would end with the Riders clinging to their 3-0 lead and would start the second quarter with another field goal by Crapigna to increase their lead to six.

With 2:03 left in the first half, the Riders would increase their lead to 13, as Durant connected on a 14-yard touchdown strike to receiver Ricky Collins.

The score was the exclamation point on a nine-play, 80-yard drive in which Durant allowed McKnight to do most of the heavy lifting.

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The USC product racked up 39 yards during the possession, most of it coming on a 27-yard gain.

McKnight ended the first half with 113 rushing yards, more than the entire Argos offence combined.

Following a quick two-and-out by the Argos, the Riders found the end zone again, as Joe Craig returned a Lirim Hajrullahu punt 71 yards for their second touchdown in less than a minute.

The Riders took a 20-0 lead into the break.

It was much of the same for both teams once the second half got underway. The Riders continued to flex their offensive muscles, while the Argonauts continued to have trouble moving the ball, and defending it.

After Willy was sacked for a safety to increase Saskatchewan’s lead to 22, the Riders found the endzone once again, with Caleb Holley hauling in his second TD of the season to up the visitors’ lead to 29.

The Argos would eventually crack the goose egg, as Hajrullahu connected on a 17-yard field goal.

Midway through the fourth quarter, with the game firmly in their favor, Riders head coach Chris Jones would replace Durant with backup pivot Mitchell Gale. The two would trade series for a little while, but Gale eventually took over for good for the last eight minutes.

Veteran tailback Brandon Whitaker would finally find the endzone for the Argos on a , but it was far too little, too late.

Next week, the Riders will continue to try and play spoiler, as they welcome the Alouettes to Mosaic Stadium, while the Argos will travel west to face the league-best Stampeders at McMahon.