The Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-4) hosted the Toronto Argonauts (5-6) on Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium in their second and final meeting of the season.
Toronto got the ball to start the first quarter on the 44-yard line. Quarterback Chad Kelly made quick work of it by throwing the ball four times for 60 yards to the six-yard line. On the next play, he threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Kahmann for a 7-0 lead with 11:54 left on a five-play drive for 66 yards.
Midway through the first quarter, Toronto had the ball on the 50-yard line. Chad Kelly scrambled to avoid pressure before throwing the ball intended for Nolan Ulm. However, James Burgess was there to make the interception, returning it for 27 yards to the 37-yard line. The Roughriders went two-and-out. Late in the first quarter, the Roughriders had the ball on the 35-yard line.
Quarterback Trevor Harris threw two passes for 50 yards, and running back Quali Conley had two carries for 14 yards to the 11-yard line. On the next play, Harris threw a touchdown pass to Dhel Duncan-Busby, tying the game 7-7 to end the first quarter on a six-play drive for 75 yards. Toronto’s offense had 102 yards, and Saskatchewan’s offense had 82 yards.
In the second quarter, Chad Kelly was sacked by Caleb Sanders for a seven-yard loss. He came back by throwing three straight passes for 81 yards, including a 58-yarder to Damonte Coxie to the three-yard line. Then, Kelly faked a handoff before throwing a touchdown pass to a wide-open Jack Cassar. Kicker Brady Lidster missed the extra point. It was now 13-7 with 10:31 left on a five-play drive for 77 yards.
Late in the second quarter, Toronto kicker Brady Lidster made a 51-yard field goal for a 16-7 lead with 2:55 left. The Roughriders had a chance to get those three points back, but kicker Alex Hale missed a 50-yard field goal.
Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly threw five passes for 89 yards to the six-yard line. Then, he threw a touchdown pass right into coverage to Tyler Kahmann. Brady Lidster’s extra point was blocked by Mike Rose and returned by Marcus Sayles for two points. It was now 22-9 with 20 seconds left on a six-play drive for 95 yards. Saskatchewan kicker Alex Hale made a 55-yard field goal as time expired to end the first half. The Argonauts led the Roughriders 22-12 at halftime.
Toronto’s offense had 282 yards. Quarterback Chad Kelly went 20 of 25 for 295 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Isaiah Smith had one carry for three yards. Wide receiver Damonte Coxie made four catches for 97 yards, while Tyler Kahmann made five catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
Saskatchewan’s offense had 170 yards. Quarterback Trevor Harris went 8 of 15 for 113 yards and one touchdown. Running back Quali Conley had seven carries for 51 yards. Wide receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby made two catches for 45 yards and one touchdown, while Nick Wiebe made three catches for 42 yards.
Saskatchewan got the ball to start the third quarter on the 38-yard line. After Quali Conley rushed for five yards, Trevor Harris threw three passes for 34 yards, plus a penalty on Toronto moved the ball to the 28-yard line. Kicker Alex Hale made a 36-yard field goal. It was now 22-15 with 10:55 left.
Toronto would get the ball on the 40-yard line. Chad Kelly threw a 23-yard pass to Tyler Kahmann to the 47-yard line. On the next play, Kelly got rocked by two Saskatchewan players and was hurt. He had to leave the game, and Nick Arbuckle came in. Toronto almost had a scare when running back Isaiah Smith had the ball ripped out by Jameer Thurman, but Rush Reimer recovered it for Toronto on the 29-yard line. Kicker Brady Lidster attempted a 36-yard field goal, but he pushed it wide right, and no good.
On the final play of the third quarter, Toronto had the ball on the 28-yard line. Chad Kelly’s pass intended for Kevin Mital was intercepted by Nelson Lokombo for a 30-yard return to the 19-yard line. The Argonauts still led 22-15 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Trevor Harris threw two passes for 13 yards to the six-yard line. On the next play, Harris threw the ball to the corner of the endzone, right into the hands of KeeSean Johnson for the touchdown. Alex Hale missed the extra point wide right. The Roughriders trailed the Argonauts 22-21 with 12:43 left, and it took three plays for 19 yards.
Toronto would go two-and-out, but they pinned Saskatchewan deep into their own endzone at the two-yard line. Two plays later, Toronto defensive lineman Shawn Lemon strip-sacked Trevor Harris. Harris recovered it, but DeWayne Hendrix tackled him for a safety. It was now 24-21 with 10:21 left.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Roughriders had the ball on the 13-yard line. Trevor Harris threw five straight passes for 90 yards. Tommy Steven rushed for three yards, and a penalty by Toronto on third down moved the ball to the two-yard line. Tommy Stevens scored the touchdown to give the Roughriders a 28-24 lead with 2:57 left on a 10-play drive for 97 yards.
Saskatchewan killed more time off the clock and left the Argonauts with 24 seconds. On the final play, Chad Kelly threw a 49-yard pass to Damonte Coxie well short of the endzone, and the game was over. The Roughriders battled back to beat the Argonauts 28-24.
Saskatchewan’s offense had 429 yards (313 passing yards, 124 rushing yards, 6 yards lost), 23 first downs, 3 for 4 in the redzone, and the team was penalized four times for 32 yards. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 23 of 36 passes (63.8%) for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for seven yards. Running back Quali Conley had 10 carries for 78 yards, and Tommy Stevens had 10 carries for 25 yards and one touchdown.
Wide receiver KeeSean Johnson made 10 catches for 146 yards and one touchdown, while Dhel Duncan Busby made four catches for 82 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 30 tackles, one tackle for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.
Toronto’s offense had 422 yards (421 passing yards, 15 rushing yards, 14 yards lost), 19 first downs, 3 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized five times for 37 yards. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 28 of 39 passes (71.8%) for 416 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Running back Isaiah Smith had two carries for 16 yards.
Wide receiver Damonte Coxie made five catches for 146 yards, while Tyler Kahmann made eight catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. The defense made 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, and one forced fumble.
Next Sunday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 7 pm on TSN, CBS Sports Network, and CFL+, while the Toronto Argonauts visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Monday at 2:30 pm on TSN, CBS Sports Network, and CFL+.
