Ray leads Argos past Roughriders
Regina, SK (Sports Network) - Ricky Ray threw four touchdown passes as the Toronto Argonauts held off the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a 31-26 victory at Mosaic Stadium.
The victory clinched second place in the East Division and a home playoff game for Toronto (8-9), which ended a three-game losing slide. Ray finished 24-of-30 for 305 yards with only one interception. Chad Owens finished with 104 receiving yards and a touchdown on five receptions and also added 74 additional yards on special teams returns. Owens now trails the CFL's single-season total yardage record set by Mike Clemons in 1997 by just 105 yards. Maurice Mann made a team-high seven catches for 101 yards and a major while Andre Durie caught two touchdown passes.
Darian Durant paced Saskatchewan (8-9) by completing 24-of-38 passes for 252 yards with a touchdown and interception. Kory Sheets rushed for a game-high 86 yards and a score on just 11 carries and also generated 49 yards on four receptions. Taj Smith made seven catches for a team-high 99 yards for the Roughriders, who now lead Edmonton by a single game for third place in the Western Conference standings.
Ray put Toronto on front with an 18-yard pass to Mann for a major just under five minutes after the opening kickoff. The Argonauts added another touchdown as Ray found Durie for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
Saskatchewan showed signs of life in the second period as Sandro DeAngelis connected on a 38-yard field goal for the home team's first three points. Sheets rushed 24-yard touchdown and DeAngelis added another field goal, this one from 27 yards out, to make it 14-13 with just over five minutes left before halftime.
Toronto put an end to the run as Ray completed a seven-yard pass to Durie, who broke a tackle and fell into the end zone.
DeAngelis chipped in a 36-yard field goal with just 10 seconds left in the second quarter to send the game into halftime with Toronto on top, 21-16.
DeAngelis added a single in the opening stages of the third frame. Toronto responded as Ray completed a 60-yard pass to Owens for a touchdown at the 12:01 mark of the third period which gave the Argonauts a double-digit lead once again.
The Roughriders inched back with a 27-yard field goal by DeAngelis which made it an eight-point affair heading into the final frame.
Saskatchewan had a chance to tie after Durant completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dressler with 12:08 left to play. However, Durant's pass sailed incomplete on the two-point conversion try, which kept Toronto ahead, 28-26.
The Argonauts added some insurance points as Swayze Waters connected on a 29- yard field goal.
The Roughriders' hopes of a comeback ended when Durant was intercepted by Evan McCollough in the final minute of play.
