The Toronto Argonauts clinched a playoff berth Saturday afternoon at BMO Field with a 31-29 win over the BC Lions. The win did not come easy as they went into overtime to settle the score. Conditions were not good at BMO Field as it rained during the game.
Toronto Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 23/37 for 155 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and three carries for 15 yards. Thompson’s touchdown happened in the first quarter when he found DaVaris Daniels on a 14-yard route play for a touchdown that extended their lead 10-0 with 3:02 left. DaVaris Daniels led the receivers with six catches for 51-yards and one touchdown.
Argo’s running back D.J. Foster carried the ball nine times for 65 yards. Kicker Boris Bede was a perfect 5/5, with his longest field goal being 52 yards. The defense recorded two sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.
The Argonauts’ other touchdown happened in overtime when backup quarterback Antonio Pipkin rushed for a one-yard touchdown. Then, McLeod Bethel-Thompson hit Dion Pellerin for the two-point conversion for a 31-23 lead.
BC Lions quarterback Mike Reilly went 20/38 for 290 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and four carries for five yards. His touchdowns happened in the first half and overtime. He threw a 53-yard pass to Shaquille Johnson in the first quarter that was tipped by an Alouettes player and then caught by Johnson on the ground.
Two plays later, from the pocket, he threw the ball up in the air for Bryan Burnham to leap up in the air for a 32-yard touchdown. The score was 10-7 Argo’s with 1:27 left in the first quarter. Burnham led the receivers with five catches for 96-yards and one touchdown.
In the second quarter, Mike Reilly dropped back from the pocket before putting the ball in the air that landed on the hands of Dominque Rhymes for an 18-yard touchdown to take a 14-10 lead with 6:27 left.
Mike Reilly’s last touchdown happened in overtime, finding Jacob Scarfone for a 32-yard touchdown. In overtime, teams must go for a two-point conversion. But, instead, Reilly overthrew Shaquille Johnson which ended the game.
BC Lions running back James Butler had ten carries for 69-yards. Kicker Jimmy Camacho missed three field goals but managed to get two single points. He missed a game-winning 37-yard field goal. However, the ball went out of bounds in the endzone for a single point that tied the game 23-23 at the end of regulation.
The Lion’s defense recorded two sacks by Bo Lokombo and one interception. The interception happened in the third quarter when Thompson’s pass was picked off by Obum Gwachum and returned for a 33-yard touchdown that put the Lions in the lead 21-20 with 1:52 left.
Next week, the BC Lions play the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday, November 5th, at 7 pm on ESPN+. Finally, the Montreal Alouettes will head to IG Field against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday, November 6th, at 7 pm on ESPN+.
