The Toronto Argonauts appeared to be on the verge of breaking their eight game home losing streak, entering the fourth quarter with a 25-14 lead over the BC Lions. Unfortunately, they ended up on the wrong end of a 36-28 final score that ran their streak of futility at the Rogers Centre to nine games. It was also Toronto’s ninth consecutive loss to BC. BC improved to 3-4 with the victory, while Toronto’s record slipped to 2-5.
Lions head coach Wally Buono made no excuses for his teams bad first half followed by a solid second half:
“I’m not going to apologize for playing well in the second half. If we play any kind of football in the first half maybe we don’t have to do this. That’s football. Nobody asks you at the end of the day whether you stole a win, they ask you how many games did you win? The game is 60 minutes.”
Lions QB Jarious Jackson concurred:
“I don’t feel like we stole one at all. I feel like we went out and played like we should’ve played in the second half. Most of the first half we were trying to manage the game, trying to see what they were doing defensively. Offensively, you definitely want to manage the game until you know what the defence is going to call in some situations. It took us the first half but I think in the second half we kind of were able to predict what they were going to do and I think we did a good job of countering it.”
Despite the loss, Toronto was generally pleased with the play of their replacement starting QB Cody Pickett. Pickett was named the starter after a dismal performance by Kerry Joseph the previous week against Montreal. After the game, Pickett was less concerned about his performance than his teams struggles:
“It’s 20/20 that we needed to score another touchdown. Whatever we’re doing right now isn’t getting the job done.”
Argos head coach Bart Andrus praised Picketts play:
“That was an ideal performance. Cody threw it well, was accurate and didn’t turn it over. The bottom line is we didn’t finish that one. When we do get it right for 60 minutes, it’s going to be a great thing.”
BC will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next Friday night. Toronto has a bye week before theyll return to action against the Calgary Stampeders on August 28th.
Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
