Argonauts.ca staff
TORONTO – The Argonauts travelled to Winnipeg in week eight to take on the Blue Bombers in Friday Night Football CFL action.
Fresh off another comeback win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their home opener on August 8, the Argos faced a Bombers side missing starting QB Drew Willy, as well as RB Paris Cotton and WR Darvin Adams.
QB Robert Marve received the nod for his first career CFL start for Winnipeg, and led the Bombers on a game-opening scoring drive. After a rushing touchdown by Marve was called back due to a holding penalty, Lirim Hajrullahu booted home a 25-yard field goal to give the home side an early 3-0 lead. The next Bombers drive saw them extend their lead, as RB Cameron Marshall took a short pass from Marve 57 yards for the score. A missed convert from Hajrullahu gave Winnipeg a 9-0 lead.
The Argonauts’ second offensive series saw the return of RB Chad Kackert to the Argos backfield, playing in his first CFL game since October 2013. But the 2012 Grey Cup MVP showed no signs of rust in his first game action in nearly two years, recording five touches for 44 yards on the drive before Trevor Harris found Diontae Spencer for a five-yard touchdown.
A 31-yard Ronnie Pfeffer field goal gave the Argonauts their first lead of the game a few drives later as Toronto appeared to overcome the slow starts which plagued them through the first seven games.
Hajrullahu tacked on a pair of field goals on their next two drives, re-establishing the Blue Bombers lead and giving Trevor Harris a long field with less than a minute to go in the half. But some nice running from Kackert and another clutch catch from Spencer made up a lot of ground in a hurry, and Pfeffer kicked home his second field goal to cut the Bombers lead to two at the half.
Trevor Harris completed 10 of 14 attempts for 132 yards and a touchdown in the half, while Kackert totalled 63 yards from scrimmage to lead the Argos.
Toronto would score the first point of the second half after forcing a quick Blue Bombers punt, adding a rouge on a missed field goal to cut the Bombers lead to just one.
The Argo defence continued their strong play on the next drive, highlighted by a diving pass knockdown from DB Awkwasi Owusu-Ansah to prevent a big completion. Rather than attempting a 49-yard field goal into the wind, the Bombers elected to punt, and Hajrullahu executed a perfect coffin corner kick to pin the Argonauts on their own two-yard line.
Just one play later that decision paid off, as RB Henry Josey was brought down in the end zone for a safety. The Bombers received the ball up 17-14.
Toronto’s secondary held tight making plays on the next Bombers drive, as DB Travis Hawkins grabbed his first career CFL interception on an underthrown pass from Marve.
The Blue Bombers opened the fourth quarter with a 52-yard field goal from Hajrullahu, extending Winnipeg’s lead to six.
With Toronto’s offence struggling in the second half, their defence and special teams shifted into high gear. First Jason Vega brought down Marve for a big sack on second down, forcing Hajrullahu to punt in the shadow of his team’s goalposts. Then AJ Jefferson provided the Argonauts with their first return touchdown of the season, dancing his way through would-be tacklers for a 69-yard touchdown and a 21-20 Argonauts lead.
Toronto carried that momentum in the next Bombers drive, as DE Tristan Okpalaugo forced a Rory Kohlert fumble, which was recovered by Argonauts defensive end Ricky Foley.
Taking over in Bomber territory, Harris began to find his groove, completing passes to Vidal Hazelton and Diontae Spencer to move inside the Bombers’ 10-yard line. Facing a crucial third down at the six-yard line, Adrian McPherson powered his way through a wall of Blue Bombers and converted with just over five minutes remaining.
Two plays later, Harris found his favourite red zone target in WR Tori Gurley for his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season. A missed convert from Pfeffer gave Toronto a seven-point lead with less than four minutes remaining in the game.
Facing a long field with the three-minute drive looming, Marve and the Bombers went to work against an Argos defence which had neutralized them for much of the second half. After crossing midfield, Marve ran into a Double Blue wall.
First Okpalaugo found him at the line of scrimmage for the Argos’ third sack of the game. Then a pair of pass knockdowns from S Jermaine Gabriel and Hawkins forced a turnover on downs just under two minutes remaining.
A two-and-out from the Argos offence meant one final kick at the can for the Bombers.
But Toronto’s defence held strong, and Foley brought down Marve on third down to effectively end the game.
The Argonauts trailed at the half for the sixth time in 2015, but gutted out yet another comeback win, 27-20. Chad Kackert recompiled 89 yards from scrimmage in the win, while Trevor Harris threw for two touchdowns on 75% passing.
Toronto’s defense and special teams units stole the show, forcing four turnovers and scoring a touchdown while keeping Marve in check.
Toronto moves to 5-2 and remains at the top of the East Division with the win. After a West Division-heavy first half of the season, the Argonauts return home next Sunday, August 23, when they’ll face off against the Ottawa REDBLACKS at the Rogers Centre.