With a place in the East Division final already assured, the first-place Toronto Argonauts aim to improve offensively Saturday night against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks.
The Argonauts (13-2) celebrated their 150th anniversary last Friday with a 35-12 home win over the Edmonton Elks.
Wynton McManis returned an interception 83 yards for a touchdown for Toronto. The play at 9:25 of the third quarter gave Toronto a 28-11 lead.
“It was huge,” said Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, who is also the team’s offensive coordinator. “I’m like, because I’m the play-caller, ‘Defense saved us again.’
“We’ve got to be better on offense but that was a game-changer right there. Big play by Wynton.”
Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly completed 11 of 16 passes for 165 yards before being replaced by Cameron Dukes in the fourth quarter. Kelly started Friday after Dukes and Bryan Scott took all of the snaps in the 31-21 road loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 29. Kelly was rested for the game.
“(Kelly) struggled at times,” Dinwiddie said. “You could tell he had a week off so I’ve got to see how I’m going to manage that moving forward. We’ve got to get him his reps to make sure he’s playing good football.”
The Redblacks (4-12) were officially eliminated from playoff contention Monday by a 29-3 road loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
The Redblacks will play the Argonauts twice to end their season.
“We have to come out and work hard,” Redblacks coach Bob Dyce said. “We look at it as a blessing and an opportunity to be on the field. Our goal from the beginning is to get better every single week, and we’ve got another opportunity to be better and to win a football game, so we’re excited for that.”
Since ending a seven-game losing streak with a 36-28 home victory against the Saskatchewan Roughriders Sept. 22, the Redblacks have lost two in a row while being outscored 61-18.
Among the Argos listed as out for Saturday are running back AJ Ouellette (healthy scratch), offensive lineman Dejon Allen (leg), linebacker Jordan Williams (calf), wide receiver Cam Phillips (groin) and defensive backs DaShaun Amos (ankle), Jamal Peters (groin) and Tigie Sankoh (hamstring).
The Redblacks will be without defensive back Brandin Dandridge (hand) and defensive lineman Nigel Romick (knee).
–Field Level Media