On Saturday afternoon at TD Place, the Toronto Argonauts took on the Ottawa Redblacks for the second time this season. Their last matchup came in Week 8 when the Redblacks beat the Argonauts 23-13.
In the first quarter, Toronto took a 3-0 lead on a 51-yard field goal by Boris Bede with 11:32 left. Late in the first quarter, Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a 39-yard pass to Damonte Coxie on the Redblacks’ two-yard line. Two plays later, Toronto running back A.J. Ouellette plowed his way into the endzone for a 10-0 lead with 31-seconds left. The Redblacks had the ball and faced a 2nd and 4 to begin the second quarter.
Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle got the offense moving a bit with an 18-yard pass to Darvin Adams, but he threw two straight incomplete passes to face third down, and they punted the ball back to Toronto. After that, it was all field goals in the second quarter. Toronto kicker Boris Bede made a 17-yard field goal for a 13-0 lead with 3:50 left, followed by two field goals from Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward (48 yards, 47 yards), cutting Toronto’s lead to 13-6 at halftime.
Toronto’s offense had 262 yards, while quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 18/24 for 238 yards. Meanwhile, Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle was 8/19 for 90 yards and one interception as the Redblacks had 108 yards on offense.
Early in the third quarter, there were more field goals. Toronto kicker Boris Bede made a 47-yard field goal for a 16-6 lead with 13:38 left, followed by Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward’s 35-yard field goal to cut Toronto’s lead 16-9 with 11:01. Ottawa still had not scored a touchdown in this game.
When Toronto got the ball back, quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw three straight passes for 34 yards, but the offense stalled, and kicker Boris Bede attempted a 46-yard field goal but missed wide right and out of bounds for a single point, 17-9 with 7:28 left in the third quarter.
On Ottawa’s next drive, quarterback Nick Arbuckle completed a 43-yard pass to Darvin Adams, and it looked like Ottawa was on the right track. However, Toronto’s defense was ready for them and made two crucial stops, forcing a third down. Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward attempted a 29-yard field goal but hit the upright and could not come away with points.
On Toronto’s next drive, McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw passes, including a 36-yard pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr., to reach Ottawa’s 12-yard line. Then, Thompson went back to Gittens Jr. as Gittens stretched out to get the ball across the goal line for the touchdown, extending their lead 24-9 with 1:01 left in the third quarter. Ottawa had the ball to begin the fourth quarter facing second down.
On Ottawa’s drive, quarterback Nick Arbuckle threw six passes for 65 yards into the Argonauts’ two-yard line. Then, backup quarterback Caleb Evans scored the Redblacks’ first touchdown with a quarterback sneak, cutting Toronto’s lead 24-16 with 11:29 left.
Ottawa’s defense stepped up on the next Toronto drive when Damon Webb intercepted McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s pass. Ottawa moved the ball towards Toronto’s 24-yard line before Lewis Ward made a 31-yard field goal, making it a five-point game 24-19 with 7:23 left.
Ottawa got two more opportunities to win the game but came up short both times, losing 24-19 to the Toronto Argonauts. Toronto has now won three straight games, moving their record to 7-5, while the Redblacks dropped to 3-9.
Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 27/39 for 365 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for 11 yards. Running back A.J. Ouellette had ten carries for 29 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. had eight catches for 161 yards and one touchdown. Toronto’s defense allowed 391 yards, 53 tackles, one sack, three pass breakups, and one interception. Toronto is off next week.
Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle went 26/40 for 290 yards, one interception, and one carry for 12 yards. Running back Devonte Williams had 14 carries for 80 yards, while wide receiver Nathaniel Behar had six catches for 76 yards. Ottawa’s defense allowed 408 yards, 48 tackles, three sacks, two pass breakups, and one interception. Ottawa is off next week.
