Boatmen hang on in Kilgore’s debut
OTTAWA— Welcome to the CFL, Logan Kilgore.
The Toronto Argonauts’ backup quarterback got his first-ever CFL start on Sunday, and with it a heavy helping of the extreme highs and lows that can manage to pack themselves into a 60-minute game.
The Argos pulled out a 23-20 win in a game that featured kickers Lirim Hajrullahu and Chris Milo trading field goals from 50-plus yards down the stretch, and a fourth-quarter drive that felt like it was game-over for each team. It wasn’t, and it appropriately ended with a field goal.
Starting a stint of three to six weeks in place of an injured Ricky Ray, Kilgore made 25 of 42 passes for 322 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Henry Burris was 20 of 34 for 218 yards for Ottawa with a TD and two interceptions in his first game back since he injured his pinky in the opening week.
Despite showing a strong arm and patience in the pocket, Kilgore couldn’t get much going in the first half. Hajrullahu gave the Argos their first-half points with a 71-yard punt single and a 43-yard field goal.
Burris looked rusty at times, with his offence held scoreless until the final minute of the first half. Toron- to’s defensive backs had a feel for where Burris was looking early in the game. T.J. Heath snagged a Burris pass in the first quarter, snuffing out a promising drive at the Argos’ 32yard line.
It was a low-scoring first half, but not for lack of effort by the Redblacks. They got creative twice, with third-string QB Danny O’Brien going from holder to thrower on a 12-yard field-goal attempt, only to be picked off by A.J. Jefferson in the end zone. Former Argo kicker Zack Medeiros dropped the ball on a punt attempt and ran for a first down, which set up Ottawa’s first scoring play of the night. The Redblacks finished a fiveplay, 56-yard drive with a one-yard plunge from backup QB Brock Jensen. Milo’s convert gave Ottawa a 7-4 halftime lead. Kilgore was intercepted by Mitchell White to close out the half.
Both offences woke up to start the third. Kilgore led a quick, four-play, 42-yard drive that ended with him finding Argos receiver Kenny Shaw for a 30-yard touchdown pass at 4:07. The Argos’ 11-7 lead lasted all of 2:37. Burris responded with a five-play, 83-yard trip down the field and capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Jackson. Milo’s convert put the Redblacks in front 14-11. Hajrullahu connected from 49 yards to end the third quarter, tying the game up.
Kilgore found his rhythm in the second half, connecting with Shaw, his former practice roster mate, on a few big plays, but scoring-wise it became a kickers’ game.
Hajrullahu then broke the tie from 37 yards at 2:51 of the fourth, getting the Argos some points out of a Burris turnover forced by Ricky Foley. Milo connected from 50 yards at 5:41to tie game at 17, and Hajrullahu put Toronto back in front almost three minutes later with a 25-yard field goal. Momentum shifted in the Redblacks’ favour when Kilgore’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by defensive end Aston Whiteside. Linebacker Damaso Munoz caught the loose ball and Burris set up the offence at Toronto’s 48. Ottawa survived a Chris Williams drop that Shawn Lemon returned for a touchdown that was eventually overruled. Milo stepped in and calmly connected on a 55-yard field goal at 12:37 to make it a 20-all game.
Hajrullahu was just as cool in hitting from 53 yards with 1:15 to go for the winning margin.
Argos cornerback A.J. Jefferson got the best of Burris, pulling in an interception with 58 seconds to play to preserve the victory.