Arbuckle, Stamps set to host confident Argos

CFL.ca Staff

CALGARY — One sole Canadian Football League team is without a victory so far in 2019, and they hope to change their fortunes on the road.

“We’ve shown some sparks in the second half,” Argonauts head coach Corey Chamblin said. “But we’ve got to be ready to go for all sixty minutes.”

The winless Toronto Argonauts get another crack at earning their first victory of the season when they visit the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium Thursday night.

The Argonauts have allowed the most points of all CFL teams this season and have allowed more than 32 points in all but one of their losses in 2019. Their most recent loss was a 48-21 drubbing against the league-best Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Despite the piling losses, the Double Blue still feel the best is yet to come.

“I think there’s a lot more out there,” Argos quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson said. “We left a lot of yards on table. We didn’t play our best early. We still have that herky jerky, on and off game right now. So, once we put it altogether I think it’s going to be really fun to watch.

“We killed ourselves in the game (against Winnipeg) with a lot of two and outs and turnovers,” receiver Derel Walker said. “Just not being able to allow ourselves to stay on the field.”

Meanwhile, the defending Grey Cup Champion Stampeders are coming off their second loss of the season. The Stamps dropped a 30-23 game to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats five days ago. But quarterback Nick Arbuckle is already raring to get back onto the field.

“It’s good in that after you lose a game, any game, you can’t wait to get out on the field and make up for it,” Arbuckle said. “With a short week you can do it that much faster.”

“Last game, we started off pretty well and then took turns messing up,’’ Stampeders receiver Eric Rogers said. “All three phases. Special teams sputtered there in the second quarter, then in the third the offence slowed down and when we needed a stop in the fourth we couldn’t get it.”

One guy who could help get the offence back on track is receiver Juwan Brescacin. The 26-year old will return to the lineup Thursday after missing games due to injury. In two games this season, Brescacin has four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. The Mississauga, Ont. native is chomping at the bit to play again.

“I feel good,” Brescacin said. “I feel like I had a pretty good week of practice. Especially coming off an injury for two weeks. I’m just looking forward to playing.”

Joining Brescacin into this week’s lineup is Montreal-born receiver Hergy Magala and fellow Canadian and offensive lineman David Brown. American defensive backs Lorenzo Jerome and Brandon Smith will also suit up along with defensive lineman Azeem Victor.

Lineman Justin Lawrence will also start at centre for the Stamps Thursday. The Edmonton native backed up Ryan Sceviour at guard. With centre Ucambre Williams on the injured list, there’s a hole to fill at centre. Lawrence says he’s played guard for most of his college career but feels he could be a fit in his position.

“I definitely have the body for a centre,” Lawrence said. “Ever since I started playing it, just as my most permanent position, it’s become more natural for me.”

Toronto made some changes on its depth chart for Thursday’s game. Canadian linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed will start at middle linebacker for the Argos, moving Micah Awe from middle to the Will. Matthew Boateng also will start at defensive back instead of Anthony Covington.

International receiver Rodney Smith will get the nod over Llevi Noel. Noel has caught 21 passes for 199 yards, but fought off a couple of drops in Week 5, including one that resulted in an interception.

BY THE NUMBERS

388 — Argos quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for that many yards versus Winnipeg last week, in addition to three touchdowns.

12 — The Stampeders have allowed 12 sacks through their first four games of the season. In their first four games last year, Calgary allowed only five.

5 — Calgary Stampeders defensive back Tre Roberson has that many interceptions through four games this year. He’s on pace to break the league single-season record of 15 set by Al Brennan in 1972.

Kickoff is at 9 p.m. ET and can be seen on TSN and ESPN 2, and followed live via CFL.ca Game Tracker.

– With files from Stampeders.com/Argonauts.ca

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