Chad Kelly and Argonauts snap two-game slide with huge win over B.C.

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VANCOUVER — The previous two weeks haven’t been straightforward for the Toronto Argonauts.

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First, there was the slim loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Then the workforce dropped a choice to the Ottawa Redblacks.

On Friday, although, the Argos (7-6) halted their two-game slide in decisive vogue, downing the B.C. Lions 33-17 at BC Place.

“Toronto’s efficiency constructed on these latest losses,” mentioned head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “We haven’t executed very nicely the previous few weeks, however we fought arduous, proper? And we fought towards the top, we performed a full 60 with the trouble, and that execution wasn’t at all times nice.

“So (tonight’s) an enormous win for our locker room. These guys caught collectively. We had our backs towards the wall they usually had their greatest efficiency.”

Argos quarterback Chad Kelly linked on 18 of 28 move makes an attempt for 268 yards, together with a landing, and added a dashing main.

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Lirim Hajrullahu made six area targets, together with a 51-yard kick to open the scoring within the first quarter.

Toronto’s defence troubled B.C.’s quarterbacks all evening and registered seven sacks throughout the sport.

“We performed complimentary soccer,” Kelly mentioned. “I imply, the kicker, Lirim, had six area targets tonight, defence had seven sacks. It was enormous for the entire workforce to actually come out assured.”

The Lions (7-7) struggled from the outset, with 4 two-and-outs within the first quarter alone.

Quarterback Nathan Rourke rallied late within the first half, crusing a 31-yard move to Justin McInnis deep in Toronto territory.

With the Lions stationed on the nine-yard line, Rourke surveyed his choices earlier than electing to take the ball himself, sprinting 9 yards in for a landing. Sean Whyte added a convert and B.C.’s deficit shrunk to 12-10.

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The Argos weren’t content material to shut out the half with a two-point lead, nonetheless.

Because the seconds ticked down, Kelly discovered Makai Polk midfield and the slotback took off for a 36-yard acquire. The duo linked once more moments later when the quarterback fired an 11-yard move to Polk in the long run zone. Hajrullahu added a single level as Toronto took a 19-10 benefit into the locker room.

Lions head coach Rick Campbell turned to veteran QB Vernon Adams Jr. to begin the third quarter.

“Simply in search of a spark. It’s a case of — in my view — having two elite CFL quarterbacks. And I informed the workforce and I informed Nathan that it wasn’t on him,” Campbell mentioned.

“I didn’t suppose our vitality on offence was the place it must be. And that wasn’t on Nathan. We simply couldn’t get any stream going. And I used to be simply actually attempting to create a spark and see if we may flip the script.”

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Rourke — who was 6-for-12 on his makes an attempt, throwing for 110 yards — admitted he was “just a little” shocked to get the hook, however wished to be as supportive of Adams as doable.

“And hopefully I did that. Clearly, I’m not nice at maintaining my feelings in. I put on them on my sleeve, and so I’m clearly dissatisfied,” Rourke mentioned. “However we weren’t enjoying nicely. As a workforce, we had been dropping. And I believe everybody’s type of physique language type of confirmed it tonight. However I believed (Adams) did a very good job underneath robust circumstances.”

Adams, enjoying his first sport since struggling a knee damage on Aug. 1, had 75 passing yards and an interception on Friday.

He was within the locker room, checking on an injured teammate when Campbell pulled each Adams and Rourke apart to inform them he was making a swap at quarterback to begin the second half.

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“I used to be nonetheless prepared, however just a bit shocked that (Campbell) made the change. And it felt good to get again on the market,” Adams mentioned.

Campbell then turned to depth QB Chase Brice late within the fourth. The American threw for 32 yards with a landing.

Requested after the sport how he’ll deal with the quarterback scenario via the ultimate 4 video games of the season, Campbell demurred.

“I’m not right here to mess with these guys,” mentioned the workforce’s head coach and co-general supervisor. “I believe it’s a novel scenario the place we’ve obtained two actually good guys. And we’ll make it possible for we’re gonna do no matter’s greatest for us to win video games.”

NOTES

Lions defensive again Garry Peters performed his a centesimal consecutive CFL sport. … B.C. receiver Alexander Hollins left the sport with a shoulder damage within the first half and didn’t return. Linebacker Maxime Rouyer additionally left with a game-ending pectoral damage … The Argos will battle the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Toronto subsequent Friday. The Lions are on a bye subsequent week and can return to play Sept. 27 once they host the Ticats.

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