The Toronto Argonauts (5-8) hosted the Edmonton Elks (5-8) on Saturday afternoon from BMO Field in their second meeting of the season. They met back in Week 11, where the Elks won 28-20.
Edmonton came into this game without fullback Tanner Green (knee), offensive lineman Greg Eiland (load management), and linebacker Josiah Schakel (ribs). The Argonauts did not have defensive back Derek Slywka, as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
First Quarter:
Both teams got off to a slow start in the first quarter. Later, Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo completed three passes for 26 yards to the 51-yard line. Edmonton’s offense reached the four-yard line before Cody Fajardo threw a touchdown pass to Justin Rankin. The Elks took a 7-0 lead with 2:58 left to cap off an eight-play drive for 77 yards.
Late in the first quarter, Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo threw two passes for 21 yards, and Javon Leake lost a yard to back them up to the 40-yard line. The Elks led the Argonauts 7-0 to end the first quarter.
Edmonton’s offense had 87 yards (78 yards passing, 9 yards rushing), and one penalty for 10 yards, while Toronto’s offense had 24 yards (27 yards passing, 3 yards rushing), and one penalty for four yards.
Second Quarter:
Early in the second quarter, it was all defense. Toronto linebacker Wynton McManis and defensive lineman Derek Parish sacked Cody Fajardo, and Edmonton defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo sacked Nick Arbuckle.
Later, Toronto’s offense had the ball on the 44-yard line. Nick Arbuckle’s pass intended for Makai Polk was intercepted by Kordell Jackson. He returned it for four yards before getting brought down on the 55-yard line.
Edmonton running back Javon Leake started the drive with a three-yard run to the 52-yard line. Next, Cody Fajardo completed three passes for 33 yards to the 19-yard line. Then, Fajardo found a wide-open Kaion Julien-Grant for the touchdown. The Elks extended their lead to 14-0 with 5:19 left to cap off a five-play drive for 55 yards.
Late in the second quarter, Edmonton’s offense stalled at the 19-yard line. In a questionable move by Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam. He had two timeouts left while trying to run out the clock to end the first half. Rather than use one of the time-outs, he let the play clock run to zero with 11 seconds left to take a time count penalty, backing them 10 yards to the nine-yard line.
Toronto returner Janarion Grant returned a 52-yard punt for 15 yards to the 46-yard line. On the final play of the first half, Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 53-yard field goal. The Argonauts trailed the Elks 14-3 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Edmonton’s offense had 137 yards (146 yards passing, 13 yards rushing, 22 yards lost), 11 first downs, 2 for 2 in the redzone, and the team was penalized three times for 25 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 14 of 16 passes (87.5%) for 146 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for two yards.
Running back Justin Rankin had four carries for four yards. Wide receiver Kaion Julien-Grant made four catches for 52 yards and one touchdown, while O.J. Hiliare made two catches for 35 yards. The defense made one tackle for loss, one sack, one interception, and two turnovers on downs.
Toronto’s offense had 89 yards (92 yards passing, 6 yards rushing, 9 yards lost), 6 first downs, 0 for 1 in the redzone, and the team was penalized five times for 45 yards. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle completed 11 of 17 passes (64.7%) for 92 yards, one interception, and five carries for eight yards.
Running back Spencer Brown had four carries for -2 yards. Wide receiver Makai Polk made three catches for 24 yards, and Dejon Brissett made one catch for 24 yards. The defense made two tackles for loss and three sacks.
Third Quarter:
Toronto’s offense got the ball to start the third quarter on the 32-yard line. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle threw two passes for 60 yards, including a 58-yarder to Makai Polk to the 18-yard line.
On the next play, the pocket was collapsing when Arbuckle took off running. He threw the ball to Jake Herslow for the touchdown. They went for a two-point conversion and got it when Arbuckle completed a pass in the endzone to David Ungerer III. The Argonauts trailed the Elks 14-11 with 12:45 left to cap off a four-play drive for 78 yards.
