Argonauts miss late convert, lose 23-22 to unbeaten Blue Bombers
TORONTO — Though Boris Bede missed a routine convert that may have tied the sport and compelled additional time, his Toronto Argonauts teammates blamed themselves for his or her heartbreaking loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“A complete lot extra factors had been missed than simply on missed kicks,” Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson mentioned Monday evening after his group slipped to 1-2 within the standings.
With 25 seconds left in regulation, Bede missed a convert try that may have tied the sport because the Argos fell to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-22 at BMO Discipline.
However the Argos pivot pointed to his two interceptions and another turnovers that led to 17 of Winnipeg’s 23 factors.
“It drives us loopy,” Bethel-Thompson mentioned. “It has been three weeks now and we’ve not seen the actual Argos.”
The unbeaten Blue Bombers are the primary group within the CFL to achieve 4 wins this season.
“We did sufficient,” Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea mentioned. “That is what issues.”
Bethel-Thompson overcame a disastrous first half for the Argos to throw for 314 yards. He accomplished 27 of 37 passing makes an attempt and had two interceptions.
Argos working again Andrew Harris was enjoying in his first recreation towards the group he helped win consecutive Gray Cups in 2019 and 2021. He was Toronto’s main rusher with 111 yards on 22 carries.
“When it mattered, we got here collectively,” Harris mentioned. “That is the perfect group within the league, sadly we misplaced, however we received some positives as soon as we began enjoying.”
Winnipeg’s defence opened the scoring on Toronto’s first possession after the sport.
Whereas deep in their very own territory, Bethel-Thompson’s meant move to Brandon Banks was picked off by Winnipeg’s Winston Rose for a 46-yard landing interception return. Kicker Marc Liegghio transformed the additional level that gave Winnipeg a 7-0 lead.
Bethel-Thompson was picked off for a second time within the opening quarter after a bobbled snap led to a rushed throw. That set Winnipeg up with quick area place. On the following possession, Winnipeg pivot Zach Collaros linked with Drew Wolitarsky on a 15-yard landing move. Liegghio’s convert put the Bombers up 14-0.
Toronto’s pivot managed simply 18 yards of offence within the first quarter.
Winnipeg opened the second quarter with a 15-yard area aim that put the Bombers up 17-0.
Toronto appeared set to get their first factors of the sport after transferring the ball right down to Winnipeg’s 29-yard line. They discovered themselves in a third-and-one state of affairs and determined to go for it however turned the ball over on downs. Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie challenged the spot of the ball after his group’s failed try however the spot was upheld by the CFL’s command centre.
The Argos recorded their first factors of the sport late within the first half. Bede linked on a 52-yard area aim that lower Winnipeg’s result in 17-3.
Collaros was efficient for Winnipeg within the opening half, finishing 15 of 17 passes for 132 yards and one landing. He additionally had an interception, but it surely got here in a determined try so as to add factors as time was winding down.
Toronto received off to a a lot better begin within the second half and had a little bit of luck to go along with it. Bethel-Thompson’s move in the long run zone appeared set to be his third interception of the sport. The ball went proper to the palms of defensive again Demerio Houston. However Banks managed to strip the ball from Houston’s palms whereas in the long run zone for Toronto’s first landing of the sport. Bede’s convert trimmed Winnipeg’s result in 17-10 within the third quarter.
Late within the third, Toronto was on the Winnipeg 10-yard line with an opportunity to tie the sport, however Bethel-Thompson’s accomplished move to Banks was fumbled. Malcolm Thompson picked up the ball and lateralled the ball to Nick Taylor who ran the ball as much as midfield.
Liegghio linked on a 20-yard area aim on the following possession and put Winnipeg up 20-10 within the fourth quarter.
After the change of possession, tensions started to rise on the Argos sidelines. Banks and offensive lineman Trevon Tate needed to be separated by teammates. Toronto common supervisor Pinball Clemons, who wasn’t on the sidelines to begin the sport, went right down to the sphere to play peacemaker. Clemons returned to his seat after points on the sidelines seemed to be below management.
“I’ve received to take a seat down and speak to these guys, we’ve received to get extra disciplined and develop up and be males and discover methods to combat by way of the frustration,” Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie mentioned. “We are able to’t act like that. It appears to be like like Junior School.”
Bede hit his second area aim of the sport on Toronto’s subsequent possession to chop Winnipeg’s result in 20-13. Later within the fourth, Bede linked on a 39-yard area aim to deliver Toronto to inside 4 factors, 20-16.
Liegghio responded with one other area aim to place Winnipeg forward 23-16 with 1:38 to go in regulation time.
On the following possession for Toronto, Bethel-Thompson engineered certainly one of his higher drives of the sport. He discovered Markeith Ambles for a four-yard TD move to chop Winnipeg’s result in 23-22, however Bede missed on the point-after try and spoil the comeback.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed July 4, 2022
David Alter, The Canadian Press
