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Harris wins first CFL start to keep Argonauts in playoff contention

Mike Cassese / USA Today

TORONTO - Trevor Harris threw two TD passes in his first CFL start, leading the Toronto Argonauts to an important 23-5 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night.

Harris, replacing incumbent Ricky Ray (concussion), was solid in the first start of his three-year CFL career. The former Edinboro star finished 26-of-36 passing for 281 yards before an announced season-high Rogers Centre gathering of 19,687.

Ottawa came into the game ranked last overall in yards allowed (374.1 per game), passing yards (262.8) and second-last in rushing yards (126.9). Regardless, Toronto (8-10) needed to win to remain in playoff contention.

If the Montreal Alouettes beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday, they'll finish first and Toronto will secure second in the East Division. The Argos would host the conference semifinal Nov. 16, with that winner visiting the Als the following weekend.

A Hamilton win would end Toronto's season. And if the Ticats were victorious by eight or more points, they'd finish first ahead of Montreal.

Ottawa (2-16) capped its inaugural season with five straight losses. The Redblacks are just the third CFL club to suffer 16 losses in a season, joining the '88 Rough Riders and '97 Ticats.

Ottawa, which alternated quarterbacks between starter Henry Burris and backup Danny O'Brien, finished 0-9 on the road. The Redblacks were 1-7 within the East Division, the lone win being an 18-17 decision over Toronto in their home opener July 18.

Ottawa outscored Toronto 5-3 in the second half and twice had solid chances for touchdowns. Burris drove the Redblacks to the Argos' 14-yard line before two incompletions set up Brett Maher's 22-yard field goal at 3:18 of the fourth to make it 20-5.

O'Brien marched Ottawa to the Toronto seven-yard line — thanks largely to a 77-yard completion to Khalil Paden — before throwing incomplete on third down with 3:08 remaining.

John Chiles and Chad Owens had Toronto's touchdowns. Swayze Waters booted the converts and three field goals.

Maher added two singles for Ottawa.

Harris was an efficient 16-of-22 passing for 184 yards and two TDs in staking Toronto to its 20-0 half-time lead. He capped a six-play, 78-yard march with a 12-yard touchdown strike to Chiles on the Argos' opening possession, then hit Owens on a three-yard pass one play after Tristan Okpalaugo returned a Burris interception 23 yards to the Ottawa three-yard line.

The lone blemish on Harris's half was being picked off in the end zone by Ottawa's Abdul Kanneh on Toronto's third possession. Branden Smith intercepted O'Brien in the second to set up Waters' 22-yard field goal at 11:47 as the Argos had 10 points off Redblacks turnovers.

Burris was 0-for-2 passing before being replaced by O'Brien following Okpalaugo's interception on the Redblacks' second offensive series. O'Brien completed 7-of-13 passes for 41 yards and an interception as Ottawa managed just three first downs and 53 net offensive yards

NOTES — Offensive lineman Scott Mitchell and linebacker Greg Jones didn't dress for Toronto while defensive back Brandon McDonald and receiver Robin Medeiros were Ottawa's scratches . . . Ray's concussion ended his streak at 17 straight starts and he remains at 99 career regular-season win . . . Ottawa held a lead in 12 of its games this year . . . Montreal GM Popp took in Friday's game.

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