The Toronto Argonauts (12-1) concluded Week 16 on Saturday night hosting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-8) from BMO Field for their third and final meeting of the season. Toronto won both the two previous games in Hamilton by a combined score of 72-43.
Toronto did not have a couple of their star players Andrew Harris and A.J. Ouellette, who were out for the game. Despite not having them, Toronto handled business as usual.
In the first quarter, Toronto took a 3-0 lead on a 41-yard field goal by Boris Bede with 11:05 left. Toronto’s defense made a huge play on Hamilton’s second possession of the game. Wynton McManis intercepted Taylor Powell’s pass for a pick-six 58-yard touchdown for a 10-0 lead with 9:50 left of the first quarter.
After Hamilton went two-and-out, they caught a big break when Toronto returner Javon Leake fumbled the ball and the Ticats recovered it on the Argonauts’ 26-yard line. The turnover would lead to a Marc Liegghio 26-yard field goal which made it 10-3 Toronto with 3:48 left of the first quarter.
When Toronto got the ball back, quarterback Chad Kelly faked a handoff before throwing a deep pass to Dejon Brissett, who made the catch for a 70-yard touchdown. Toronto kicker Boris Bede missed the extra point wide left. It was now 16-3 Toronto with 3:10 left of the first quarter.
Toronto had the ball for the final drive of the first quarter but went two-and-out. On the final play, Boris Bede punted the ball for 41 yards which Hamilton returner Tyreik McAllister returned for 12 yards before he was brought down on their 42-yard line. Toronto led 16-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Hamilton running back James Butler had one carry for two yards but the Ticats ended up punting the ball back to Toronto. Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly completed three passes for 32 yards. After failing to get the first down, Toronto punter Boris Bede punted the ball 62 yards into the endzone and out of bounds for a single point. It was now 17-3 with 9:34 left of the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, Toronto kicker Boris Bede converted a 36-yard field goal which made it 20-3 with 1:56 left. Hamilton quarterback Taylor Powell completed a short pass to Kiondre Smith for a gain of nine yards. Penalties hurt them which forced third down. Hamilton punter Kaare Vedvik punted the ball 56 yards into the endzone and out of bounds for a single point. Toronto led 20-4 with 1:03 left.
Late in the second quarter, Hamilton linebacker Jameer Thurman picked off Chad Kelly’s pass and returned it for 25 yards before he was tackled on their 40-yard line. On the last play of the second quarter, Hamilton kicker Marc Liegghio missed a 48-yard field goal. Toronto had a commanding 20-4 lead at halftime.
Toronto had 259 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 13 of 18 passes (72%) for 218 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and three carries for seven yards. Running back Deonta McMahon had six carries for 34 yards and three catches for 26 yards.
Wide receiver Dejon Brissett made three catches for 83 yards, and one touchdown. Toronto’s defense had one sack in the first half.
Hamilton had 104 yards on offense. Quarterback Taylor Powell completed 8 of 14 passes (57.1%) for 82 yards, and one interception. Running back James Butler had seven carries for 23 yards, and one catch for six yards, and wide receiver Kiondre Smith had four catches for 53 yards. Hamilton had issues with penalties. They committed four of them for 20 yards.
In the third quarter, Hamilton defensive back Javien Elliott intercepted Chad Kelly’s pass and returned it for 23 yards before he was tackled on their 20-yard line.
However, Toronto would get the ball back when Taylor Powell’s pass was intercepted by Wynton McManis before returning it for 50 yards to the Ticats’ four-yard line. After running back Deonta McMahon lost five yards, Chad Kelly threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett for a 27-4 lead with seven seconds left of the third quarter.
On the final play of the third quarter, Hamilton returner Tyreik McAllister returned the kickoff for 21 yards to their 25-yard line but a holding penalty on the Ticats backed them up to the 15-yard line to begin the fourth quarter down 27-4.
On the third play of the fourth quarter, Hamilton quarterback Taylor Powell completed a deep pass to Tyreik McAllister for a gain of 43 yards. Six plays later, Powell threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Terry Godwin which made it 27-11 with 9:52 left of the game.
On the next Hamilton possession, quarterback Taylor Powell made a critical error. The Ticats were pinned on their one-yard. Powell scrambled with pressure in his face in the endzone. He threw the ball down on the ground with nobody near the ball. An intentional grounding penalty was called against Powell and Toronto earned a safety. It was now 29-11 with 7:16 left in the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, Hamilton kicker Marc Liegghio made a 37-yard field goal which made it 29-14 with 4:08 left in the game. Hamilton had a couple of chances to get back into the game but Toronto’s defense stopped them. Toronto went into victory formation and came away with a 29-14 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Toronto had 300 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 17 of 26 passes (65.3%) for 242 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and four carries for ten yards. Running back Deonta McMahon had 12 carries for 43 yards and three catches for 26 yards.
Wide receiver Dejon Brissett had a big game with six catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Toronto’s defense made 49 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery.
Hamilton had 380 yards on offense. Quarterback Taylor Powell completed 27 of 42 passes (64.2%) for 334 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and three carries for 19 yards. Running back James Butler had 13 carries for 32 yards, and wide receiver Kiondre Smith had nine catches for 156 yards. Hamilton’s defense made 35 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.
Next Friday, Toronto visits IG Field against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 8 pm on CFL+, while the Ticats host the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday at 7 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
