Argos’ Home Woes Continue In CFL Loss To Stampeders
Judy Garland famously said in her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz that theres no place like home. The Toronto Argonauts would likely take issue with that sentiment. On Friday night, the Argos lost a close one to the Calgary Stampeders at the Rogers Centre by a final score of 23-20. The loss extended the Argos franchise record home losing streak to ten consecutive games.
Henry Burris was happy with the victory despite the Argos recent struggles on their own field. Heading into the game, Calgary had lost 8 of 10 at Toronto :
“Rogers Centre has never been a fun place for us to play. We’ve had some tough games here against some hard-hitting Argos teams. This team has been through a lot and with the belief we have in one another, we were able to fight back and respond when it really counted.”
Toronto could have tied the game as time ran out with a long field goal, but Argos coach Bart Andrus kept the offense on the field for a last ditch effort to score a touchdown rather than go for the tie.
Placekicker Justin Medlock had missed a 57 yard kick earlier this season”his only miss of the year. Andrus is already hearing some criticism of this decision, and he addressed it after the game:
“I’ll take the heat on the call to not kick the field goal. The distance bothered me. That was my worry. The 57-yarder against Winnipeg came with the roof open. I just wasn’t comfortable with it.”
Medlock all but second guessed his coach, saying he wanted to take a shot at the tie:
“I definitely thought I could’ve made it but never got the chance. Maybe I should’ve run on to the field. I hit the crossbar in practice from 60 yards out.”
Calgary has won both games against Toronto this season, beating the Argos 44-9 at McMahon Stadium earlier this season. Stamps coach/GM John Hufnagel was particularly pleased with his team’s effort on the road:
“If it was going to be a close game I wanted our defence on the field at the end to protect the lead and that’s what happened. I think it’s really a big step for this football team. I’m very pleased with the defence, I’m very pleased with the offence in the second half when they had to answer points . . . we got the momentum back each and every time.”
Next up , Calgary will host Edmonton on Labour Day, and the teams will rematch in Edmonton four days later. Toronto and Hamilton will go at it in their traditional Labour Day tilt, with the first game of the set at Hamilton and the rematch back at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
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