Ray, Argonauts secure top spot in East Division Goldfin swim meet underway

TORONTO — Ricky Ray completed a club-record 21 straight passes and threw three touchdown tosses to lead the Toronto Argonauts to a hard-hitting 36-21 win over a determined Winnipeg Blue Bombers squad Thursday night.

Ray finished 39-of-45 passing for a career-high 505 yards to earn Toronto (11-6) top spot in the East Division for the first time since 2007 and just the third time since 1997.

More importantly, the Argos cemented home-field advantage in the division final Nov. 17 by sweeping the home-and-home series with Winnipeg (3-14).

Ray broke the Argos record of 19 straight completions in the third quarter and finished one short of the CFL mark when he threw an incompletion to running back Chad Kackert, back in the lineup after missing two games with a shoulder injury.

But Argos receivers Jason Barnes and Andre Durie both lost fumbles deep in Winnipeg’s zone following big completions by Ray that allowed the Bombers to hang around.

But Ray cemented the win with a 69-yard TD pass to Dontrelle Inman at 12:16 of the fourth. On July 19, Ray set the CFL singlegame passing accuracy record by completing 19-of-20 passes in a 35-19 win over Winnipeg before suffering a knee injury.

Ray’s brilliance before a Rogers Centre gathering of 18,478 overshadowed a nasty contest that saw both teams flagged repeatedly for vicious hits. And play in the first half was halted for several minutes while Toronto defensive back Neiko Thorpe was treated for a head injury.

Thorpe was hurt while tackling Winnipeg running back Will Ford. After the play, Thorpe lay motionless on the field surrounded by players from both teams as he received medical attention. Thorpe’s head was immobilized and he was placed on a backboard, then a stretcher before being carted off the field.

He was taken to hospital, but there was no further update on his condition.

Winnipeg, 2-7 on the road this season, was eliminated from playoff contention with last weekend’s 26-20 home loss to Toronto. The Saskatoon Goldfins are hosting their 37th Annual Goldfin Invitational swim meet at the Shaw Centre.

The meet started on Thursday and continues through Sunday. This is an age group short course swim meet for male and female competitive swimmers. The competition has attracted over 400 swimmers from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

For more info contact John Rayner at (306) 220-1389.