Argos secure playoff spot while hampering Edmonton's chances

Oct 9, 2006, 23:55 GMT

Toronto, ON - Arland Bruce scored a pair of touchdowns in a 15-point second quarter for Toronto, as the Argonauts topped the defending Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos, 28-23, on Thanksgiving to clinch a playoff berth.

Edmonton's loss means Saskatchewan, which lost to Montreal, 35-8, Monday, controls its own destiny by winning one of its final three games for a playoff spot.

Damon Allen completed 13-of-19 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns for the Argonauts (9-6), who won their fourth straight at home and seventh of their last eight overall.

The Argos unveiled a starting backfield consisting of former NFL first-round draft picks Ricky Williams (1999, New Orleans) and John Avery (1998, Miami) for the time. Avery rushed for 66 yards on 11 carries, while Williams had 71 yards on seven attempts. Tony Miles added 101 receiving yards on seven catches.

Ricky Ray completed 18-of-30 passes for 160 yards with a touchdowns and an interception for the Eskimos (5-10), whose streak of 34 straight years in the CFL playoffs is in serious jeopardy with Saskatchewan's fate in its own hands.

Troy Davis rushed for 189 yards for the Eskimos, but was held out of the end zone.

Noel Prefontaine provided a much-needed five-point cushion to Toronto with a 39-yard field goal with 9:33 to go in the fourth quarter for the final margin.

Edmonton committed a costly turnover on its ensuing possession, allowing Toronto a chance to make it a two-possession game. Ray fumbled the ball and Jonathon Brown recovered it for the Argos at the Toronto 35.

However, Bruce got called for an offsides penalty, erasing a 22-yard pass to Andre Talbot, which forced the Argos to punt. The Eskimos failed to capitalize on the opportunity, turning the ball over on downs with 55 seconds left, as the Argos proceeded to run out the clock.

Toronto got going first, as Prefontaine kicked a 23-yard field goal with 10:48 remaining in the first quarter. Nearly two minutes later, the Argos defense took control when Jordan Younger broke free for a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Edmonton got on the board with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ray to Ed Hervey with 2:11 to go in the first.

The Argos extended their lead in the second quarter. Toronto made it 17-7 with 11:21 remaining until halftime, as Bruce caught a 23-yard TD pass, scoring his seventh touchdown in seven games to cap a simple three-play, 68-yard drive. The march consisted a 34-yard catch by Miles and an 11-yard Williams run.

Prefontaine kicked a 69-yard single with 5:25 left before Bruce caught his second touchdown of the game, a 14-yard pass from Allen with a tick under two minutes to go before halftime.

Edmonton managed to score a safety as the first-half clock expired for a 25-9 halftime deficit.

Edmonton got right back in the game with a pair of one-yard touchdown runs by Ray with 7:43 and 3:04 remaining in the third for a 25-23 deficit.

Game Notes

Williams made his third straight start after missing two months recovering from a broken forearm and Achilles tendon injury, but Avery played after missing four games with an ankle injury.

The Eskimos are not only 1-7 on the road this year, but also 0-6 against East Division teams. Edmonton has won five of its last seven games at the Rogers Centre.

© 2006 The Sports Network