Argonauts 48, Tiger-Cats 0

The Toronto Argonauts (7-4) avenged a Labour Day loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-9) in a big way on Saturday, trouncing their arch rivals 48-0 at Rogers Centre. It is the first time they shut out an opponent since 1979.

The Argos took advantage of an early Ticats miscue in the opening minutes of the game and never looked back. Hamilton gambled on a third-and-one on its own 37 yard line but Toronto's defence stopped Khari Jones on a quarterback sneak. One play later, Damon Allen connected with Arland Bruce in the end zone on a flea flicker, giving Toronto the only points it would need in this one.

The Argonauts were given great field position again at the Hamilton 33 following Bashir Levingston's 30-yard punt return, but could only gain a single point on Noel Prefontaine's 30-yard missed field goal.

Danny McManus was intercepted by Kenny Wheaton on a pass intended for Mike Morreale, setting up the Argonauts on the Toronto 50. Four plays later, Allen threw a 50-yard bomb to R. Jay Soward for another touchdown, but was called back because of an illegal procedure penalty. The Argos were forced to punt.

Hamilton gave up another two points on a conceded safety following an unnecessary roughness penalty which put them back on their own 10-yard line.

The Argos went up 13-0 early in the second quarter on Prefontaine's 37-yard field goal. The Boatmen continued to tally points, as Allen threw to a wide open John Avery who ran 46 yards to paydirt. Prefontaine later added a rouge and a field goal to give Toronto a 24-0 lead at halftime.

Toronto had 230 net yards on offence in the first half compared to Hamilton's 67.

The Tiger-Cats looked to have something cooking in the third quarter when Jason Goss' fourth interception of the season put the Tabbies on the Toronto 50. But McManus was picked off by Adrion Smith, who returned the ball 79 yards for another Toronto touchdown.

Prefontaine missed on a 43-yard field goal attempt late in the quarter, giving the Argos another single point. Toronto took a 34-0 lead early in the fourth quarter when the Ticats conceded a safety.

McManus was replaced by Jones in the fourth quarter. Jones didn't fare much better, throwing an interception to Michael Fletcher in the shadow of Hamilton's goal posts. The Argos turned it into another score on Sean Millington's 10-yard run. It was Millington's first TD since November 2002.

Bruce caught a six-yard pass by Michael Bishop late in regulation for his second touchdown reception of the game to end the scoring.

Allen was 14-of-26 passing for 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns, getting intercepted once. McManus completed eight of 21 pass attempts for 72 yards. Hamilton had only 166 yards of net offence the entire game.

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