Walk-off single lifts Lions over Argonauts in bizarre CFL finish - Toronto Star

Sergio Castillo’s single off a missed 42-yard field-goal try on the final play gave the B.C. Lions an 18-17 decision over the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday night for their first win of the season.

Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson pulled Toronto even at 17-17 with 40 seconds left in regulation, connecting with James Wilder Jr. on a 23-yard catch-and-run touchdown and S.J. Green on the two-point convert.

But Drew Brown’s ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving B.C. the ball at its 45-yard line with 38 seconds remaining. Lions quarterback Mike Reilly drove the offence to the Toronto 30-yard line before an illegal procedure call forced Castillo to try the 42-yard boot.

His kick was wide left. Toronto returner Chris Rainey caught the ball but stepped on the back line to give the Lions the win.

B.C. (1-3) earned DeVone Claybrooks his first CFL head-coaching win. Claybrooks spent three seasons as the Calgary Stampeders’ defensive co-ordinator before joining the Lions this off-season.

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Reilly completed 23 of 34 pass attempts for 272 yards, with a touchdown and interception, while John White ran for 138 yards and a touchdown. Lemar Durant had nine receptions for 125 yards and a score.

Reilly became the 26th player since 1950 to start 100 career regular-season games at quarterback. He improved to 55-45 overall and 4-6 versus Toronto.

Toronto (0-3) fell short in securing head coach Corey Chamblin the first win of his Argos tenure. But after being outscored 96-21 in the first two losses, the Double Blue were at least in this contest.

It was hardly a football masterpiece, not a surprise given both teams came in winless. Toronto made more mistakes — and mustered just 12 third-quarter offensive yards — often with dire consequences.

Durant put B.C. ahead 10-3 at 4:46 of the third by hauling in Reilly’s 29-yard touchdown pass. It was set up by T.J. Lee’s recovery of a Wilder fumble that gave B.C. possession at the Toronto 45.

Durant’s touchdown was followed by a bizarre play. Rainey was returning the kickoff when he was belted by B.C.’s Jordan Herdman-Reed. The hit sent the ball flying backwards where it was picked up by Toronto’s Kevin Fogg.

But Rainey, facing his former team for the first time, returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown at 10:14 of the third that pulled Toronto to within 10-9. The Argos botched the snap on the convert, forcing Brown to throw an incomplete pass on the run.

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Field judge Bryan Taylor collided with a Lions player on Rainey’s return and laid on the field motionless during the play. After receiving medical attention, Taylor walked off the field on his own.

White’s three-yard run just 1:03 into the fourth boosted B.C.’s lead to 17-9. It capped a nine-play, 75-yard scoring march.

Toronto’s Bethel-Thompson completed 25 of 33 passes for 303 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, in his first start of the season. But he has dropped his last seven decisions, dating back to last year.

Castillo kicked another field goal and two converts for B.C.

Brown added a field goal for Toronto.

Brown had a glorious chance to put Toronto ahead 6-3 in a generally uninspiring first half but missed from 33 yards out with under a minute remaining in the second. Castillo’s 14-yard field goal at 8:22 tied the score 3-3, capping a 68-yard, eight-play drive that was set up by Anthony Thompson’s end-zone interception.

Brown opened the scoring with a 31-yard field goal at 12:47 of the first.

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July 07, 2019 at 09:46AM