TORONTO — If the Toronto Argonauts needed to exorcise any playoff demons, they ran them out of BMO Discipline on Saturday.
Standing on the bottom of their 2023 playoff collapse, the Argos put collectively a powerful 58-38 win over the Ottawa REDBLACKS, setting the stage for a dramatic Jap Ultimate re-match with the Montreal Alouettes.
The Als will host the Argos on Sunday, Nov. 9 at Molson Stadium.
Chad Kelly (18-20 passing, 358 yards) threw 4 landing passes, out-duelling Dru Brown within the two groups’ third high-scoring, entertaining sport of the season. Their 90 mixed factors tied the CFL document for factors in a playoff sport. Makai Polk went over the 100-yard receiving mark and had a landing, whereas DaVaris Daniels had a pair of touchdowns for the Argos.
Wynton McManis had 10 tackles and an interception for the Argos, establishing the group’s first of two defensive scores.
In his playoff debut, Brown (46-61 passing, 476 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions) set CFL information with 39-plus completions and 60 cross makes an attempt in a playoff sport.
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Brown moved the ball nicely for the REDBLACKS on their opening possession, pushing the ball to his receivers on a 12-play, 68-yard drive. That included a gutsy third-down conversion on the 10-yard line that Brown was barely in a position to push the required floor to cowl. They weren’t capable of finding the tip zone, although and settled for a 17-yard discipline purpose from Lewis Ward at 5:41 to take a 3-0 lead.
The REDBLACKS’ offence managed the sport early, holding the ball for 11:47 of the sport’s first quarter-hour. Brown orchestrated an 11-play, 83-yard drive subsequent, that he capped off by discovering Bralon Addison, who was on the depth chart as a working again, on a four-yard connection for the sport’s first landing at 12:44. Addison’s catch was an immediate spotlight, as he used the helmet of Argos’ defensive again Royce Metchie to haul within the cross. Ward’s convert made it a 10-0 REDBLACKS lead.
The Argos didn’t have a whole lot of momentum within the opening quarter, however they discovered some late. Lirim Hajrullahu‘s 44-yard discipline purpose went by means of with zeroes on the clock, getting his group on the board at 10-3.
The REDBLACKS’ defence asserted itself early within the second quarter, with Lorenzo Mauldin IV getting a straight shot at Kelly, along with his hit forcing the ball free for Bennett Williams to recuperate at Toronto’s 23-yard line. The Argos’ defence stood tall with the quick discipline, although, forcing Ward again onto the sphere to kick a 20-yard discipline purpose at 5:23 to push the socre to 13-3.
From a comparatively silent first quarter, the Argos’ offence exploded into the sport simply 9 seconds later when Kelly fired a 70-yard bomb to receiver Makai Polk. The rookie received in behind REDBLACKS’ defensive again Cash Hunter to make the catch and raced to the tip zone, bringing a hungry crowd to its ft. Hajrullahu’s convert went by means of at 5:54.
Whereas the REDBLACKS’ offence continued to work its manner into Argos’ territory, the defence ensured that Ward stayed busy. His third discipline purpose of the sport got here from 17-yards out at 11:03, giving his group a six-point lead at 16-10.
For the second time within the sport, Kelly and the Argos fired again with a direct response.
Kelly discovered DaVaris Daniels for a 41-yard connection that he ran to the tip zone at 11:37, on only a two-play, 70-yard drive. Hajrullahu’s convert gave the Argos their first lead of the day, at 17-16.
The REDBLACKS’ offence closed out the half with what they have been in search of, as Brown led a nine-play, 76-yard drive that he completed off with an eight-yard landing cross to Jaelon Acklin. Ward’s convert put the REDBLACKS in entrance 23-17 with simply six seconds left within the half.
The group decided that value them on their ensuing kickoff, with Richie Leone skirting the ball alongside the grass. The ball was recovered by the Argos on the Ottawa 46-yard line, which made for simple work for Hajrullahu, who linked from 53 yards to make it a 23-20 sport on the half.
Kelly took a giant hit as he slid on a 15-yard run, with Frankie Griffin getting flagged for pointless roughness to maneuver the ball to the REDBLACKS’ 38-yard line. Kelly was pulled from the sport by the CFL’s damage spotter, briefly sending backup Nick Arbuckle into the sport. Kelly returned along with his group on the nine-yard line and promptly discovered Daniels for his second landing catch of the day, simply 2:29 into the third quarter. Hajrullahu’s convert put the Argos up 27-23.
Kelly and Polk flaunted their chemistry once more because the QB discovered him for a 57-yard connection to maneuver the Argos to the REDBLACKS’ 26-yard line. Kelly completed off the five-play, 86-yard drive himself, maintaining the ball and juking his manner into the tip zone from 15 yards out at 7:51. Hajrullahu was out as soon as once more for the convert, placing the Argos up 34-23.
Ward got here out as soon as once more at 13:59, due to an Argos’ defence that continued to bend however not break. Ward’s 42-yard discipline purpose made it an eight-point sport, at 34-26 to enter the fourth quarter.
Kelly and the Argos continued to pour it on within the closing body. He threw his fourth landing cross of the sport to cap a 70-yard, eight-play drive with a 13-yard landing cross to Jake Herslow, who began rather than the injured Damonte Coxie. Hajrullahu’s further level put the Argos up 41-26.
The REDBLACKS labored all the best way to the Argos’ one-yard line, determined to slender the margin with the clock working in opposition to them. Their third try on the quick yardage plunge was rewarded with six factors after the play was reviewed. Brown missed Dominique Rhymes in the long run zone on the group’s two-point conversion try, leaving them down 9 at 41-32 at 7:02.
With the REDBLACKS on the Argos’ 32-yard line, Brown was intercepted by McManis on the 22-yard line. The linebacker lateralled the ball to Tarvarus McFadden, who took all of it the best way again for the landing, placing the sport out of attain. Hajrullahu’s convert made it a 51-32 sport.
The Argos weren’t performed but. Benjie Franklin learn Brown’s cross for an interception and a 71-yard return for a second defensive journey to the tip zone, serving to blow the sport open at 58-32.
Brown led his group on one closing landing drive, discovering Addison for his second main of the day, however it didn’t do a lot to tame the boisterous crowd at BMO Discipline, which roared as its group received its first playoff sport because it hoisted the 109th Gray Cup in 2022.
