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Ray hits Owens with late TD strike as Argos stun Ticats 34-33

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

TORONTO - Ricky Ray hit Chad Owens on a 69-yard TD strike to rally the Toronto Argonauts to a stunning 34-33 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday night.

Ray found the wide-open Owens to cap a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback as Toronto erased a 30-13, third-quarter deficit.

Hamilton took over at its 51-yard line following Terrell Sinkfield's 45-yard kickoff return but the Ticats couldn't mount the comeback. The third-down snap sailed past quarterback Zach Collaros in shotgun formation, forcing the turnover on downs with 38 seconds remaining.

The loss tarnished a solid showing by Collaros, who finished with two TD passes and ran for another.

Collaros's pinpoint 22-yard touchdown strike to Luke Tasker at 11:34 of the third staked Hamilton to a commanding 30-13 lead. It came a play after Toronto's Branden Smith dropped a sure pick-six when he couldn't corral Collaros's pass in the flats.

The contest involving arch rivals battling for top spot in the East Division drew a sparse but energetic gathering of 17,811 at Rogers Centre with the roof closed. By comparison, 16,279 fans watched the Toronto Raptors play the Boston Celtics in their first home pre-season game at the Air Canada Centre.

But Hamilton let Toronto hang around by trying to be too cute. Delano Johnson recovered former Argo Terrell Sinkfield's fumble on an attempted end around at the Ticats' 35-yard line. Ray converted with a six-yard TD pass to Steve Slaton just 54 seconds to cut the visitors' lead to 30-20.

Ray's one-yard TD run with 2:07 remaining cut Hamilton's advantage to 33-27, setting up his late heroics to Owens.

Toronto (6-8) earned its third straight win to move into a first-place tie in the East with Hamilton (6-8), which had its four-game win streak snapped. The loss was just the second in seven games for the Ticats since Collaros's return. He missed five starts earlier this year due to concussion-like symptoms.

Collaros guided Hamilton to a 13-12 win over Toronto in his first game back Sept. 1, which was also the inaugural contest at Tim Hortons Field. The Ticats are 4-0 at the new facility.

Toronto also tied the season series 1-1, with the third and deciding contest to be played at Rogers Centre on Oct. 25.

Justin Medlock's 38-yard field goal at 4:46 of the third put Hamilton ahead 23-10. It was set up by Rico Murray's recovery of Jason Barnes' fumble at the Toronto 24-yard line. But Toronto countered with Swayze Waters' 39-yard field goal at 9:40 to make it a 10-point game.

Andy Fantuz had Hamilton's other touchdown. Medlock booted three converts and four field goals.

Spencer Watt scored Toronto's other TD. Waters booted the converts and two field goals.

Waters capped a wild finish to the second with a 33-yard field goal that cut Hamilton's half-time lead to 20-10, ending a 65-yard, seven-play drive. It came after Collaros's 28-yard TD run at 13:11 to culminate a 67-yard, seven-play march by the Ticats.

Ray found Watt on a two-yard touchdown strike at 11:05 as Toronto's 75-yard, 11-play drive was aided by three Hamilton penalties. The 10-point deficit actually flattered Toronto as twice the Ticats' offence had to settle for field goals following a Simoni Lawrence interception as well as a 51-yard punt return by Sinkfield, who has a 50-plus yard return in all three games he's play with Hamilton.

Each team was flagged eight times in the opening half.

Both quarterbacks were solid as Collaros completed 13-of-15 passes for 149 yards and a TD. Ray was 18-of-22 passing for 185 yards with a touchdown and interception.

NOTES — Ray's TD strike to Slaton was his 68th as an Argo, moving him into fourth on the club's all-time list . . . Receiver LaVon Brazill and offensive lineman Jarriel King didn't dress for Toronto. Defensive back Emanuel Davis and offensive lineman Jeremy Lewis were Hamilton's scratches . . . With Brazill out, John Chiles made his first start since July for Toronto . . . Hamilton came into the weekend having had 82 different players on its roster, most on the CFL. Toronto is second with 76.

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