TORONTO — Led by quarterback Ricky Ray, the Toronto Argonauts defeated their rival Hamilton Tiger-Cats 32-15 in the final game of the first week of the 2017 CFL season.
Ray had an impressive first outing of the 2017 season, passing for 506 yards – a career high for the quarterback and the third-highest in Argonauts history. His previous career-high was 505 yards in a single game. The Argos’ veteran pivot connected on 32 of 42 passes and one touchdown.
Although Ray was the star of the show, his performance didn’t outshine Toronto’s receivers as three different wideouts surpassed the 100 yard mark – DeVier Posey, SJ Green and Jeff Fuller all caught over the century mark.
DeVier Posey was Ray’s favourite target of the afternoon, catching seven passes for 147 yards and one major score. SJ Green also found chemistry with Toronto’s offence in his first game as an Argonaut, catching seven passes for 124 yards. While Jeff Fuller caught three passes for 104 yards.
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Marcus Ball impressed in his debut in the double blue on Sunday afternoon (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Both teams traded two-and-outs on their first possessions but it didn’t take long for Toronto to find their groove.
On the Argos’ next series, Green made his presence felt in his first game as an Argonaut making two big catches to help move the sticks down the field to set up for Lirim Hajrullahu’s 12-yard field goal. That score put Toronto up 3-0 early in the first quarter.
Green first hauled in a 26-yard catch followed immediately by a 13-yard one-handed grab as he started to find chemistry early with Ricky Ray.
The Tiger-Cats struggled early in the contest as the Argos defence held Zach Collaros to no points in the first quarter.
Hamilton’s Sergio Castillo conceded a two-point safety with three and a half minutes left in the first quarter to extend Toronto’s lead to 5-0.
When Toronto got the ball back, Ricky Ray and his offence kept things rolling.
Just as the second quarter began, Cody Fajardo scored the game’s first major score on a quarterback sneak after Green and Fuller’s 32 and 31-yard gains respectively helped move the chains down the field. With Hajrullahu’s convert, Toronto extended their lead to 12-0.
Hamilton’s first point of the contest came after Castillo’s punt was conceded in the end zone and Toronto still led the contest 12-1 early in the second frame.
Just when it looked like the Ticats were starting to find a groove – Collaros connected with Kevin Elliott, Brian Tyms and Luke Tasker for 12, seven and 13 yard gains respectively – the Argos defence was right there to answer. Marcus Ball knocked down a Collaros pass that was intended for Tasker and Johnny Sears Jr. took down the Hamilton pivot for a sack. The Tiger-Cats had to settle for three points, as Castillo kicked a 34-yard field goal to cut Toronto’s lead to 12-4.
The Argos responded with a field goal of their own, as Hajrullahu’s 46-yard attempt was good, to extend their lead to 15-4 with just under five minutes left in the first half.
Nearing the end of the second quarter, Hajrullahu’s field goal attempt was blocked by Will Hill and popped into the arms of Richard Leonard who took the ball 84-yards down the field to score the Tabbies first major of the contest. Collaros found Tyms for the two-point convert and the Tiger-Cats cut Toronto’s lead to 15-12 heading into half time.
Just 32 seconds into the second half, the Argos scored once again.
This time, Ray connected with Posey for a 79-yard touchdown score on the first play from scrimmage, adding to Toronto’s lead (22-12).
Toronto’s defence continued to roam around the field and keep Collaros and Hamilton’s offence off the scoreboard as the third quarter got started.
Hajrullahu missed a 49-yard field goal attempt for a single point adding to Toronto’s lead in the third quarter (23-12).
The Tiger-Cats made their way down the field on their next possession – 40 yards in eight plays – setting up for Castillo’s 35-yard field goal as the third quarter winded down. That score cut Toronto’s lead to 23-15 as Hamilton started trying to claw back in the second half.
The Argos added another the points to their lead as the third quarter came to a close with a 50-yard field goal from Hajrullahu to extend Toronto’s lead to 26-15.
After moving down the field 84 yards, Hajrullahu kicked a 27-yard field goal to add three more points to his team’s lead (29-15).
Collaros and the Ticats difficulty with Toronto’s defence continued on their next possession, as Cassius Vaughn intercepted the Hamilton pivot’s pass intended for Tasker.
That turnover turned into three points for the Argos after Hajrullahu made his 10-yard field goal attempt with just over five minutes left in the contest. (32-15).
With the clock winding down, Hamilton tried making quick work moving down the field but they still couldn’t find the end zone. The Ticats turned the ball over on downs after Collaros’ pass intended for Brandon Banks in the end zone on second down hit the upright before Cleyon Laing knocked the ball out of the pivot’s hand on third.
The Tiger-Cats last-ditch effort late in the contest was not enough as they fell to their East Division rivals.
Hamilton heads into their bye week in Week 2 and Toronto hosts the BC Lions at BMO Field on Friday night.