Ricky Ray makes history as the Toronto Argonauts win their season opener
A 500-yard passing performance plus great work on defence helped the Argos win the season opener against their rival.
Ricky Ray showed no signs of rust as the Toronto Argonauts beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 32-15 in their opening contest of the 2017 CFL season in front of 13,583 at BMO Field
The 15-year veteran of the game threw for over 500 passing yards with a touchdown, completing 32 of his 41 passing attempts. More importantly, Ray distributed the ball effectively with three Argos receivers recording at least100 receiving yards.
S.J. Green impressed many in his Argonauts debut. The newest receiver made seven catches, having 124 receiving yards, and averaging 17.7 points per game. Coming back from a major knee injury, he was back to his normal self making some spectacular catches like this.
Welcome to Toronto, @SJ19_19SJ! He makes a one-handed catch for a gain of 13 yards that leads to a @TorontoArgos field goal. #Argos up 3-0. pic.twitter.com/hicH59pOQn
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) June 25, 2017
While Green was great in this game, it was DeVier Posey who stole the show leading the way with 147 receiving yards on seven catches and averaging 21 yards per reception. He started the second half with a bang on this 79 yard touchdown play.
Ricky Ray connects with @DPo8 for a 79-yard touchdown to kick off the 2nd half! @TorontoArgos up on the @Ticats 22-12 on TSN. #CFLKickoff pic.twitter.com/tSTSmeg8zf
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 25, 2017
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In the second drive of the game, SJ Green started his Argos tenure with two fantastic catches midway through the first quarter. However, wide receiver Jeff Fuller wasn’t able to make the wide-open catch to give the Argonauts the first touchdown of the game. Toronto settled for a field goal to open the scoring and make it 3-0.
Argos back up quarterback Cody Fajardo would come in for the short yardage situation sneaking into the endzone for the game’s first touchdown to put the Double Blue ahead 12-0.
The Tiger Cats special teams, however, were on point blocking two of Lirim Harjrullahu’s field goal attempts. One block that proved to be bigger than the other.
.@WillThrill25 blocks a FG. Richard Leonard recovers and returns it for a 84-yard TD! @TorontoArgos lead @Ticats 15-12 at half. #CFLKickoff pic.twitter.com/Bfio3QK8O5
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 25, 2017
Hamilton took advantage of their second blocked field goal attempt to close out the first half. Defensive back Richard Leonard returned the blocked field goal for 84 yards and cut the TiCats lead down to 15-12.
Toronto would bounce back on special teams as Hajrullahu went five for eight in field goal attempts, with his longest being a 50 yard kick.
The Argonauts took advantage of the missing veteran presence in the TiCats backfield, recording 172 yards after the catch with an average of 12.3 yards per catch.
The Tigers Cats struggled on offence from start to finish. Quarterback Zach Collaros went 26 for 39, with no touchdown passes and throwing an interception late in the game that would seal the Argonauts victory. Their running game also struggled, having only seven carries for 16 yards.
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The Tigers Cats other method of scoring came from their kicker Sergio Castillo who went two for two in field goal attempts.
The Argonauts look ahead to Friday’s game, where they take on the visiting B.C Lions.