Staying Alive: With win, Argos playoff hopes continue

CFL.ca Staff
#FNF

TORONTO — In a must win for the Argos, the team did not disappoint the home side crowd on fan appreciation night, as the Argos won 23-5 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Trevor Harris made his first career start for the injured Ricky Ray, and it was a memorable one as he filled in admirably.

Harris threw for 282 yards on 26-for-36 passing and two touchdowns in the winning effort.

The REDBLACKS once again split time between Danny O’Brien and Henry Burris under centre.

Burris passed for 83 yards on seven completions and O’Brien passed for 128 yards on 10 completions with neither of them finding the end zone.

In Week 4 the two teams faced-off for the first time in history, which also coincided with Ottawa’s first game at TD Place.

In a game where Toronto was missing most of their receiving corps due to injury, the REDBLACKS rode the leg of their kicker Brett Maher who scored all 18 points en route to the team’s inaugural victory, 18-6.

After that performance, Maher took home Special Teams Player of the Week, the first Ottawa player to win the weekly honour.

With a win the Argos will now shift their focus over to Saturday’s Alouettes vs. Hamilton matchup, as they would need the Als to win in order for the Argos to punch their tickets into the 2014 Grey Cup Playoffs.

Heading into the Week 20 tilt between Toronto and Ottawa, all the pressure was on the boatmen who needed a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.

To add to the tall order, the team’s 2014 Most Outstanding Player, Ricky Ray was not active, putting their playoff hopes in the hands of Harris.

On the opening kickoff, Swayze Waters booted the ball down field to Roy Finch. After receiving the kickoff he quickly threw the ball cross field to Antoine Pruneau who raced up field to give the REDBLACKS manageable field position for their opening series.

The drive lasted a pair of plays and then came Harris on the field for his first series.

With plenty on the line and making his first start, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if Harris played tentatively, but that was not the case on Friday night.

In his first play, he found Chad Owens for a short pass, however Owens made the pass into a big 20-yard gain.

As the drive continued, he handed the ball to Owens for a 15-yard gain. A play after that, Harris found John Chiles for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give the Argos the early 7-0 advantage.

After the ensuing kickoff, Marcus Henry took a penalty and on the very next play, Burris dropped back and was picked off by Argos’ defensive end, Tristan Okpalugo, his second on the season and returned it 23 yards to the REDBLACKS four-yard line.

Harris came back onto the field and with a very short field, it only took one play where he found Owens for the four-yard touchdown reception.

Through two possessions, Harris was five-for-six for 56 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns in the process.

The REDBLACKS attempted to change their fortunes by putting in Danny O’Brien, but the same results occurred.

As the Argos began their third drive and like the first two it looked promising. As the drive developed, Harris saw Chiles in one-on-one coverage, but over threw him in the end zone where Abdul Kanneh picked him off for his third interception on the season.

After the opening quarter ended, the Argos owned a healthy 14-0 lead.

The first play of the second quarter, was a 39-yard field goal attempt by Waters, where he was able to put it through the uprights and give the Argos a 17 point advantage.

After an 18-yard rush by Jeremiah Johnson on the play after the field goal, it marked the first, first down the REDBLACKS recorded in the game. In this case it was the only one on the drive and resulted in Ottawa punting the ball back to Toronto.

With Danny O’Brien still under centre, the REDBLACKS started their drive on their own 35-yard line with less than five minutes to go in the opening half.

Seeing wide receiver Matt Carter open on the far side of the field, he tried finding him, but Argos defensive back Branden Smith jumped in front of Carter and completed the interception, his second on the campaign.

Once again, Harris found himself starting the Argos offence in REDBLACKS territory.

After first down receptions by Jason Barnes and Chiles, the Argos were in the red zone. After an incompletion and then a Keith Shologan sack ended the Argos pursuit for a major.

Waters stepped up and hit a 22-yard field goal to give the Argos a 20 point lead into halftime.

Harris finished the half 16-for-22 (73%) for 176 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

As the third quarter started the Argos received the ball, but after a kickoff rouge, the REDBLACKS were on the board.

Midway through the third quarter, the Argos Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year Candidate added to his sack totals after chasing down Burris for a seven-yard loss and his twelfth sack on the year.

The REDBLACKS added another single late in the third quarter after taking a favorable bounce, forcing Owens to take a knee in the Argos end zone.

Entering the final 15 minutes in the game, the Argos led 20-2.

With the REDBLACKS needing to make a score, Burris hit Eddie Poole for a 42-yard gain to enter into Argos territory. The next play, Burris handed the ball off to Finch who ran for a another first down.

 After taking two shots into the Argos end zone, the REDBLACKS settled for a Maher 23-yard field goal to make the score 20-5.

Harris then followed suit and led the Argos on a drive that netted the team a Waters, 45-yard field goal to once again make it an 18-point deficit for the REDBLACKS. 

On a drive they needed to score points quickly. O’Brien found Kahlil Paden for a big 76-yard gain to put the REDBLACKS in striking distance. But after going for it on third down, the Argos took possession and sealed the victory for the Argos.

For the REDBLACKS this game concluded their first season in the CFL.

Meanwhile next week is an unknown for the Argos. With the victory, Argos need the Alouettes to beat the Ticats tomorrow afternoon. If that happens, the Argos will clinch a berth and host the East Semi-Final against the West’s crossover team. However, if the Ticats win, the Argos season will be over.