On Sunday night at Mosaic Stadium, the Toronto Argonauts looked to go 2-0 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders to close out Week 7. The game was supposed to be played on Saturday, but the Roughriders had COVID issues that led them to move the game to Sunday.
Jake Dolegala started for the Roughriders in place of Cody Fajardo, who was dealing with a knee injury and COVID.
In the first quarter, Argonauts’ kicker Boris Bede made a 26-yard field goal, putting Toronto up 3-0 with 4:18 left. Then, Roughriders’ kicker Brett Lauther made a 28-yard field goal, tying the game 3-3 with ten seconds left. Toronto had the ball to start the second quarter.
Toronto chewed up a lot of clock moving the ball towards the Roughriders’ one-yard line. On 3rd and 1, Saskatchewan’s defense stopped Andrew Harris, who fumbled the ball trying to get into the endzone, and the Roughriders recovered it. The offense went two-and-out, and Toronto got the ball back.
On 2nd and 10, Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. for a 10-3 lead. Mario Alford took a knee in the endzone on the kickoff, and Toronto’s lead was 11-3 with 5:52 left in the second quarter.
After the Roughriders went two-and-out, Toronto got the ball back. On 1st and 10 from their own 54-yard line, McLeod Bethel-Thompson lost the ball while being sacked by Charleston Hughes. Hughes initially had a touchdown, but it ruled that he was down at the 50-yard line.
Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala led the offense down to the Argo’s ten-yard yard. On 2nd and 10, Dolegala got hit as he threw the ball to Tevin Jones for the touchdown. Saskatchewan went for a two-point conversion and didn’t get it as they trailed 11-9 with 1:18 left.
Just before halftime, Toronto was looking to add three more points. However, kicker Boris Bede missed a 61-yard field goal, and Mario Alford returned it for a 113-yard touchdown. The Roughriders went for another two-point conversion, didn’t get it, and led 15-11 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Toronto kicker Boris Bede made a 36-yard field goal, and Roughriders’ kicker Brett Lauther made two field goals (28 yards, 18 yards) as Saskatchewan led 21-14 with Toronto having the ball to start the fourth quarter.
Toronto had worked their way up to Saskatchewan’s 33-yard line and was facing a 3rd and 1 to start the fourth quarter. McLeod Bethel-Thompson tried to sneak the ball across, but the Roughriders’ defense stopped them, forcing a turnover.
Saskatchewan was unable to move the ball in a couple of series. On Toronto’s next possession, McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a lot of short passes, plus Andrew Harris had three carries for 27 yards to get Toronto to the five-yard line. Thompson found a wide-open Cam Phillips for the touchdown, tying the game 21-21 with 4:49 left.
After Saskatchewan went two-and-out, Toronto’s Andrew Harris led the offense down to Saskatchewan’s 22-yard line. Kick Boris Bede made a 29-yard field goal, putting the Argo’s up 24-21 with 47-seconds left.
On the kickoff, Saskatchewan returner Mario Alford tried to make a play but fumbled the ball that was recovered by Enock Penney-Laryea and taken in for the touchdown, giving the Argonauts a 31-21 win. Toronto is now 3-2, and the Roughriders are 4-3 for the season.
Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 30/38 for 336 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while running back Andrew Harris had 26 carries for 143 yards. He became the first Canadian running back to rush for over 10,000 yards. Wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. had eight catches for 152 yards and one touchdown.
Toronto’s defense allowed 174 yards, 33 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups, one interception, and two fumble recoveries. Toronto hosts the Ottawa Redblacks next Sunday at 5 pm on ESPN+.
Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala was 13/28 for 131 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for 12 yards. Running back, Jamal Morrow had ten carries for 25 yards, while wide receiver Tevin Jones had five catches for 67 yards and one touchdown.
Saskatchewan’s defense allowed 496 yards, 70 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles, one pass breakup, one interception, and three forced fumbles. The Roughriders host the BC Lions next Friday at 9 pm on ESPN2.
