The Toronto Argonauts (14-2) hosted the Ottawa Redblacks (4-13) in their final regular season home game at BMO Field on Saturday night. This was the second meeting of the season between these two teams. They met back in Week 10 when the Argonauts won the game 44-31 in Toronto.
In the first quarter, Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum threw a deep pass to Justin Hardy for 54 yards before he was tackled on the Argonauts’ 24-yard line. Four plays later, Crum threw a slant pass to Bralon Addison for a 9-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 11:36 left of the first quarter.
Then Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly threw a 35-yard pass to DaVaris Daniels at the Redblacks’ 32-yard line. Four plays later, Kelly threw a 14-yard pass to Tommy Neild at the Redblacks’ one-yard line. On the next play, backup quarterback Cameron Dukes scored the touchdown with a quarterback sneak. The game was tied 7-7 with 4:33 left of the first quarter.
Ottawa running back Devonte Williams started the next drive with two carries for 14 yards. Next, Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum threw a 37-yard pass to Jaelon Acklin before he was pushed out of bounds at the Argonauts’ 34-yard line. Then, Crum threw a 14-yard pass to Justin Hardy inside the Argonauts’ 20-yard line. Three plays later, Ottawa running back Devonte Williams rushed for a 5-yard touchdown that made it 14-7 Ottawa with 1:01 left of the first quarter.
On the final play of the first quarter, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly threw a short pass to DaVaris Daniels, who ran for 12 yards before he was tackled on the Redblacks’ 37-yard line. The Argonauts trailed the Redblacks 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly threw a 31-yard pass to DaVaris Daniels at the Redblacks’ 6-yard line. Two plays later, Toronto running back Daniel Adeboboye ran in for a four-yard touchdown which tied the game 14-14 with 13:09 left.
On the kickoff, Ottawa returner Tobias Harris got some great blocks in front of him as he scored a 93-yard touchdown to put Ottawa back up 21-14 with 12:56 left of the second quarter. Toronto returner Javon Leake returned the kickoff for 28 yards before getting tackled on their 43-yard line.
Next, Toronto running back Daniel Adeboboye found an open hole on the left side for a gain of 28 yards plus an unnecessary roughness penalty on Ottawa moved the ball up to the Redblacks’ 24-yard line. The drive would lead to a Boris Bede 31-yard field goal which made it 21-17 with 11:14 left of the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, the two teams traded field goals. First, Ottawa kicker Michael Domagala kicked a 15-yard field goal which made it 24-17 with 5:46 left, and Toronto kicker Boris Bede converted a 42-yard field goal to make it 24-20 with 49 seconds left. On the final play, Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum’s pass was intercepted by Qwantez Stiggers.
Ottawa had 234 yards on offense. Quarterback Dustin Crum completed 11 of 13 passes (84.6%) for 170 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for 13 yards. Running back Devonte Williams had 9 carries for 59 yards, and one touchdown, and wide receiver Justin Hardy made five catches for 98 yards. Ottawa’s defense made one sack.
Toronto had 212 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 9 of 15 passes (60%) for 143 yards, and three carries for 31 yards. Running back Daniel Adeboboye had four carries for 36 yards, one touchdown, and one catch for two yards. Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels made four catches for 100 yards. Toronto’s defense made one sack and one interception.
In the third quarter, Toronto kicker Boris Bede kicked a 22-yard field goal that made it a one-point Ottawa lead 24-23 with 12:24 left. The two teams traded field goals. First, Ottawa kicker Michael Domagala restored the four-point lead with a 26-yard field goal to make it 27-23 with 6:44 left, but Toronto kicker Boris Bede converted a 53-yard field goal which made it 27-26 Ottawa with 3:39 left of the third quarter.
The turning point of the game came late in the third quarter. Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to DaVaris Daniels. Then, they went for a two-point conversion which Chad Kelly successfully scored. Toronto had their first lead of the game 34-27 with 1:11 left of the first quarter.
On the final plays of the third quarter, Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum was sacked twice. The second sack resulted in a turnover after Thomas Costigan stripped the ball out of Crum’s hand and Dewayne Hendrix recovered it to end the third quarter up 34-27.
In the fourth quarter, Toronto kicker Boris Bede kicked two field goals. The first went for 21 yards that made it 37-27 with 13:01 left, and the other for 14 yards for a 40-27 lead with 9:27 left of the game. With the game out of reach, both teams changed quarterbacks. Tyrrell Pigrome was the new quarterback for Ottawa and Cameron Dukes replaced Chad Kelly for Toronto.
With 7:14 left, Ottawa punter Richie Leone punted the ball toward Jevon Leake, who returned it for three yards before going out of bounds. Leake broke Michael Clemens’s club record for most punt return yards in a single season (1,070 yards).
Late in the fourth quarter, Toronto defensive end Benoit Marion stripped the football out of Ottawa quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome’s hand and Toronto recovered it. The Argonauts went on to win the game by the final score of 40-27. They will finish with a perfect record at home with two road games remaining for the season.
Toronto had 424 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 18 of 28 passes (64.3%) for 287 yards, one touchdown, and five carries for 45 yards. Running back Daniel Adeboboye had 9 carries for 59 yards and wide receiver DaVaris Daniels led the receivers with six catches for 141 yards and one touchdown. Toronto’s defense made 46 tackles, nine sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum completed 13 of 16 passes (81.3%) for 183 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for 13 yards. Running back Devonte Williams had a good game with 16 carries for 125 yards and one touchdown.
Ottawa wide receiver Justin Hardy led the receivers with five catches for 98 yards. Ottawa’s defense made 42 tackles and one sack.
Next Saturday, the Argonauts visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 4 pm on CFL+, while the Redblacks are on a bye week. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
