Extra Effort: Wilder Jr. a major factor in Argos win over Bombers

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO — Toronto Argonauts head coach Marc Trestman summed it up perfectly after his team’s gritty win against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday afternoon: James Wilder Jr. never takes a play off.

“He didn’t give up tonight and our team didn’t give up on each other when we could have,” Trestman told the media after Toronto’s 29-28 win. “We were down by 10 and a couple of bad things happened along the way and guys just kept working at it and we found a way to win the game.”

Wilder Jr. scored two touchdowns in the Argos victory – a victory that pushed Toronto into first place in the East Division. He also racked up 112 rushing yards, 85 receiving yards and tallied two defensive tackles. But what his stat lines don’t tell you is the extra effort the 25-year-old puts in every time he touches the ball.

Take the first touchdown that the running back scored on Saturday afternoon as an example. It was Toronto’s first drive of the contest and Ricky Ray handed off to Wilder Jr. on the Bombers’ 12-yard line. Winnipeg’s defence looked like they were going to stop Wilder from plunging into the end zone but the extra effort to break the tackle and stretch across the goal line secured the Argos first major of the game.

Wilder also pitched in defensively when Bombers defensive lineman Tristian Okpalaugo intercepted Ray and was streaking towards the end zone. The Argos running back tackled Okpalaugo on the one-yard line keeping him from scoring a pick-six.

“That was just a great effort by him,” Ray said of Wilder’s tackle in the third quarter. “It shows what kind of guys we have on this team. They play hard and hard for each other and just try and give it our all on every play.”

Wilder didn’t seem to miss a beat after being sidelined last week with an injury when the Argonuats travelled to Edmonton to take on the Eskimos.

“I just wanted to get back out there with my brothers” Wilder said of his motivation for Saturday’s game. “We’re so family oriented here. I was just excited to be out there and be able to play with them.”

Since taking over the starting running back role from Brandon Whitaker earlier this season, Wilder has made a huge impact for the Argonauts on the field. In his last five games, he’s recorded three games of 100+ yards on the ground and has recorded four rushing touchdowns. The versatile back has also caught passes out of the back field, adding another offensive weapon on Toronto’s potent offence.

“He’s been big,” Ray praised the rookie. “He’s done a great job learning this year behind Brandon (Whitaker) and then getting his opportunity and really taking it to the next level. He’s definitely given us a big boost on the offensive side. I mean you see a lot of the plays that he’s making, it gives us a big spark.”

Wilder is also making an impact off the field.

Not only is he running for the Rookie of the Year title, he’s running for something a little more important for the month of October. At the beginning of the month, Wilder launched his #RunWilderForTheCure campaign where he challenged himself, and other running backs around the CFL and NFL, to donate a dollar for every yard ran and $100 for every touchdown.

After his big performance on Saturday afternoon, Wilder was elated when he found out how much money he would be pitching in to the campaign.

“I was told I got over $500,” he grinned. “I’m paying like $500 for this game and it’s something that I’m not upset about. I’m definitely happy I could donate $500 to the Run Wilder for a Cure campaign.”

Wilder and the Argonauts now head out on a Week 19 bye before they return to action against the BC Lions in the regular season finale in Week 20.

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