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Argos find special way to down Bombers

Every Chad Owens kick return has the potential to be a game-changer but with one spectacular run Sunday afternoon, he managed to change the course of a couple of seasons, too.
Jovon Johnson; Andre Durie
Toronto Argonauts running back Andre Durie

Argonauts 17 Bombers 13

TORONTO — Every Chad Owens kick return has the potential to be a game-changer but with one spectacular run Sunday afternoon, he managed to change the course of a couple of seasons, too.

The 28-year-old Hawaiian helped pull the Toronto Argonauts out of a three-game slide with an 80-yard punt return in the third quarter, and their defence stopped a third-down gamble in the dying minutes to secure a 17-13 victory that buries the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the East Division.

Owens’ third return TD of the season was the first big play of the game for the Boatmen, who got an earful from head coach Jim Barker at halftime. It put them ahead 7-6, and they never trailed again.

“We needed a spark, someone to get us started and the best thing was C.O. got everyone fired up,” said receiver Jeremaine Copeland, whose touchdown catch in the fourth quarter helped seal the deal.

“This was the start of us getting into the playoffs.

“We needed to win this game, we all knew that. It turned out good because we needed a win bad.”

They did, and it was a big one.

Not only were the Argos (6-5) able to keep pace with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-5), who rallied for a 35-31 win at B.C. on Saturday night, for second in the East Division, they also picked up the tiebreaker against the Blue Bombers (3-8) and now look firmly set for the playoffs.

Winnipeg, meanwhile, faces long odds of overtaking either Toronto or Hamilton in the East, leaving them looking at the crossover to steal third in the West. But they need to get their own house in order first.

“There’s seven games left, that’s 14 points on the board, you can get into the East or the West, still,” said head coach Paul LaPolice. “It was such an important game, but if you can’t execute you can’t win, and we have to (win).”

A victory against the Argos and they would have put some serious pressure on Toronto, and they nearly pulled it out late.

The Bombers advanced to the Argos 26 when their 10-play, 48-yard drive was stuffed on third-and-one as defensive end Alex Buzzbee dropped fullback Andre Sadeghian for a one-yard loss with 1:42 on the clock. That was it.

“I was surprised because I thought they were going to do a QB sneak then he turned to hand it off, and I was like, ‘Here we go, I’m right there,”’ said Buzzbee.

“We talked all week about just getting our swagger back, our confidence, making big plays, and I think we were able to do that.”

Copeland, back after missing three games with an elbow injury, caught a nine-yard TD pass from Cleo Lemon while Justin Medlock added a 50-yard field goal for the Argos.

Medlock and defensive end Ricky Foley, who collected a sack, were both signed in midweek and provided a boost.

Terrence Edwards caught a TD from Steven Jyles while Justin Palardy kicked two field goals for the Blue Bombers, who failed to build on a stunning 31-2 win over Saskatchewan last week that ended a five-game losing streak.

The Argos took control of the tight defensive struggle in the third quarter with Owens front and centre.

On their first touch of the second half, Owens fielded a punt at the Toronto 30, broke through a tackle and sped down the sidelines into the end zone at 1:38.

To that point, the Argos had only been across midfield twice.

“It totally, totally changed the game,” said Barker. “I had some words for our players at halftime and he came out and answered the call. It gave our guys a lift, it gave the defence a lift and took some of the pressure off the offence.”

Owens did some barking of his own between halfs, asking his blockers to stop taking penalties and give him a chance with the ball. They did just that.

“I said ’I’m tired of being close, I’m tired of being just one block away,’ and they answered the call and I just had to catch and run,” he said. “It was the easiest punt return touchdown I’ve ever had.”

Blue Bombers defensive back Deon Beasley ended the next two Toronto possessions with a fumble recovery and interception, but the Argos special teams soon struck again.

Setting up to punt from their own 38 on third and 16, Argos running back Bryan Crawford fielded the snap instead, broke an attempted tackle by Winnipeg receiver Scott McHenry and ran for 30 yards. Medlock booted a 50-yard field goal to make it a 10-6 contest.

Medlock was wide right on a 56-yard try early in the fourth quarter but the miss helped lead to the strong field position that led to Copeland’s TD on Toronto’s next possession.

Starting at the Winnipeg 50, the Argos needed four plays before Lemon found Copeland in the end zone with a loft pass from nine yards out for a 17-6 lead.

But the Blue Bombers responded on their next possession, as Fred Reid broke loose for a 38-yard run before Jyles found a wide open Edwards to once again make it a four-point game. They could get no closer.

The Blue Bombers led 6-0 after a sloppy first half in which the teams combined for more penalties (10) than points.

Palardy opened the scoring 4:19 when he connected from 34 yards out and made his second kick from 41 yards out 16 seconds into the second quarter.

Foley recorded a first sack three tackles in his Argos debut.

“He brought energy, we thought he brought some speed up front that maybe we were lacking a little bit, he played outstanding,” said Barker. “I really felt a high energy in the second half from that defence. He’s going to be a huge addition.”

Notes: Defensive end Ed Harrington was inducted to the All-Time Argos during halftime. The 69-year-old, nicknamed Hercules, played 10 years for the Argos and was an all-star three times. “I’m deeply honoured,” he told the crowd, fighting back tears. “Thank you so much.” ... RB Anthony Alridge, who signed with the Argos on Thursday, was inserted into the lineup. ... Owens had a 56-yard punt return negated by a Toronto holding penalty in the third quarter. ... Argos OT Chris Van Zeyl was back in the lineup while LB Jordan Younger sat with a hamstring injury.