Argos cough up half-time lead and come up woefully short in crushing loss to Ticats

Article content

Once again, coaching became an issue for the Argos, one of many areas of deficiency and concern on a night when Toronto simply blew it.

Article content

The Argos won last week by playing well in all three phases in the second half.

In Friday night’s return game at Tim Hortons Field, the second half proved fatal as Hamilton emerged with a 34-27 win.

It was inexcusable as it was laughable the way Toronto seemingly played to lose on offence, a defence that had no idea on how to stop the run knowing all Hamilton could do was run when its offence was so limited.

Article content

Toronto’s special teams weren’t good to the point of being disgraceful.

Toronto kicked a field goal with no time left knowing point differential may ultimately be needed down the road.

The Argos won the first game 34-24.

The game, believe it or not, was there for the taking, but the Argos lacked execution, urgency and desperation in each phase.

Article content

They were outplayed badly when it mattered most as their record dropped to 4-4.

So many injuries, so many flags, so little plays produced by the Argos in the second half, who managed a field goal in the final 30 minutes after leading at the break, too many big plays surrendered in the back end.

It was Round 2 between the two rivals, whose four-game stretch in five weeks culminates with the Labour Day Classic.

Maybe by then, both teams will learn how to play with poise.

And maybe one day the Argos will run an offence that actually is sustainable and is not afraid to move the chains when chains need to be moved on third and short in a league where there’s a yard separating the lines of scrimmage.

On Hamilton’s first possession in the second half, Jamie Newman, the team’s third-string quarterback, was running the offence.

Article content

Matthew Shiltz, who got the start for an injured Dane Evans (shoulder), was dealing with a lower body injury.

Newman is a big man who runs and it was the ground game that allowed the Ticats to kick a field goal, set up by a punt return by Lawrence Woods, by far Hamilton’s most explosive player.

Toronto ended the first half by scoring a TD and on its initial series in the second half, the Argos moved the ball inside Hamilton’s 20 yard line.

The Argos failed to finish and was forced to settle for a field goal.

At least McLeod Bethel-Thompson was able to find some rhythm with his receivers.

Field position cost the Argos in the third quarter following a roughing the punter penalty on a tough night for the cover team.

MBT has no clue when it comes to moving the chains on short yardage. He can’t go low, or hasn’t been taught to go low, and it cost the Argos when they decided to punt on third and less than a yard in the fourth quarter.

Article content

It was a puzzling sequence that spoke to how little confidence head coach Ryan Dinwiddie has in his short-yardage team.

A flag negated a return TD by Woods on the ensuing punt.

When the Ticats regained possession, Shiltz was back at quarterback and he connected with Tim White down the field on a game-tying touchdown.

It was game on, finally, following extended stretches of bad football.

The Argos scored the game’s first touchdown when defensive lineman Robbie Smith recorded his first-career interception and returned it inside Hamilton’s five yard line.

On second and goal from the one, backup QB Chad Kelly was used in short yardage.

Helped by a friendly push from behind by Brandon Banks, Kelly crossed the end zone.

Article content

Earlier, the Ticats paid tribute to Banks by showing some of his many highlights from his time in the Hammer.

With Andrew Harris, who was favouring the right side of his arm, was forced to leave the game and unable to return, A.J. Ouellette became the featured back.

By no means was the opening half pretty.

Truth be told, it was pretty awful.

The Ticats spent more time committing penalties than they did making plays.

Both teams made mental and physical mistakes that led to scores.

QB play was mediocre, at best.

At the end of the half, the Argos were given chance after chance to produce a major when Hamilton’s lack of discipline and stupidity extended a drive.

It ended when DaVaris Daniels hauled in a TD pass as the Argos went into the break leading 21-14.

Article content

Had it not been for the plethora of major penalties that extended drives or led to big plays, no team would have scored in the opening 30 minutes.

CAM CAN’T GO

The Argos have been hit hard by the injury bug since training camp broke, but the latest setback played out well before Friday night’s opening kickoff.

During the team’s warmups, Cam Phillips hurt his groin and was ruled out.

Phillips has evolved into a legitimate weapon and entered the night having scored three TDs in the past four games.

FLAG FOOTBALL

The penalty prone Argos were the epitome of discipline last week when only four infractions were called, including two, both majors, to backup LB Brandon Calver.

After winning the coin toss Friday night, the Argos deferred to the second half.

Hamilton elected to receive the game’s opening kickoff.

Bad enough a starting receiver was lost before the first tackle was recorded, embarrassing when the Argos were called for a time count violation on the kickoff.

On Toronto’s first punt, poor containment allowed Woods to produce a 47-yard return.

An additional 15 yards were added when punter John Haggerty was flagged for a face mask call, allowing the Ticats to open the scoring by kicking a field goal.

[email protected]