The Toronto Argonauts (12-5) visited Mosaic Stadium on Saturday afternoon against the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-12) for the second time this season. They met in Toronto in Week 8 where the Argonauts won the game 31-13. This was a close game but the Argonauts pulled through. In addition, this was Saskatchewan’s final game of the regular season.
In the first quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Emilus for a 7-0 lead with 13:04 left. Later in the first quarter, Toronto responded. On the fourth play, quarterback Chad Kelly threw a 40-yard pass to DaVaris Daniels at the Roughriders’ 10-yard line.
Then, running back A.J. Ouellette finished the drive off with two carries for ten yards, and a touchdown that tied the game 7-7 with 6:44 left. Late in the first quarter, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther kicked a 31-yard field goal which made it 10-7 Roughriders with 2:45 left.
With nine seconds left, Saskatchewan’s defense stepped up big when Bryan Cox Jr. punched the ball out of Chad Kelly’s hand and the Roughriders recovered the ball. On the final play of the first quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala threw a 51-yard pass to Samuel Emilus. The Roughriders led 10-7 heading into the second quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Toronto defensive back Qwantez Stiggers intercepted Dolegala’s pass but the Argonauts’ offense was unable to cash in. Later in the second quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala made up the interception by throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Emilus for a 17-7 lead with 10:18 left of the second quarter.
For the rest of the second quarter, Toronto chipped away at Saskatchewan’s lead. First, Toronto kicker Alfredo Gachuz Lozada made a 17-yard field goal which made it 17-10 Saskatchewan with 2:50 left. Then, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly threw three passes for 29 yards before throwing a 50-yard touchdown pass to Damonte Coxie. Toronto kicker Alfredo Gachuz Lozada missed the extra point and Saskatchewan’s lead was down to 17-16 heading into halftime.
Saskatchewan had 296 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Dolegala completed 13 of 21 passes (61.9%) for 292 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Jamal Morrow had five carries for 12 yards, and wide receiver Samuel Emilus made three catches for 99 yards and one touchdown. He eclipsed the 1,000 receiving yards this season.
Toronto had 310 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 15 of 20 passes (75%) for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back A.J. Ouellette had 11 carries for 50 yards, and one touchdown, and wide receiver DaVaris Daniels made five catches for 79 yards. Toronto’s defense made one sack and one interception.
In the third quarter, Toronto took their first lead of the game 19-17 on a 21-yard field goal by Alfredo Gachuz Lozada with 12:08 left. However, they did not keep the lead long.
The Roughriders went on an 11-play drive for 55 yards that resulted in backup quarterback Antonio Pipkin’s one-yard touchdown. They tried to go for a two-point conversion but did not get it. It was 23-19 Roughriders with 5:02 left of the third quarter.
The turning point of the game came late in the third quarter. On the final play, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala completed a pass to Jarreth Sterns but Travis McFadden punched the ball out and Wyton McManis recovered it for a 30-yard return at the Roughriders’ 30-yard line to start the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Toronto kicker Alfredo Gachuz Lozada kicked a 33-yard field goal which made it 23-22 Saskatchewan with 13:50 left. However, the Roughriders got those points back when Brett Lauther converted a 48-yard field goal for a 26-22 lead with 11:36 left in the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, Toronto pulled off one more magic. The drive started with 1:55 left in the game going on a five-play drive for 72 yards plus getting two Roughriders’ penalties that ended with a Daniel Adeboboye five-yard touchdown. The crowd at Mosaic Stadium went silent.
The Argonauts led 29-26 with 1:02 left. When Saskatchewan got the ball back, quarterback Jake Dolegala’s pass was intercepted by Mason Pierce. Despite the turnover, the Roughriders had one more chance. On the final play, the Roughriders tried a trick play by throwing the ball around but it went nowhere and the Argonauts defeated the Roughriders by the final score of 29-26.
With the win, Toronto tied a franchise record 15 wins, while the Roughriders were eliminated from playoff contention. Calgary clinches the final playoff spot in the Western Division.
Toronto had 557 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 18 of 25 passes (72%) for 275 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Backup quarterback Cameron Dukes completed 10 of 15 passes (66%) for 113 yards, and two carries for 15 yards.
Toronto running back Daniel Adeboboye had nine carries for 109 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Damonte Coxie made five catches for 105 yards and one touchdown. Toronto’s defense made 45 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Saskatchewan had 449 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Dolegala completed 30 of 45 passes (66%) for 429 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and one carry for one yard. Running back Jamal Morrow had 10 carries for 21 yards.
Saskatchewan wide receiver Samuel Emilus had seven catches for 137 yards and one touchdown. Saskatchewan’s defense made 52 tackles, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
The Argonauts close out the 2023 season next Saturday against the Ottawa Redblacks at 7 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
