Toronto Argonauts kicker Lirim Hajrullahu played hero Saturday evening, kicking the game winning field goal to rally the Toronto Argonauts over the Edmonton Elks, 31-30, at BMO field. 

In front of 14,742 mostly Argos faithful, the 35-year-old nailed a 48-yarder to keep Toronto’s playoff hopes alive and eliminate Edmonton from playoff contention. Despite a 2-8 start, three straight wins have put the Double Blue back in the hunt for a post-season spot.

Despite the Toronto win, Argos finished with a minus-five turnover differential and lost their starting quarterback (QB) Nick Arbuckle to a calf injury in the fourth quarter.

Arbuckle struggled throwing the ball prior to the injury, with a 67 per cent completion rate and four interceptions. It was back-up quarterback Jarret Doege that led the Argos down the field during the last drive of the game. 

“There’s always nerves,” said Doege, in a post game media scrum after the win. “Once you hit that first completion they go away.”

Doege finished the game three-for-six with 35 yards in the air and helped put a bow on his former teams’ playoff hopes. The backup QB put Hajrullahu in a spot he’s been in many times in his career.

“I’m just happy they put me in a great position to succeed. Great snap, great hold, that makes my job really easy,” said Hajrullahu, post game. “For me, if I just keep doing what I’m doing, the guys around me make my job easy.”

Hajrullahu finished the game three-for-three on field goal attempts, his longest coming at the end of the second quarter to put Toronto’s first points on the board. 

Mistakes leave Elks on the Run

In the fourth quarter, Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo was strip sacked by Argos Derek Parish. The loose ball was picked up by defensive linemen Andrew Chatfield Jr., who ran it in for a 10 yard touchdown, giving Toronto the 28-27 lead. 

The sack by Parish was the team’s fifth of the game, a bright spot of the Argos’ game through a full 60 minutes. 

Earlier in the quarter, Arbuckle showed off his arm finding tight end Jake Herslow for a 30 yard passing touchdown cutting the lead to three, 24-21. 

Herslow continued his dominant season with his team-leading seventh and eighth touchdown receptions, the other coming in the third quarter. 

In the third quarter, following a Tarvarus McFadden face mask penalty, Elks back up QB Cole Snyder rushed it in from the one to extend the lead to 21-11. McFadden’s penalty was one of nine Argo penalties in the game.

Toronto averages the most penalties per game with 8.65. 

Arbuckle did not look like himself through the first half completing just 11 of 18 for 95 yards. That changed to start the third period as the Argos first possession of the half lasted just four plays as they charged 78 yards down the field.  

Toronto’s ninth drive included a 58 yard reception to Makai Polk before Arbuckle found Herslow in the end zone, cutting the lead to 14-11 as the two point conversion was good.

Edmonton found ways to put points on the board in the second quarter. With 9:22 left to play in the first half, Julien Grant caught a 19 yard pass over the middle from Fajardo to cap off a drive that saw the Elks move 55 yards in five plays. 

In the first quarter Toronto found themselves in penalty trouble. Surrendering 25 of the 77 yard drive to Edmonton via penalties during the Elks’ third drive of the game. Resulting in Cody Fajardo finding Justin Rankin for his third receiving touchdown of the year to put the Elks up 7-0. 

Toronto will look to string together four wins in a row Friday, when they host the Montreal Alouettes (6-7) at home. A win for the Argos would tie them for second place with Montreal with just five games left in the season.

Edmonton (5-8) hopes to bounce back on Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8-5) in the Steel City. 

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