ARGOS RALLY IN FOURTH QUARTER | srjlatestnews

 

ARGOS RALLY IN FOURTH QUARTER:

ALBERTA — A 16-point fourth quarter from the Toronto Argonauts enabled them record a comeback victory of 28-23 over the Edmonton Elks in the 100th regular season matchup between the two teams.

With 30 seconds left, Toronto running back A.J. Ouellette scored the winning touchdown to cap the comeback. Ouellette contributed to the Boatmen's first victory in Edmonton since 2013 by carrying the ball nine times for 91 yards.

Boris Bede, an Argos kicker, led the Double Blue in scoring in their victory over Edmonton on Saturday. Bede scored 15 significant points in the victory by making all five of his field goal tries, including three from 40 yards or more.

The quarterback for Toronto, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, displayed tenacity in a contest that initially appeared to be going against him. Including a 35-yard touchdown pass to DaVaris Daniels in the fourth quarter to jumpstart his team's comeback efforts, Bethel-Thompson completed 19 passes for 273 yards.

Connected

« Argos, Elks by the stats from the box score

« Toronto vs. Edmonton via the Lens

>> Watch as AJ Ouellette scores the winning touchdown

"This game was significant for us," says Ouellette.

Early in the game, the Green and Gold appeared ready to assert their dominance. After receiving the opening kick, Taylor Cornelius worked with Derel Walker to design an eight-play touchdown drive that allowed his side go over the Toronto 40-yard line.

The drive was halted by a sack by Argos defensive lineman Shawn Oakman and a holding call against the Elks, forcing Edmonton to use their kicking team. Long-range kicker Sergio Castillo lined up a 50-yard field goal attempt and made it to give his club the lead right away.

Toronto would successfully respond to the Edmonton goal with their opening offensive possession of the game. Cam Phillips caught a 21-yard completion from McLeod Bethel-Thompson to give the Argonauts a new set of downs within the Elks' territory.

The Boatmen's passing attempt would be thwarted by Edmonton's defence, keeping them from gaining a first down. Boris Bede, an Argonauts kicker, would be crucial in helping his team tie the score and earn its first points.

ARGOS RALLY IN FOURTH QUARTER:

The drive was halted by a sack by Argos defensive lineman Shawn Oakman and a holding call against the Elks, forcing Edmonton to use their kicking team. Long-range kicker Sergio Castillo lined up a 50-yard field goal attempt and made it to give his club the lead right away.

Toronto would successfully respond to the Edmonton goal with their opening offensive possession of the game. Cam Phillips caught a 21-yard completion from McLeod Bethel-Thompson to give the Argonauts a new set of downs within the Elks' territory.

The Boatmen's passing attempt would be thwarted by Edmonton's defence, keeping them from gaining a first down. Boris Bede, an Argonauts kicker, would be crucial in helping his team tie the score and earn its first points.

After Edmonton's result, Toronto's situation deteriorated quickly. On the kickoff, Toronto attempted a trick play but fumbled the throw-back attempt. Elks defensive lineman Avery Ellis was able to retrieve the loose ball and give his team control at the 40-yard line of Toronto.

By keeping the Elks out of the end zone and forcing a field goal attempt, Toronto was able to limit the harm that may have been done by the turnover. Castillo's second successful try of the contest, a 37-yard effort, gave his team a 10-point advantage in the second quarter.

Brown put together a string of four powerful runs for 33 yards as the Elks' primary offensive weapon on the ground.

ARGOS RALLY IN FOURTH QUARTER:

Edmonton's secondary would maintain its composure as they compelled the Boatmen pivot to throw two straight incomplete passes, forcing Toronto to use Bede a third time. Bede successfully completed a 45-yard field goal attempt with a well-placed kick. As the third quarter was coming to a close, Bede added another long field goal, this time from 42 yards out, on the next Toronto drive.

With just a few seconds left before the action's final quarter, the Boatman seemed to have established some form of an offensive rhythm. In order to put his team in position to score, Bethel-Thompson successfully threw a 39-yard ball along the right sideline to DaVaris Daniels for his first grab of the game.

However, Toronto was forced to use their kicking team for their fifth field goal try of the game after a throw meant for Markeith Ambles was incomplete. Bede had no issue scoring on a 32-yard attempt to cut the Edmonton advantage to one point for the Argos.

Elks appeared prepared to respond to the Argonauts' streak of scoring plays with their first possession of the game's final quarter. DeShaun Amos was able to step in front of Cornelius' pass on a new set of downs from just outside the Toronto 30-yard line, forcing an error that led to an interception right on the goal line.

By forcing a lengthy incomplete pass from Bethel-Thompson on a second down and forcing an Argos punt, the Elks were able to minimise the damage caused by the interception. As the Argos were called for a late hit out of bounds, Edmonton's Christian Saulsberry gained additional yardage on the return for a 38-yard gain.

Cornelius helped his side establish a first-and-goal situation from the Toronto four-yard line by eluding Toronto's defensive pressure for a 30-yard gain to start their drive already in Argonauts territory.