Toronto Argonauts continue their strong season with a massive Labour Day Classic victory against rival Tiger-Cats.
The Toronto Argonauts dominated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 41-28 in the 52nd edition of the Labour Day Classic between the two teams to take a commanding lead in the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) East Division after week 13 action.
The Argos were looking to continue their marvellous season with aspirations of extending their CFL-best record to 9-1, while the Tiger-Cats were looking for their fifth win of the season to stay afloat with Ottawa and Calgary for the pivotal final playoff spot.
Toronto came out eager in hopes of securing their second straight Labour Day Classic victory after strong play in all three aspects of the game.
The special teams bolstered the offence early as Boris Bede’s 28-yard field goal, and a big return by Javon Leake on the next Argos possession, set up Chad Kelly’s offence in a great position for another score.
The former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback, fresh off of signing his 3 year/$1.865 million extension with the Double Blue, led his offence into the end zone. A jet sweep play to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. set up Andrew Harris’ two-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to ten.
The defence continued the team’s magnificent play in the first quarter as defensive back Jamal Peters intercepted Taylor Powell’s pass attempt to once again give the offence great field position.
On the very next play, Kelly rolled to his right and aired one out to an open DaVaris Daniels for a 33-yard touchdown reception, solidifying the 17-0 Argos lead after the opening quarter.
However, the hometown Tiger-Cats were relentless despite the large deficit against their QEW rivals.
Hamilton’s defence stepped up in the second quarter, preventing the Argos from adding to their tally.
Their special teams, courtesy of kicker Marc Liegghio, were monumental in the quarter giving them much-needed points that raised the spirits of their fans and players in The Hammer. The ex-Western Mustang kicker missed slightly left of the goal posts on his first field goal attempt resulting in a single-point rouge, which was followed by him nailing the 37-yarder to cut the Argos lead to 17-4 at halftime.
Hamilton continued their late first half momentum into the second half.
The Ti-Cats’ offence converted two 3rd & 1’s to extend their opening possession as they pushed down field. Terry Godwin II’s 17-yard touchdown catch cut their deficit to seven after his team missed the two-point conversion.
Toronto responded after a lengthy five-plus minute drive, as A.J. Oullette had three big carries preceding Damonte Coxie’s seven-yard touchdown, once again extending the visitor’s lead.
Hamilton quickly responded with another Liegghio field goal, cutting the Argos lead to 24-13 entering the fourth quarter.
Each team traded touchdowns to begin the fourth quarter, resulting in the Tiger-Cats attempting an onside kick with just under five minutes remaining.
The onside kick attempt was unsuccessful and was ultimately disastrous to Hamilton.
The 2022 Grey Cup Champions reverted to some late-game trickery as running back Oullette completed his first career passing touchdown to Dejon Brissett. That touchdown put the game out of reach affirmenting the Argonauts’ 15th Labour Day Classic win against their East Division rivals.
The Argos and Tiger-Cats will meet for the fourth and final time this season in Toronto at BMO Field on Sept. 23rd. The entire CFL schedule can be found here.