The Toronto Argonauts (7-1) returned to BMO Field for the first time in six weeks against the Ottawa Redblacks (3-6) to close out Week 10. This was the first meeting of the season.
Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly returned as the starting quarterback after suffering an ankle injury last week against Calgary. No one knew how Kelly would do against Ottawa and he put on a show in what can be described as a game-of-the-year candidate. This game felt like a good boxing match.
Ottawa came out swinging in the first quarter. Quarterback Dustin Crum threw four passes for 33 yards before kicker Lewis Ward made a 50-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 11:40 left. Toronto’s offense got off to a slow start with two two-and-outs.
When Ottawa got the ball back, Dustin Crum was set in a shotgun formation. Crum dropped back to throw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jaelon Acklin for a 10-0 lead with 6:19 left. Ottawa’s offensive line provided great protection for Crum and Toronto’s defense did not touch him.
Toronto had the ball for their third series of the game. They went up-tempo. Chad Kelly threw three straight passes for 23 yards. After finishing their play, they had another one ready to go so Ottawa could not substitute players. Running back A.J. Ouellette had a couple of carries for 30 yards.
Then, Toronto punched it in when Chad Kelly threw a pass up the middle to DaVaris Daniels for a 10-yard touchdown. It was now 10-7 Ottawa with 2:52 left. Ottawa had the ball and made it to their 47-yard line as the first quarter ended up 10-7.
The second quarter was a shootout. After Ottawa punted the ball back to Toronto, Chad Kelly faked a handoff and everyone ran to the left side while Kelly went right before throwing a 60-yard touchdown pass to DaVaris Daniels for a 14-10 lead with 13:36 left.
Ottawa responded when Dustin Crum threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Justin Hardy to regain a 17-14 lead with 6:21 left. Toronto came back. On the second play, Chad Kelly threw a short pass to DaVaris Daniels before running for 44 yards. He was injured after getting tackled but returned a short time later. Three plays later, Kelly threw a short pass to A.J. Ouellette and he hustled his way in for a 12-yard touchdown. It was now 21-17 with 3:42 left.
Later in the second quarter, Ottawa’s defense made a big play when Cariel Brooks intercepted Kelly’s pass intended for Andrew Harris before scoring a 42-yard touchdown for a 24-21 lead with 1:50 left. Just before halftime, Toronto backup quarterback Cameron Dukes scored a one-yard touchdown with a quarterback sneak as the Argonauts led 28-24 at halftime.
Toronto had 292 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 11 of 16 passes (68.8%) for 239 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and one carry for six yards. Running back A.J. Ouellette had six carries for 46 yards, one catch for 12 yards, and one touchdown, and wide receiver DaVaris Daniels had four catches for 144 yards, and two touchdowns. The defense had three sacks and Toronto committed three penalties for 30 yards.
Ottawa had 207 yards on offense. Quarterback Dustin Crum completed 13 of 15 passes (86.7%) for 170 yards, two touchdowns, and three carries for 11 yards. Running back Devonte Williams had eight carries for 43 yards and two catches for 26 yards. Wide receivers Jaelon Acklin and Justin Hardy combined with eight catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Ottawa’s defense had no sacks and were penalties one time for 15 yards.
In the third quarter, Toronto’s defense buckled down and did not give up many big plays. On third down, Ottawa punter Richie Leone punted the ball for 44 yards toward Javon Leake. Leake let the ball bounce for a bit before scooping it up. He had room in front of him and took off for a 79-yard touchdown. However, Boris Bede missed the extra point for a 34-24 lead with 12:26 left.
Later in the third quarter, Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum threw an 11-yard touchdown pass up the middle to Jackson Bennett. It was now 34-31 with 6:55 left. When Toronto got the ball back, the Argonauts made it to Ottawa’s one-yard line.
The Redblacks’ defense stood tall to prevent A.J. Ouellette from scoring a touchdown. Unfortunately, Ottawa did not do much on offense and punted the ball back to Toronto and they got it on Ottawa’s 35-yard line. On the second play, Chad Kelly threw a 14-yard pass to DaVaris Daniels for the fourth time in the game. It was now 40-31 with 1:54 left.
On the kickoff, Boris Bede kicked the ball for 100 yards that bounced into the endzone and out of bounds for a single point. It was now 41-31. Ottawa completed two plays as the third quarter ended with them starting on their 46-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.
Ottawa was unable to get a first down and punted the ball back to Toronto. The Argonauts’ offense for the rest of the game was completing short passes and A.J. Ouellette had a few carries to wind down the clock. Late in the fourth, A.J. Ouellette carries the ball for 20 yards which set up a Boris Bede 21-yard field goal. Bede converted it for a 44-31 lead with 29 seconds left.
Ottawa had possession for the final series of the game but Robertson Daniel capped it off with a sack to end the game. The Argonauts defeated the Redblacks by the final score of 44-31.
This was an entertaining football game. These two teams took each other to the limit but Toronto’s defense determined the outcome of the game. They settled down after a rough first half and did not allow Dustin Crum to do much on offense.
If there is a complaint to be made, it is the officials. They love to throw the flag and it made me wonder if they are trying to audition for a quarterback job. After all, the league has lost a ton of quarterbacks this season so maybe we can make them the emergency backup.
Toronto had 544 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly continues to make a case for MVP. He completed 21 of 28 passes (75%) for 417 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and three carries for 17 yards. You could make a case that he could have been taken out of the game in the fourth quarter when it was all set and done but he wanted to finish the game.
Running back A.J. Ouellette had 14 carries for 90 yards, one catch for 12 yards, and one touchdown, and wide receiver DaVaris Daniels had a big game with six catches for 180 yards, and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Cam Phillips also had a nice game with five catches for 115 yards. Toronto’s defense had 46 tackles and five sacks.
Ottawa had 345 yards on offense. Despite the loss, quarterback Dustin Crum had a nice game completing 21 of 26 passes (80.8%) for 292 yards, three touchdowns, and nine carries for 42 yards. Running back Devonte Williams had ten carries for 47 yards, and Jaelon Acklin had six catches for 157 yards and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Justin Hardy had seven catches for 42 yards and one touchdown, and Ottawa’s defense had 38 tackles, one interception, and one touchdown.
Next week, Toronto will have their final bye of the season before playing ten straight games. The Redblacks will host the Montreal Alouettes next Saturday at 7 pm on CBS Sports Network. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
