Recap: Toronto 30, Saskatchewan 26
Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
Argonauts rally in fourth to beat Roughriders
Posted: August 8,2015 10:24PM
Updated: August 9,2015 02:01AM
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO – Trevor Harris threw touchdown passes to Vidal Hazelton and Diontae Spencer in the fourth quarter as the Toronto Argonauts rallied to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 30-26 on Saturday night at Rogers Centre.
The Argonauts scored on consecutive possessions to secure the victory.
The next possession for Toronto consisted of two passing plays but they were enough to bring the Argos to the endzone. Tori Gurley first caught a 46-yard pass before Spencer scored on a 52-yard pass from Harris to give Toronto a 30-23 lead midway through the fourth.
That lead would be cut by three after a 27-yard field goal from Paul McCallum with less than three minutes into the game. The six-play drive was highlighted by a 28-yard gain from Steven Miller, who was replacing Anthony Allen in the lineup.
Saskatchewan nearly scored on its final drive, however a pair of incomplete passes in the endzone in the last 15 seconds of the game sent the team to 0-7 on the year.
The game opened up as a defensive battle that limited both teams to field goals.
Kevin Elliott was featured early and often in the Argos opening drive, catching three passes, including a 20-yard gain, to move Toronto downfield. He would later leave the game after falling akwardly on a catch attempt and did not return. Ronnie Pfeffer hit a 28-yard field goal to put the Argos up early.
A 40-yard punt return by Miller that put the Riders in great field position but the gain was erased by a series of penalties. Jerome Messam helped move the chains but a 55-yard touchdown catch by Chris Getzlaf was also brought back by an offside call on Saskatchewan.
The first quarter ended on a high note for the Riders after Korey Williams hauled in a pass for 62-yard gain as time expired. It was Saskatchewan’s longest passing play of the season. It appeared that Getzlaf had caught another touchdown pass but it was also called back because of a penalty. McCallum then missed a 42-yard field goal attempt to change possession.
McCallum would tie the game 3-3 on a 48-yard attempt the next time the Riders had the football.
A pair of catches from Dave Stala drove the Argonauts to midfield where the drive ended with a Pfeffer 52-yard field goal to give the lead back to Toronto. It was the longest made kick of his career.
The Riders conceded a safety on their next possession as the Argonauts lead grew to 8-3.
Pfeffer was short on his next field goal attempt
and it was hauled in by Nic Demski, who spun to avoid a tackle and ran
93 yards to put the Riders deep into Argos territory. Brett Smith would
then connect with Getzlaf on a 6-yard pass for the touchdown. The major
gave the Riders a 10-8 lead with less than two minutes left in the first
half. The convert was the 800th consecutive for the 45-year-old
McCallum, who has never missed one in his entire career.
Saskatchewan would add to their lead to close out the first half as McCallum hit a 27-yard field goal to put the Riders up 13-8 heading into the break.
After a pass was ruled incomplete, Saskatchewan challenged for pass interference but the call stood. Smith then connected with Ryan Smith for a 13-yard gain. The Riders would go up 16-8 after McCallum hit a 41-yard field goal.
Midway through the third quarter, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah intercepted
Smith and returned the pick 50 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to
just two. Harris connected with offensive lineman Wayne Smith on the
two-point convert to tie the game 16-16.
Smith ran for 15 yards on a fake quarterback sneak on third-and-one and connected with a wide open Getzlaf on the next play for the touchdown. It was Geztlaf’s second major of the game and a 55-yard reception as Saskatchewan grabbed the lead once again.
Gurley caught a bobbled pass on the sideline that was first ruled incomplete. Upon a challenge from the Argonauts, the call was overturned and gave Toronto a first down instead of having a third-and-nine situation. Harris was sacked on the next play by John Chick and Macho Harris but connected with Natey Adjei as the third quarter came to a close.
Both teams played the game without their some of their top receivers as both Weston Dressler and Chad Owens did not dress.
Next week, the Argonauts visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers while the Riders regroup on a bye week.
TORONTO – Trevor Harris threw touchdown passes to Vidal Hazelton and Diontae Spencer in the fourth quarter as the Toronto Argonauts rallied to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 30-26 on Saturday night at Rogers Centre.
The Argonauts scored on consecutive possessions to secure the victory.
The next possession for Toronto consisted of two passing plays but they were enough to bring the Argos to the endzone. Tori Gurley first caught a 46-yard pass before Spencer scored on a 52-yard pass from Harris to give Toronto a 30-23 lead midway through the fourth.
That lead would be cut by three after a 27-yard field goal from Paul McCallum with less than three minutes into the game. The six-play drive was highlighted by a 28-yard gain from Steven Miller, who was replacing Anthony Allen in the lineup.
Saskatchewan nearly scored on its final drive, however a pair of incomplete passes in the endzone in the last 15 seconds of the game sent the team to 0-7 on the year.
The game opened up as a defensive battle that limited both teams to field goals.
Kevin Elliott was featured early and often in the Argos opening drive, catching three passes, including a 20-yard gain, to move Toronto downfield. He would later leave the game after falling akwardly on a catch attempt and did not return. Ronnie Pfeffer hit a 28-yard field goal to put the Argos up early.
A 40-yard punt return by Miller that put the Riders in great field position but the gain was erased by a series of penalties. Jerome Messam helped move the chains but a 55-yard touchdown catch by Chris Getzlaf was also brought back by an offside call on Saskatchewan.
The first quarter ended on a high note for the Riders after Korey Williams hauled in a pass for 62-yard gain as time expired. It was Saskatchewan’s longest passing play of the season. It appeared that Getzlaf had caught another touchdown pass but it was also called back because of a penalty. McCallum then missed a 42-yard field goal attempt to change possession.
McCallum would tie the game 3-3 on a 48-yard attempt the next time the Riders had the football.
A pair of catches from Dave Stala drove the Argonauts to midfield where the drive ended with a Pfeffer 52-yard field goal to give the lead back to Toronto. It was the longest made kick of his career.
The Riders conceded a safety on their next possession as the Argonauts lead grew to 8-3.
| Harris leads fourth quarter charge |
|---|
 Trevor Harris overcame a pedestrian first half to lead an Argos comeback. His two fourth quarter touchdwons strikes were the difference as the Boatmen improved to 4-2. Harris finished 23 of 29 for 316 yards and 2 touchdwons ... View Full Game Stats |
Saskatchewan would add to their lead to close out the first half as McCallum hit a 27-yard field goal to put the Riders up 13-8 heading into the break.
After a pass was ruled incomplete, Saskatchewan challenged for pass interference but the call stood. Smith then connected with Ryan Smith for a 13-yard gain. The Riders would go up 16-8 after McCallum hit a 41-yard field goal.
Video
Owusu-Ansah Scores Pick-6, Big Man Hauls in Convert
Smith ran for 15 yards on a fake quarterback sneak on third-and-one and connected with a wide open Getzlaf on the next play for the touchdown. It was Geztlaf’s second major of the game and a 55-yard reception as Saskatchewan grabbed the lead once again.
Gurley caught a bobbled pass on the sideline that was first ruled incomplete. Upon a challenge from the Argonauts, the call was overturned and gave Toronto a first down instead of having a third-and-nine situation. Harris was sacked on the next play by John Chick and Macho Harris but connected with Natey Adjei as the third quarter came to a close.
Both teams played the game without their some of their top receivers as both Weston Dressler and Chad Owens did not dress.
Next week, the Argonauts visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers while the Riders regroup on a bye week.
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