Ricky Ray (15) of the Toronto Argonauts during the game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
The Toronto Argonauts won their final home game of the regular season in dramatic fashion in a missed field goal punt-out situation as time expired to hold on to escape Winnipeg 29-28 on Saturday night. The Argos now move to 8-9 heading into their final bye week and first place in the East Division.
QB Ricky Ray became the 4th member of the 60,000-yard passing club when he hit the milestone in the fourth quarter, joining Anthony Calvillo, Damon Allen, and Henry Burris. The veteran of 15-years sits 4th all-time in career passing yards as he continues to put up spectacular numbers 2017 at the age of 37. Ray finished the game 32-of-43 passing for 423 yards and his 25th TD of the year. Saturday’s performance marked his first 400+ yard passing game since Week 1 (506). Additionally, his 434 yards vs. the Bombers mark his 12th 300+ yard passing game of the year, tying a career-high and setting a new Argos record. Both Kerwin Bell (1998) and Doug Flutie (1996) previously had 11 300-yard games in one season, Ray also had 12 in 2008 as a member of the Eskimos. He has now passed for 300+ in four consecutive games and sits second in the league in passing yards with 5,205 yards.
WORTH NOTING:
Ray reached 5,000 passing yards on the year with an eight-yard pass on the last play of the second quarter. The 15-year CFL veteran has thrown for 5,000+ for the first time as an Argonaut and the 4th time in his career, joining Doug Flutie and Anthony Calvillo as the only passers to reach that milestone at least four times. It is his first 5,000-yard season since 2008.
RB James Wilder Jr. continues to thrive at BMO Field of late as he rushed 18 times for 112 yards with two touchdowns while adding seven catches for 85 yards. Over the last four home games, the FSU product has racked up 515 yards on the ground and four touchdowns with 27 receptions and 318 yards through the air. His performance on Saturday vs. Winnipeg is the third time in his last five games that he has gone over the 100-yard plateau. Wilder is third in the East in rushing and leads the CFL in yards per carry.
WR DeVier Posey was a spark for the Double Blue in Week 18, hauling in five passes for 128 yards. Posey has now recorded three 100+ yard receiving games this season, two of which were recorded since returning from injury in Week 10 vs. Calgary. The former Ohio State Buckeye has caught 5+ passes in seven of 11 games this season.
Canadian FB Declan Cross caught a six-yard pass from Ray in the first quarter giving Cross his fourth touchdown of the year and his second in as many games.
11-year CFLer S.J. Green continues to impress a year after going down with a season-ending knee injury. With career highs across the board, Green surpassed 8,000 career receiving yards on the night after recording four catches for 42 yards. He sits third in the CFL with 1,379 receiving yards, a career high.
QB Cody Fajardo snuck in for his 5th touchdown of the year late in the fourth quarter to give the Argos a lead they would not relinquish. Fajardo now has three touchdowns in his last four games.
DB Rico Murray led the defence in tackles on the night with six, tying a season-high in that category from Week 16 against Saskatchewan. Murray has had at least four tackles in seven games thus far.