Later, Toronto had the ball on the 37-yard line. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle started the run before throwing the ball high in the air. Wide receiver Jake Herslow was the intended target, but Edmonton defensive back Tyrell Ford, along with Herslow, both jumped for the ball before Ford won the battle by making the interception on the 49-yard line.
Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo completed two passes for 32 yards, and running back Justin Rankin rushed for three yards. A face mask on Toronto defensive back Tarvarus McFadden placed the ball on the one-yard line. Cole Snyder came in to score the touchdown. The Elks extended their lead to 21-11 with 7:58 left to cap off a four-play drive for 49 yards.
Toronto’s offense moved the ball to the 12-yard line. However, Edmonton linebacker Joel Dublanko sacked Arbuckle for an eight-yard loss to the 20-yard line. On third down, kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made a 27-yard field goal. The Argonauts trailed the Elks 21-14 with 4:17 left.
Late in the third quarter, Toronto quarterback Nick Arbuckle’s pass intended for Jake Herslow was intercepted by J.J. Ross on the 42-yard line. It was Arbuckle’s third interception of the afternoon. Edmonton’s offense moved the ball to the 23-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Vincent Blanchard made a 30-yard field goal for a 24-14 lead to end the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Toronto’s offense moved the ball to the 30-yard line. On the next play, Arbuckle threw the ball right into the hands of Jake Herslow for the touchdown. The Argonauts trailed the Elks 24-21 with 11:31 left to cap off a seven-play drive for 70 yards.
For the majority of the second half, Toronto Arbuckle suffered a lower-body injury, but stayed in the game despite his limitations. With 9:48 left, Arbuckle’s pass intended for Kevin Mital was intercepted by Kenneth Logan Jr. He returned it for 31 yards to the 40-yard line.
Edmonton’s offense moved the ball to the nine-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Vincent Blanchard made a 16-yard field goal. The Elks led the Argonauts 27-21 with 5:42 left.
Jarret Doege was the new quarterback for Toronto. On his first drive, the Argo’s went two-and-out. Toronto’s defense stepped up. On second down, they blitzed Cody Fajardo. Defensive lineman Dereck Parish sacked and stripped the ball out of Fajardo’s hand. Andrew Chatfield Jr. scooped it up for a 10-yard touchdown. The Argonauts took a 28-27 lead with 3:03 left.
Late in the game, Edmonton’s offense moved the ball to the 24-yard line. Kicker Vincent Blanchard made a 31-yard field goal for a 30-28 lead with 1:14 left. Toronto’s offense moved the ball to the 41-yard line. Kicker Lirim Hajrullahu kicked the game-winning 48-yard field goal, and the Argonauts defeated the Elks 31-30 for their third straight win.
Final Stats:
Toronto’s offense had 323 yards (296 yards passing, 45 yards rushing, 18 yards lost), 18 first downs, 1 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized nine times for 83 yards. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle completed 21 of 31 passes (68%) for 261 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions, and six carries for 10 yards. Jarret Doege completed 3 of 6 passes (50%) for 35 yards.
Running back Spencer Brown had 10 carries for 35 yards. Wide receiver Makai Polk made six catches for 95 yards, while Jake Herslow made four catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns. The defense made 50 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown.
Edmonton’s offense had 254 yards (229 yards passing, 55 yards rushing, 48 yards lost), 19 first downs, 3 for 4 in the redzone, and the team was penalized seven times for 75 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 25 of 28 passes (89.2%) for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and three carries for five yards.
Running back Justin Rankin had 12 carries for 27 yards. Wide receiver Kaion Julien-Grant made five catches for 61 yards and one touchdown, while O.J. Hiliare made six catches for 49 yards. The defense made 39 tackles, two tackles for loss, three sacks, four interceptions, and two turnovers on downs.
Next week, the Toronto Argonauts host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday at 7 pm on TSN and CFL+. The Edmonton Elks visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday at 7 pm on TSN and CFL+.
