Boatmen’s first home victory could prove costly
The Toronto Argonauts got their firstever win at BMO Field, but it came with a hefty price tag as the team lost quarterback Ricky Ray to a knee injury.
Ray was in the late stages of the Argos’ eventual 30-17 win and had his left knee go sideways on him when Montreal defensive tackle Vaughn Martin fell and brushed against the quarterback.
Ray completed 29 of 34 passes for 235 yards with three touchdowns.
Montreal QB Kevin Glenn connected on 24 of 28 for 285 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also left the game — four plays after Ray did — seemingly woozy after taking a hit from Toronto defensive lineman Justin Hickman, but returned to finish.
The Argos’ offence was strong in the first half of the win, and its defence took a turn shining in the second half, squashing two promising drives when the Alouettes, now 1-3, were on the verge of getting back into it.
The Argos improved to 3-2 in front of an announced crowd of 16,048.
Montreal found a way to jump out to a shaky lead. Kicker Boris Bede’s 52-yard field-goal attempt missed, putting his team up 1-0, 2:42 into the contest. After Brandon Whitaker fumbled at midfield, Glenn only needed three plays to find the end zone. He bombed a perfect 45-yard pass to receiver Duron Carter, who dragged Toronto defensive back T.J. Heath to the10-yard line. Brandon Rutley covered the remaining ground, running in to help put Montreal up 8-0, 6:33 in.
As quickly as the Als took the lead, it came undone for them. Penalties plagued their normally strong defence (13 flags for 130 yards), Bede continued to miss and their offence fell back into a funk. Ray and his teammates seized the opportunity.
They outscored Montreal 21-1 to close out the half.
Ray worked the controls on an offence that looked free to do whatever it wanted. He used short passes to six different first-half targets, with the gains coming mostly on the ground. His longest pass was a perfect17-yard rainbow into the end zone to Kenny Shaw. It was Shaw’s first CFL TD, while Ray nonchalantly moved into second all-time in team TD passes with 78, climbing past Damon Allen.
The run game kept the offence unpredictable, with Whitaker picking up 67 yards on 15 carries. Whitaker left late with an injury as well.
With just eight seconds left in the half, rookie receiver Devon Wylie stretched out and pulled a five-yard Ray pass in for a tough TD catch. The Argos went into the half up 21-9, seemingly in complete control.
Montreal started the third thinking comeback. Glenn connected with Carter on a gorgeous 61-yard touchdown pass that pulled Montreal within five at 3:33. They threatened to take the lead on the next drive after Coombs fumbled at his own 34, with Martin recovering for the Als.
At Toronto’s six-yard line, Glenn looked for Carter in the end zone but Heath snagged the ball and ran it 54 yards up the field. After kicker Lirim Hajrullahu badly missed a 49-yard attempt, Ray worked the offence back into the Montreal end zone. Phil Bates’ 15-yard TD catch came with the receiver fighting in for the score, putting the Argos up 30-16.
Argos defensive back Devin Smith struck next, stripping Carter at Toronto’s 47-yard line, with Foley recovering. Ray was lost on the subsequent drive.
Logan Kilgore filled in. His interception led to Bede’s third missed field goal, this one from 42 yards. The kicker watched in bewilderment.