Argos sink Ticats in final pre-season game for the East Division rivals

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Toronto Argonauts used four quarterbacks not named James Franklin in their last preseason game and took down the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 30-23.

The Argos got combined efforts from McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Canadians Brandon Bridge and Michael O’Connor, and Dakota Prukop in the win.

Bethel-Thompson’s biggest contribution to the game was on a deep touchdown pass to new Argos receiver Derel Walker for 75 yards, which brought Toronto within three near the end of the half. He threw for 222 yards on 11-of-17 passing in his half of action. 

Bridge went 4-of-8 for 40 yards and an interception. O’Connor threw two passes — one of which was picked off — and Prukop put up some good numbers aided by a 43-yard touchdown pass to Cole Watson and finished with 82 yards on 5-of-7 passing.

The Ticats struck first, as Jeremiah Masoli got the game’s first major on the opening drive, connecting on an 11-yard play to second year Tabbie Bralon Addison, who led the game in receptions with six.

Lirim Hajrullahu looked good, hitting all three of his field goal attempts including a 43-yard boot, which broke the 20-20 tie in the third.

Masoli added another touchdown on the ground and capped off his night going 17-of-26 for 154 yards with an interception. Both Dane Evans and Hayden Moore combined to finish the game. Moore had a shot to rally a late game-tying drive following a 58-yard kickoff return from Frankie Williams but couldn’t strike pay dirt against the Argonauts defence.

Now the games count for real.

Toronto drew the short straw and have a bye in Week 1, while the Ticats host the Saskatchewan Roughriders Thursday night to open the CFL regular season at Tim Hortons Field.