Argos Air Attack Shines In Record Setting Win Over BC

The air show came early to the Exhibition grounds as the Toronto Argonauts and BC Lions offences’ combined for 756 passing yards in a 52-34 Argos victory at BMO Field.  

The Argonauts snapped their three-game losing skid and end the Lions two-game win streak and four-game road winning streak. This was the first time since 1997 where the Argos eclipsed the 50-point mark and the fifth straight victory against BC.

With their largest attendance of the season, drawing 18,354 fans, the Argos’ Canadian National Exhibition game was a great success with the midway just outside adding to the ambience inside the stadium. 

It was a milestone setting day for the Argos. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie tied Don Matthews for fourth on the all-time Argonauts win list with 49 wins. 

“It means a lot,” said Dinwiddie. “This is home for us, we want to win for our fans and build our fanbase. Very appreciative of the opportunity they gave me and I want to reward them with wins.”

Coach Dinwiddie wasn’t the only one with a momentous day Saturday afternoon.

Wide receiver Jake Herslow erupted for 149 yards, a career high across his collegiate and professional career. Kick return specialist Janorian Grant surpassed the 1,000 yard mark with 82 return yards on the day, but the big star was quarterback Nick Arbuckle.

Arbuckle set his career high for passing yards in a season on a third quarter pass, surpassing his previous record of 3,292 set in 2022. The Argos quarterback lit up the opposing pass defence again, throwing for 430 yards, besting his CFL career high he previously broke last week, moving him into the lead for passing yards across the league. 

“Everything’s starting to just slow down a little more. The more you play the more you really see it and get a feel for the receivers and your offensive line,” said Arbuckle. 

“You get in a flow and everything starts to slow down and I think that’s what’s happening for myself and the offence, everything’s just clicking right now.”

TORONTO, ON - August 23 - Argos defensive back Benjie Franklin picks off the Nathan Rourke pass intended for Jevon Cottoy. Franklin would return the interception for a touchdown, turning the tides of the game. (Photo creds: Liam La Chapelle-Yonson)

It wasn’t a smooth start for the Argos offence, as it looked like the BC Lions were going to run away with this game early, up 14-3 after a quarter, but the tides turned in the second. The Argos stormed back with big plays on both sides of the ball with a 57-yard pick-six by Benjie Franklin putting the Argos ahead 21-14. 

The lead didn’t last long as Seven McGee had a 61-yard kick return to put the BC Lions on the Argos 36 yard line. Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke would waste no time capping off a four play, 36 yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jevon Cottoy, his second of the afternoon. 

Arbuckle’s air assault continued as the Argos drove down the field to take the lead with 33 seconds left in the half. A nine play 82 yard drive was capped off with a Kevin Mital 15-yard touchdown pass to take a 28-21 lead into the break, capping off a 25 to 7 quarter for the Double Blue. 

BC drove down the field to start the third, but were thwarted inside the Argos five-yard line and had to settle for a field goal to cut the lead to four, 28-24. 

This would be the closest the Lions would get as Arbuckle let it fly and the Argos defence held-up, limiting the Lions to ten more points in the contest. 

The CFL’s leading receiver and rusher both had great games for the Lions with Keon Hatcher Sr. putting up 131 yards receiving and James Butler rushing for 83 yards with two touchdowns. BC also got two touchdowns from Cottoy and 326 passing yards by Rourke in a loss that wasn’t the fault of the offence. 

Herslow stepped up in the absence of star wideout Damonte Coxie hauling in two touchdowns on five catches to go with his game high 149 receiving yards.

The Argos improve to 3-8 as the Lions fall to 5-6 further muddying the CFL playoff picture with seven weeks to go. 

The Boatmen head down the QEW to take on the East division leading Hamilton Tiger Cats for the Labour Day Classic. The Lions go on bye with their next matchup scheduled against the Ottawa Redblacks. 

“It gives us confidence, we know what we are in this locker room,” said Herslow about the big win and upcoming divisional matchup against Hamilton. 

“Some of the games haven’t gone our way and our record doesn’t reflect the type of team we are.”

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