RedBlacks shut down Argos, regain East lead

Through Taylor Reed, Damaso Munoz, and a reshuffled defence, the Ottawa RedBlacks regained top spot in the East Division with an 29-12 win against the Toronto Argonauts on Friday.

The RedBlacks (6-5-1) did not score an offensive touchdown until 1:53 remained, but Jamill Smith scored on an 108-yard missed field-goal return and kicker Chris Milo went 5-of-5 in front of a record TD Place crowd of 25,088. With new middle linebacker Reed flanked by Munoz and Jerrell Gavins, Ottawa's defence limited Toronto (5-8) to 323 net yards and allowed only one big play of more than 20 yards.

The win put Ottawa in front of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-6, at Saskatchewan on Saturday) in the East. The RedBlacks also wrapped up a season-series win against Toronto - which they hadn't defeated at TD Place since the stadium's inaugural game in 2014.

Ottawa, with left guard J'Micheal Deane already sidelined, also lost All-Star left tackle SirVincent Rogers and right guard Matthew Albright to injuries. The RedBlacks were so depleted that defensive tackle Zack Evans had to play guard in the final quarter.

Recently acquired Drew Willy became the Argonauts' sixth quarterback of the season when he replaced Dan LeFevour at the start of the second half. Willy was unable to generate much until Kevin Elliott caught an 11-yard touchdown pass with 7:52 left. Toronto missed a two-point convert that would have pared Ottawa's lead to eight points.

The Argonauts failed on a third-and-5 gamble at their 33-yard line on their next possession. Two plays later, RedBlacks slotback Greg Ellingson got behind Argonauts rookie corner Marcus Alford, who had no choice but to commit pass interference in the end zone. The penalty set up Trevor Harris' 1-yard insurance TD.

Harris was an interception-free 25-of-35 for 274 yards. Despite running behind a depleted line, running back Mossis Madu rebooted Ottawa's struggling running game with 16 carries for 93 yards. Brad Sinopoli had nine receptions for 116 yards, while Ellingson had six for 60. Chris Williams (3-56) reached the 1,000-yard milestone for the fourth time in his career.

The RedBlacks limited Toronto to one touchdown in four red-zone opportunities. Cornerback Jonathan Rose made a diving interception at his 17-yard line late in the second quarter. Munoz had a team-high eight tackles.

Willy was 14-of-20 for 136 yards with one TD. LeFevour was 13-of-19 for only 72 yards with one interception. Tori Gurley led Toronto with two receptions for 51, while Elliott had four for 46. Lirim Hajrullahu was 2-of-3 on field goals.

Smith's 108-yard return opened a 13-0 lead with 10:57 left in the second quarter. Toronto's first promising drive of the game stalled at the 30-yard line, and Greg Van Roten was penalized for unnecessary roughness after the play. The 15-yard march-off turned a 37-yard field-goal attempt into the wind into a 52-yard try. Hajrullahu's kick fluttered down short of the end zone. Smith ran laterally across the field to set up his blocks, cut by Alexandre Dupuis, and raced down the sideline untouched.

It was the first time the third-season Redblacks have returned a missed field goal for a touchdown. Smith was replacing injured Tristan Jackson, whom coincidentally had the franchise's first punt-return TD during a game against Toronto in July.

Ottawa visits the B.C. Lions on Oct. 1. The Argonauts visit the Montreal Alouettes on Oct. 2.