Toronto Argonauts focused on settling unfinished business vs. Alouettes

The Toronto Argonauts will look to avenge their heartbreaking loss to the Montreal Alouettes in Moncton as they try to pick up consecutive wins.

With three games left in the season, the Toronto Argonauts see Friday night’s game against the Montreal Alouettes as another opportunity to audition for 2020 and get some retribution.

Back on Aug. 25, the Argos were looking to get back into the CFL playoff picture and suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Als in Moncton that sank their chances. It’s one of those games that make you wonder what could have been.

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If you ask quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson who threw for  464 yards and two touchdowns, that game slipped out of their hands considering they were withing seconds of at least tying or winning.

"“Definitely disappointing, one of the games that we felt we have away this year,” said Bethel-Thompson. “When you look back at that game, if we  score right before halftime or we go up 21 points or even get a field goal  and that game could have been different”"

While a win is the main goal going p against a Montreal team that is still looking to get into playoff shape considering they have been 3-3 since their win against Toronto. They have locked up second in the East which means they will host the crossover team and can’t get too complacent either.

Toronto will also be looking to plan for the future as Corey Chamblin plans on having Dakota Prukop and Michael O’Connor get some reps.

"“Over the next three games, we have the plan to kind of ease him in there. Don’t know how much it would be this game,” said Chamblin. “After that, it will continue to increase to possibly one of the games where [O’Connor] will get the majority of the reps. So it’s a process to see what he has and what he can do with live looks.”"

Chamblin is hoping to see the team continue to show the level of fight that they had against the Ottawa Redblacks and considering it’s an evaluation for next season, they want to see how players handle certain situations.

Fans certainly want to know what a player like O’Connor has to offer even though he hasn’t taken a professional snap during the regular season. He admits that it has taken some time for him to learn the offence and felt like he was ready to go at around the Week 10 mark.

He was around the team while he was still at UBC and got to experience what a professional training camp was like. Of course, he’s been waiting to get his opportunity and has appreciated the support from his fellow quarterbacks.

"“We have a great quarterback room. We all support each other and we understand the nature of the business.” said O’Connor. “With that being said, we do support each other and get ready to watch film together, talk about the schemes plays and it’s been a lot of fun.”"

The 23-year-old was selected by the Argos in the third round of the 2019 draft after leading the Thunderbirds to a Vanier Cup title in 2015. He also spent time down south going to a Tennessee prep school, the IMG Academy in Florida and received a scholarship to attend Penn State.

He would decide to leave Penn State and go to UBC which got him on the Argos radar ahead of the draft. Now he hopes to show he has the tools to be a CFL quarterback whenever he gets the call and hopes his preparation has put him in a position to succeed.

"“Coach once told me you don’t rise to the occasion but you sink to a level of preparation,” said O’Connor.“I want to make sure that I do everything in my power to make sure that I know exactly where to go with the football. Know where my reads are, know where my outlets are and make sure we’re just a smooth operator of the offence. The off-script plays you know, scramble drills. Those will come with time but right I’m just focused on getting through my reads making sure I know exactly what’s going on and executing the offence.”"

He’ll now have the chance to show what he can do considering the team is going to prioritize the quarterback position in their off-season plans. It might be asking a lot to expect the young quarterback to go out and have a flawless game but it doesn’t hurt to give him the opportunity to show what he can do.

What are you looking from the Argos against the Als? What are you hoping the young quarterbacks can show? Let us know in the comments below.