THE CANADIAN PRESS

HAMILTON -- Let the calls about Bart Andrus's job security begin.

Kevin Glenn threw two TD passes to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a 34-15 win over Toronto on Monday, dropping the Argonauts' record under their first-year head coach to a dismal 2-7. While there's still half a season left to play - and in theory plenty of time for Andrus to right the ship - questions about his future are likely to start cropping up now considering the club fired Rich Stubler at about this time last year after he compiled a 4-6 record.

Since letting Stubler go, the Argos have lost 15-of-17 regular-season games under the combination of Don Matthews (0-8 last year) and Andrus. Toronto has the CFL's worst record thus far and is attempting not to miss the playoffs for a second straight year.

"We've got to improve in a lot of areas," Andrus said when asked if the Argos were a playoff team. "It potentially could be.

"If we don't improve in some areas, then no. It's that simple to me."

It's not so much that Toronto lost but how it did before a noisy Ivor Wynne Stadium sellout of 30,293.

The Argos committed five turnovers (two fumbles, one interception, once on downs, blocked punt), gave up three sacks and their offence mustered just 258 total yards. What's more, the score could've been much more lopsided had Hamilton been able to be more productive in the red zone.

Andrus, who also runs Toronto's offence and calls the plays, has come under fire this season for questionable decisions and calls that have come in close losses. Outside of scoring on 73-yard, five play drive Monday, the Argos did little with the ball and after falling behind never played with a sense of urgency.

Andrus certainly raised eyebrows when with under three minutes remaining and trailing by 17 points he opted to punt from the Hamilton 49 instead of going for the first down. Trouble was, there appeared to be confusion on the Toronto bench about the call, resulting in an illegal substitution penalty.

Penalties were certainly a problem for Toronto, which was flagged 17 times for 153 yards.

"There were times tonight where we just did not make plays," Andrus said. "We had opportunities and we didn't make them.

"We need to make those plays before we're going to get the positive outcome that we're all after. We slid back into committing those controllable penalties that happened when they didn't need to happen. Any penalty is going to be critical and we had a couple of them that came at the worst possible time."

Arland Bruce III also came back to haunt Toronto. Facing the Argos for the first time since being dealt to Hamilton in July after getting into a spat with Andrus, Bruce had six catches for a game-high 115 yards - including grabs for 44 and 43 yards that set up Ticats' TDs.

"I was excited to be on the other side because, I mean, I was just here (in Toronto's season-opening road win at Hamilton)," he said. "Now to be on this side and winning, it's just a great feeling.

"It was mixed feelings but now it's like I'm a Ticat. I'm in black and gold and we won today."

Toronto fell to 0-5 since trading Bruce while the Ticats improved to 3-2 since acquiring him.

Glenn finished the game 20-of-36 passing for 273 yards while linebacker Jamall Johnson posted a game-high eight tackles for the Ticats.

Argos starter Cody Pickett, who was under constant pressure throughout the contest, was 25-of-40 passing for 217 yards and an interception. A sign of Hamilton's defensive dominance was Toronto running back Jamal Robertson was the club's leading receiver with nine catches for 46 yards.

"It was rough," Pickett said. "We have to take care of the ball better, I have to hang on to it and we've got to handle that pressure.

"We have to come back to work (Tuesday), look at the mistakes and keep grinding. It's going to turn, we just have to make it happen."

Fortunately, Andrus and the Argos won't have to dwell long about the loss. Toronto hosts the Ticats (5-4) on Friday night.

Hamilton - which posted a CFL-worst 3-15 record last year - snapped a six-game home losing streak against Toronto. The Ticats moved four points ahead of third-place Winnipeg (3-6) in the East Division standings and to within four points of first-place Montreal (7-2). Toronto remains last in the conference.

Hamilton controlled the contest with a stout defence that registered three sacks and forced three turnovers. But the Ticats' offence had trouble putting the game away with its struggles in the red zone.

On three separate occasions, Hamilton drove inside the Toronto 10-yard line, but could only muster seven points (two field goals, single). But third-string quarterback Adam Tafralis's one-yard TD run at 13:40 of the third gave the Ticats a 28-13 lead and cemented the win.

"If you look at the games they've lost, teams haven't scored a lot of points against them . . . we've got to put it in perspective and give them some credit too," said Ticats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille. "Obviously we want to be better down there but we did put it in three times down there."

Nick Setta connected from 29 yards out at 8:07 of the fourth to make it 31-13 after Hamilton's Dylan Barker recovered Will Poole's fumble off a punt return at the Toronto 22-yard line.

The contest was a tame one, that is, until late in the third when a melee ensued, resulting in Toronto offensive lineman Taylor Robertson and Hamilton defensive lineman Justin Hickman both being ejected.

Dave Stala and DeAndra Cobb scored Hamilton's other touchdowns. Setta added the converts, four field goals and a single.

Robertson had Toronto's touchdown. Medlock booted the convert, two field goals and a single. Eddie Johnson also had a single.

NOTES - Cornerback Willie Middlebrooks, fullback Jarrett Payton, linebacker Alphonso Hodge and defensive tackle Adrian Davis didn't dress for Toronto while tailback Terry Caulley, linebacker Dennis Haley, offensive lineman Cedric Gagne-Marcoux and defensive lineman Jermaine Reed were Hamilton's scratches. Middlebrooks had been a starter since joining the Argos last season but gave way to Byron Parker.