On Saturday afternoon at BMO Field, the Toronto Argonauts took on the BC Lions for the second time this season. They last met back in Week 3 when the Lions routed the Argonauts 44-3. This time, Toronto didn’t have to face Nathan Rourke, and the game was not a blowout.
In the first quarter, Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a couple of passes for 22 yards, and running back A.J. Ouellette rushed for a yard before kicker Boris Bede made a 13-yard field goal to give Toronto a 3-0 lead with 6:46 left. Those were the only points scored in the first quarter.
The Lions struggled early in the game, including James Butler’s fumble that was recovered by Toronto’s defense. The Argonauts’ offense ate up a lot of time for the rest of the first quarter to reach the Lions’ one-yard as the first quarter ended.
In the second quarter, Toronto backup quarterback Chad Kelly scored the touchdown with a quarterback sneak, extending their lead 10-0 with 14:45 left. Later in the game, Toronto kicker Boris Bede made his second field goal of the game for 21 yards to make it 13-0 with 8:11 left. Late in the second quarter, the Lions’ offense woke up from their nap.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw three passes for 21 yards. Then, BC running back James Butler ran for 21 yards before Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 33-yard touchdown pass that was caught in traffic by Alexander Hollins. Hollins had three Toronto players on him and made a spectacular catch. The score was 13-7 Toronto with 2:35 left. Both teams had a couple of opportunities to add more points, but both offenses stalled, and Toronto led 13-7 at halftime.
Toronto’s offense had 180 yards, while quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 15/23 for 145 yards and one carry for six yards. Meanwhile, BC had 139 yards on offense, and quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was 7/13 for 83 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for nine yards.
In the third quarter, both teams traded field goals. First, Toronto kicker Boris Bede made a 26-yard field goal, making it 16-7 with 7:17 left, and BC kicker Sean Whyte got those three points back with a 17-yard field goal, trailing 16-10 with 2:37 left. Toronto had the ball and faced second and five to begin the fourth quarter.
However, The Lions’ defense pounced on Bethel-Thompson as Ben Hladik smacked the ball out of Thompson’s hand, and BC recovered. Then, BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. found Keon Hatcher, who made a Toronto defender miss him with a juke move and fought off four other Toronto players to score a 31-yard touchdown, giving the Lions a 17-16 lead with 14:10 left.
Later in the fourth quarter, the Lions padded their lead 20-16 on a 30-yard field goal by Sean Whyte with 4:38 left. It looked like the Lions were headed for their eleventh win of the year. However, Toronto spoiled those plans.
Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a couple of passes for 33 yards. Then, from the shotgun, Thompson dropped back and threw a 37-yard touchdown to Tommy Nield. It was Nield’s sixth catch of the season that put Toronto back up 23-20 with 2:50 left.
BC had one shot to either tie the game or take the lead. BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw three passes for 26 yards. The Lions were unable to move the ball any further, and Sean Whyte attempted a 41-yard field goal. However, the ball hit the left upright, and Toronto was able to run out the clock to win the game 23-20. It was Toronto’s ninth win of the year, while the BC Lions dropped to 10-5 and are now tied with the Calgary Stampeders for second place.
Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 27/40 for 352 yards, one touchdown, and three carries for 24 yards. Running back A.J. Ouellette had 12 carries for 44 yards, while wide receiver Markeith Ambles had eight catches for 121 yards.
Toronto’s defense allowed 352 yards, 42 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. The Argonauts play the Edmonton Elks next Saturday at 7 pm on ESPN+.
BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was 21/32 for 258 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for nine yards. Running back James Butler had nine carries for 82 yards, while wide receivers Alexander Hollins and Keon Hatcher combined with six catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
BC’s defense allowed 424 yards, 54 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, four pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. The Lions host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next Saturday at 10 pm on ESPN+.
