SportsDirect Inc. staff
Jun 28, 2013
Argonauts 39, Tiger-Cats 34: Ricky Ray threw four touchdown passes and Chad Kackert ran for 112 yards as host Toronto held off its provincial rival for a season-opening win.
Ray finished with 368 yards on 24-for-34 passing for the Argonauts, who defeated Hamilton for the fourth straight time. Kackert opened the second quarter with a 57-yard touchdown run and Jason Barnes caught two scores in the comeback victory.
Henry Burris, who led the league with 43 touchdown tosses last year, completed 24-of-36 passes for 361 yards and three scores. C.J. Gable caught two touchdowns, while Andy Fantuz caught another as part of a 10-reception, 155-yard debut for the Tiger-Cats.
Ray drove the Argonauts downfield on their first possession to take a 7-0 lead, but Hamilton rookie Lindsey Lamar returned the ensuing kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown on his first career CFL play. The Tiger-Cats would finish the first quarter with 21 points and add another 10 in the second for a six-point lead at halftime.
Toronto shut down Burris and Hamiltonกฏs offence in the second half, limiting the Tiger-Cats to three points while Ray connected with Spencer Watt on a 20-yard score and Dontrelle Inman on a 10-yarder to give the Argonauts the lead. Toronto kicker Swayze Waters injured his leg on the kickoff to open the the third quarter and left the game, but returned to kick an extra point with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter before being carried off the field by his teammates.
GAME NOTEBOOK: After scoring his touchdown in the third quarter, Watt also converted the extra point with Waters receiving medical attention. กญ Prior to the game, the Argonauts raised the banner for their victory in the 100th Grey Cup and presented championship rings to members of last yearกฏs team. กญ The Tiger-Cats were 1-8 on the road in 2012.