Quarterback Chad Kelly tossed a pair of first-half touchdowns to Makai Polk, helping the visiting Toronto Argonauts to a 26-12 win over the struggling B.C. Lions in CFL action Saturday at BC Place.
Kelly was 15-for-18 for 197 yards before leaving the game late in the first half after taking a hit from B.C.’s Darnell Sankey. Backup Nick Arbuckle came in and finished 13-for-20 for 134 yards for the Argos (3-4). Rookie kicker Brady Lidster, in his CFL debut, added four field goals and two converts. Polk, finished with five catches for 91 yards and the two TDs, which gave him the CFL receiving lead with six majors.
QB Chase Brice, filling in for injured starter Nathan Rourke, was 14-for-25 for 163 yards for the Lions (1-5), who sit last in the West Division. Kaidon Salter finished the game late at QB for B.C. and tossed for 121 yards. Sean Whyte accounted for all of the B.C. points with four field goals.
After a B.C. two-and-out to open the contest, the Argos struck immediately, marching downfield and completing a six-play, 59-yard drive with a 19-yard connection from Kelly to Polk for a TD. Lidster added the convert (his first CFL point) to make it 7-0 Argos 4:18 into the contest.
B.C.’s offence struggled in the quarter under Brice and the Argos maintained their 7-0 margin after 15 minutes.
Early in the second quarter the Lions moved deep into Toronto territory, but the drive stalled and they settled for a 17-yard Whyte field goal to make it 7-3.
At 4:58, Lidster drilled a 37-yard field goal give Toronto a 10-7 lead, with the Lions answering at 7:10 with a 30-yarder from Whyte to pull B.C. within 10-6.
Kelly hooked up with Polk again, this time from 44 yards out at 8:53 of the quarter, and Lidster’s convert made it 17-6 Argos.
An injured Kelly was removed from the game in favour of Arbuckle with just over two minutes left in the half. Toronto was driving again late but the clock ran out before they could attempt a short field goal.
Lidster’s 24-yard field goal early in the third quarter gave Toronto a 20-6 margin. He added another from 47 yards out with 3:31 left in the frame to up the lead to 23-6.
On the final play of the quarter, Whyte kicked a 27-yard field goal to pull the Lions within 23-9.
Lidster nailed his fourth straight field goal, a 48-yarder, at 4:55 of the fourth quarter as the Argos pulled further ahead, 26-9. With six minutes to play, his fifth attempt, from 43 yards, hit the right upright, ending his perfect run.
An ineffective Brice was then replaced at QB by Salter. He managed to drive the Lions within field goal range and Whyte punched through his fourth of the game, from 34 yards away, to bring B.C. within two scores at 26-12, but they could get no closer.
NOTES: Lidster replaced Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, who sat out for ‘non-injury related reasons’ according to the team’s injury report… The teams will meet again during Week 18 in Toronto… Rourke, the CFL’s reigning outstanding player, hurt his shoulder in a loss to the Edmonton Elks July 17… B.C.’s Mathiew Betts had two sacks in the first half… B.C. lost offensive lineman Joshua Donovan to injury in the first half… The Lions visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Thursday (5:30 p.m.)…