Unbeaten RedBlacks end the Argo hex

Tristan Jackson interrupted a quarterback duel that actually lived up to its hype, scoring the first punt return touchdown in Ottawa Redblacks history to give the East leaders a 30-20 road win against rival Toronto Argonauts on Wednesday.

All of the pregame analysis focused on how RedBlacks quarterback Trevor Harris, who eschewed re-signing with the Argonauts last winter to move across the province, would fare against his former team and mentor Ricky Ray. Harris had his fourth consecutive 300-yard game, going 28-for-31 for 392 yards, with Greg Ellingson making nine catches for a career-high 218 yards. Ray also orchestrated three long touchdown drives, and was 24-for-32 for 249 yards with one touchdown.

The deciding factor at BMO Field, though, came with 10:41 left after a rare two-and-out forced by the RedBlacks defence. The teams were level at 20-20 when a punt skidded sideways across Ottawa's 35-yard line. Jackson scooped up the ball, and bounced off several tacklers before cutting past linebacker Thomas Miles, and into the open field for a 75-yard touchdown to put the RedBlacks (3-0-1) ahead for good.

The Argonauts (2-2) are still seeking their first home win at BMO. Road teams are 9-4 so far this season.

Defensive end Arnaud Gascon-Nadon had two sacks late in the fourth quarter to help Ottawa end a four-game losing streak against their East Division rivals. Linebacker Damaso Munoz also had a drive-squelching sack in the final two minutes. Ottawa was able to run down the clock before Christopher Milo kicked a clinching field goal with 10 seconds left in the game.

Harris and running back Nic Grigsby scored Ottawa's offensive touchdowns. Milo was 3-for-4 on field goals. Chris Williams made six receptions for 63 yards, giving him a league-leading 556 after four games.

Anthony Coombs and Cody Fajardo scored for Toronto on one-yard runs. Brandon Whitaker caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Ray that gave Toronto their last lead, 20-17, late in the third quarter. Former Florida State wide receiver Kenny Shaw was the Argonauts' leading receiver with seven receptions for 94 yards.

Toronto went out to a 13-0 second-quarter lead on a pair of long drives capped by one-yard touchdown runs. The second scoring march was a 92-yard drive that was sustained when Toronto coach Scott Milanovich challenged for pass interference on RedBlacks cornerback Jonathan Rose, moving the ball to the one-yard line. Fajardo scored on the ensuing snap.

On the first play of the ensuing Redblacks possession, Ellingson caught a hitch pass from Harris and juked past Argonauts defenders Aaron Berry and Keon Raymond for a 69-yard completion to the Argonauts' 11-yard line. Ottawa scored two plays later.

Harris and Ellingson connected on another massive gain in the opening minute of the third quarter. On a post route, Ellingson got separation from Toronto's Isaiah Green to make the reception and reached the Argonauts' one-yard line before being shoved out of bounds. Harris scored on the next down.

Late in the third, Ray put together a go-ahead 13-play, 81-yard drive. Whitaker scored immediately after an illegal-contact penalty on Ottawa defensive back Abdul Kanneh that negated an interception in the end zone by linebacker Antoine Pruneau.

On his second completion of the game, a seven-yarder to Whitaker, Ray supplanted Danny McManus for fourth place in career passing yardage.

The East rivals have a rematch at TD Place in Ottawa on July 31.