CFL.ca Staff
#FNF
TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts needed a spark, and Ricky Ray was there to give it to them.
Trailing by 17 points heading into the fourth quarter, Ray kicked the Argos offence into fifth gear, and guided them on a massive comeback that was capped off by a 69-yard touchdown pass to Chad Owens, giving the Argos a 34-33 win.
With the win, the Argos move into a tie for first place in the East Division with the Ticats, with boths teams currently at 12 points.
| Related: Ticats vs. Argos |
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» View Game Stats |
Friday’s clash marked the second meeting between the two rivals this season, and first since Labour Day when the Ticats earned a 13-12 win at Tim Hortons Field.
They’ll meet for a third and final time on Oct. 25 in Toronto.
Ray was in vintage form, completing 34 of 46 passes for 431 yards and three touchdowns. His former understudy, Zach Collaros was in fine form as well, completing 23 of 32 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
Collaros was making his first appearance in Toronto since last season’s Eastern Final when he was a member of the Argonauts.
The 26-year-old wasted no time re-acquainting himself with the Boatmen-faithful, orchestrating an impressive opening drive that ended with his Ticats putting six points on the board.
After hooking up with tailback Mossis Madu for a 40-yard gain, Collaros found Andy Fantuz two plays later for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Ticats a 7-0 lead.
Hamilton would extend their lead on their next possession courtesy of a 42-yard field goal by Justin Medlock.
The Ticats caught a break with 12:58 left in the second quarter, when Collaros saw the ball punched out of his grasp by Argos DB Vincent Agnew. However, Mike Filer was there to recover the loose pigskin for Hamilton.
Hamilton’s first half dominance wasn’t limited to just the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
Former Argo receiver Terrell Sinkfield corralled a 50-yard punt by Swayze Waters and returned it 53 yards inside Toronto’s 20-yard line. Sinkfield now has a return of at least 50 yards in all three games he’s played with the Ticats.
Fortunately for the Argos, the Ticats weren’t able to capitalize on their advantageous field position, settling for a 20-yard Medlock chip shot.
Quiet for much of the first half, Ray finally displayed glimmers of his usual self in the later stages of the second quarter.
Assisted by some costly penalties by the Ticats, the Argos marched 67 yards downfield on nine plays, the last of which being a 2-yard toss to Spencer Watt, who had to adjust mid-air to get one foot down in the back corner of the endzone for a touchdown.
The score cut Hamilton’s lead to six.
| Owens Owns Late |
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Quiet for the majority of Friday’s matchup, Chad Owens showed up when it mattered most, hauling in Ricky Ray’s pass for the game-winning touchdown. |
But Collaros didn’t stand idly by while his former protégé was attempting to get his offence back on track.
On Hamilton’s very next possession, Collaros restored the Ticats’ lead almost entirely on his own, running in a 28-yard score.
The longest run of his season capped off a drive that saw Collaros complete passes to Luke Tasker, Sam Giguere and Madu for gains of 22, 12 and five.
A 33-yard field goal by Waters with no time left in the second quarter sent the two teams into the break with the visitors leading 20-10.
The second half got underway with both Medlock and Waters exchanging field goals. Medlock increased Hamilton’s lead to 13 thanks to a 38-yard boot, and Waters replied with a 39-yarders to keep Toronto’s deficit at 10.
Much like the first half, Collaros had no problem moving the ball against Toronto’s secondary.
Shortly after Waters’ field goal, Collaros guided his unit on an impressive drive, but it was incredibly close to turning into a full-on disaster. Facing 1st and 10 from Toronto’s 22 yard line, Collaros’s pass intended for Giguere was nearly intercepted by Argo Branden Smith, who would have had a clear path to the endzone had he not let his slip right through his fingers.
The dropped interception proved costly for the Argos, as Collaros found Tasker for a 22-yard major on Hamilton’s very next play.
Not to be outdone, Ray continued to do what he could to keep the Argos within striking distance.
Taking over on Hamilton’s 44 yard line thanks to a fumble recovery by defensive lineman Delano Johnson, Ray wasted little time finding the endzone, as he connected with Steve Slaton for a 12-yard touchdown pass to cut Hamilton’s lead back to 10.
With just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Argos embarked on a crucial drive that saw them travel 75 yards on nine plays, the last of which being a one-yard plunge into the endzone by Ray, cutting Hamilton’s lead to just six in the process.
Then, with just under one minute to go, Ray hooked up with Owens for a 69-yard touchdown, completing the comeback for the home team.
Next week, the Argos will play another critical divisional matchup, as they play host to Jonathan Crompton and the Alouettes. The Ticats, meanwhile, return home to Hamilton, where they’ll welcome Henry Burris and the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
