Argonauts.ca staff
TORONTO – The Argonauts headed to Hamilton on Monday, facing off against the rival Tiger-Cats in the 45th Labour Day Classic at Tim Hortons Field. The temperature on the field soared to over 30 degrees Celsius in the afternoon sun, reflective of the heat and animosity between the two arch-rivals. Unfortunately for the Double Blue, it was the Ticats who took this one and the Ballard Trophy in the process, as the Argonauts fell by a score of 42-12.
The Argonauts received the ball to start, and despite a stalled drive after one first down, K/P Swayze Waters booted a monster punt 82 yards through the end zone to give Toronto the rouge and an early lead.
The Tiger-Cats came out with guns blazing on their first drive, as QB Zach Collaros completed consecutive passes to WRs Terrell Sinkfield and Luke Tasker to bring Hamilton into the red zone. A couple of Argos penalties shortened the field even further, and Collaros found WR Terence Toliver for a 12-yard score, giving Hamilton a 7-1 lead.
Another short drive for the Argos ended in a punt, and the Ticats took over once again. After being backed up in the shadow of their goalposts, Collaros found former Argo Terrell Sinkfield streaking down the right side of the field for a 48-yard completion on second down. The Argos defence stiffened with Collaros and the ‘Cats knocking at the door, forcing Hamilton to settle for a 16-yard field goal.
The first quarter ended with the Tiger-Cats on top 10-1.
A blocked punt on the ensuing Argonauts drive gave the Tiger-Cats prime field position, and Collaros was sure to capitalize. A few plays later, he found WR Tiquan Underwood for the touchdown, extending Hamilton’s lead to 17-1.
The next drive didn’t see the Argos offence fare much better, as a pass attempt on first down tipped of the hands of WR Vidal Hazelton and into the waiting arms of Ticats DB Courtney Stephen. Toronto’s defence conceded yards but buckled down in the red zone, holding Hamilton to a field goal.
The first-half woes continued for Toronto on the next Tiger-Cats drive, as Collaros continued his hot play. The former Argos QB completed four straight passes before finding a wide-open Sinkfield for his second touchdown of the game. The score put the Argos in a deep hole, trailing 27-1 at halftime.
Toronto’s defence forced a two-and-out to begin the second half, and a pair of Tiger-Cats penalties on the punt return gave the Argos possession near midfield. But the Argos offence again struggled to find a rhythm, forced to punt it away for the sixth time.
Collaros eclipsed 300-yards passing on the ensuing Ticats drive, as Medlock kicked home a 48-yard field goal to extend Hamilton’s lead.
Toronto’s offence showed signs of life after the following kickoff, marching down the field on a series of short completions from Harris. After the drive stalled in the red zone, Waters missed a chip shot and Hamilton return man Brandon Banks brought the ball out of the end zone to prevent the single.
The ugliness began following the punt return, with the Tiger-Cats taking three unnecessary roughness penalties, pushing them back to their own three-yard line. After a first down pass, Argos DL Cleyon Laing stripped Collaros of the ball and Hamilton native Daryl Waud fell on the ball for his first career fumble recovery.
Following the recovery, Toronto’s offence was in three-down mode, not willing to settle for three. After taking a sack, Harris completed passes to RB Brandon Whitaker and Vidal Hazelton on third down before finding Kevin Elliott in the end zone for Toronto’s first major of the game. Collaros then hit SB Anthony Coombs on a bit of misdirection on the two-point conversion, cutting into Hamilton’s lead.
The third quarter ended with the Tiger-Cats still holding on to a three-touchdown advantage, 30-9.
After another stop from Toronto’s second-half defence, Harris took over once again and immediately found WR Tori Gurley streaking down the field for a 39-yard completion. After a couple of nice catch-and-runs from Coombs, the Argos were forced to kick a field goal, and Swayze Waters nailed the 43-yarder to bring the score to 30-12.
Late in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand, Collaros and the Tiger-Cats salted the wound, as Sinkfield scored his second touchdown of the game on a short out route, and QB Jeff Mathews found paydirt on a one-yard plunge a drive later.
In the end, a poor first half doomed to the Argonauts and despite outscoring Hamilton in the final two quarters, it was too little too late. The Argonauts conceded the Labour Day Classic and the Ballard Trophy 42-12, moving to 6-4 on the season.
LB Greg Jones once again led the Argonauts defence with seven defensive tackles, while Tristan Okpalaugo tallied his team-leading sixth sack of 2015. Harris finished the night 24 of 34 passing, with one touchdown and one interception.
The Argonauts will have the chance to avenge their the Labour Day loss in the final game of their season series with Ticats on Friday night at the Rogers Centre. For tickets, visit Argonauts.ca or call (416) 341-2746.