Argos defeat Redblacks with buzzer-beater play
Hajrullahu field goal is the difference; Toronto loses three defenders to injury
That run of mostly good health by the Argonauts at this early juncture in the season came to a screeching halt Monday.
That it hit three integral parts of the team’s stalwart defence just as the Argos begin the toughest part of their schedule one game into a three games in 11 days scenario only underscores the importance of depth on any football team with any aspirations of a championship.
Lost in a horrific second quarter from an injury standpoint were the Argos’ starting middle linebacker Bear Woods, starting defensive tackle Victor Butler who already has a monster lead in the CFL sack race, and starting defensive tackle Cleyon Laing.
Despite the losses though, and maybe with a little help from what had to be a fatigued Ottawa side that was playing its own third game in 11 days, the Argos found a way.
“I think it’s unfair to make players play that many games in a row, but we had already addressed that and got past it,” said Redblacks coach Rick Campbell.
“None of us was thinking about that, all we were thinking about was winning the game.”
It came down to a 34-yard field goal off the foot of Lirim Hajrullahu to win it by a 27-24 count with no time left to push the Argos to 3-2 on the season before a season-high BMO Field gathering of 15,801.
Earlier good vibes were seen when the back-to-back Argo Grey Cups in 1996 and 1997 were celebrated — with the addition of Doug Flutie to the list of all-time Argos.
The Hajrullahu field goal was set up by a fine 2:09 drive orchestrated by quarterback Ricky Ray.
Ray sliced and diced his way down the field using all his receivers to set up the winning field goal.
He had himself another fine evening for numbers, completing 40 of 55 for 367 yards and two touchdowns.
It was the fifth consecutive game he has surpassed the 300-yard mark, something he had only done once previously in his stellar CFL career.
It was no coincidence that the Ottawa offence, to that point in the game pretty much desperate to move the chains even once in a possession, all of a sudden found new life with Toronto deep into its reserves.
A 12-1 lead quickly turned into 12-9 as the Redblacks responded with a four-play scoring drive that covered 41 yards and ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to Brad Sinopoli.
The two point convert followed and all of a sudden Toronto’s lead was down to a lone field goal.
It’s not just that the Argos lost three starters on defence, it was the stature of the players they lost. Woods is at the centre of everything that defence does while Butler has earned all the plaudits thrown his way through the first four games in the season.
Laing, a Canadian starter on the defensive line is a ratio changer not to mention a fierce pass rusher in his own right.
All three were ruled out for the second half.
Without Woods in the middle the Redblacks turned things over in the second half to William Powell who was eating up large chunks of yardage on first down.
But the Toronto defence, even without three key contributors, found a way in the second half.
The biggest play of the second half from a Toronto standpoint came from one of the few remaining healthy cogs in Corey Chamblin’s defence as Marcus Ball walked into a poorly thrown ball by Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris to put Toronto in scoring range early in the fourth quarter.
Five plays and 38 yards later Anthony Coombs was all alone in the end zone for his first touchdown of the year to put the Argos back in front by a converted touchdown.
It was all part of a big night for Coombs who had 72 yards receiving in what was easily one of his best games as an Argo.
Fullback Declan Cross also celebrated his first touchdown of the season, hauling in a pass from Ray in the first quarter to put the Argos ahead.
The next few days though will be pivotal for the Argos as they learn the extent of the injuries to three players they are going to need back as soon as possible.
The Argos will only have two days of practice before heading out to Regina where they take on the Roughriders on Saturday.