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Argos likely to be without Andrew Harris for next game following injury in Hamilton

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As if to add insult to injury, the Argonauts are likely to be without future Hall of Fame running back Andrew Harris for their home game against Calgary next Saturday, and beyond.

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Injuries ravaged the Argos before and during their 34-27 loss in Hamilton on Friday, their woes beginning during the pre-game warm­ups when starting receiver Cam Phillips hurt his groin.

Harris hurt his shoulder on Toronto’s first touchdown of the night, late in the first quarter, and was immediately escorted to the locker room.

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When he returned, Harris was in street clothes and watched the remainder of the game from the Argos’ bench area.

A.J. Ouellette — like Harris, a downhill runner, but not as big — took over as the featured back, ripping off a 27-yard run on his first play. But he too got banged up, forcing the Argos to go with Canadian rookie Ben Adeboboye down the stretch.

Harris hurt his hamstring during camp and was kept out of Toronto’s two pre-season games.
He has yet to rush for a TD and crossed the goalline for the first time in Double Blue during last weekend’s win over the Ticats at BMO Field when he hauled in a two-point convert.

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In Regina, Harris became the first Canadian to eclipse 10,000 career rushing yards, the same night he churned out 143 yards, a season-high.

But in the three subsequent games, Harris managed just 83 yards, 19 of those on three three carries before getting hurt on Friday night.

As the 4-4 Argos hit the halfway point of the schedule with their date against the Stamps on Saturday, they must find a way to establish a run game.

Toronto could muster only 69 yards against the Tabbies and when backup QB Chad Kelly came into the game on short yardage to score that opening TD, it was the Argos’ first rushing major of the season.

The score was set up on a Robbie Smith interception.

For the second straight week, the Argos did not commit a turnover, but there were many mental and physical mistakes that led to the field being flipped or big plays surrendered.

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BANKS DILEMMA

Argos receiver Brandon Banks was targeted eight times in his return to the Hammer, but only two completions were made.

Banks and QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson continue to build chemistry, but nothing seems to be working.

What’s worse is how the Argos go out of their way to force-feed Banks the ball.

However, he no longer has that explosive edge, and there’s no point in using him down the field when his lack of size leads to incompletions.

He did draw a pass interference call, late in the second quarter, against Ciante Evans, even though the game officials did not throw a flag on the initial play.

An Argos challenge flag and an overturned call marked the first of three penalties by the Ticats as Toronto ended the opening half with MBT hitting DaVaris Daniels for a six-yard TD strike and a 20-14 lead.

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Other than setting up a field goal late in Regina two weeks ago, Banks has done next to nothing when used on the punt return.

At this stage of his career, he’s best suited as a situational player who needs to get touches in much more creative ways that what the Argos are currently doing, which isn’t much.

TEMPERS RISING

The first game of four between Toronto and Hamilton last week produced seven penalties for a combined 103 yards. In the bitter rematch, the intensity clearly increasing, 21 total flags were tossed for 248 yards.

The rivalry resumes on Aug. 26 when Hamilton returns to BMO followed by the Labour Day Classic at Tim Hortons Field.

The Ticats will play host to Montreal this Saturday afternoon in a big divisional matchup.

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The two teams are tied for second in the East at 3-6, the Als coming off that shocking overtime win over the previously undefeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night.

No one will give Toronto much of a chance against the Stampeders, who always seem to beat the Boatmen … unless there’s a Grey Cup on the line.

The East is suddenly tight and it’s only going to get tighter in the ensuing weeks.

OUT OF THE WOODS

Kick returner Lawrence Woods made a mental mistake in Hamilton’s 34-20 loss at BMO when he fielded a punt inside his five yard line that ultimately led to a conceded safety.

In the rematch, Woods set the tone early with a long punt return.

On the night, he averaged 25.5 yards on six returns. He added 69 kickoff return yards for a whopping 222 combined yards.

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Woods also returned a punt for a TD, but it was called back on a penalty.

Toronto’s punt cover unit was horrible and even extended a Ticats drive following a roughing-the-kicker penalty that backed up the Argos when they regained possession.

Banks averaged 9.0 yards on five punt returns, while Kurleigh Gittens Jr. returned five kickoffs for 106 yards.
Javon Leake, a running back by trade, is eligible to come off the six-game injured list for the Stamps contest next weekend and should be available for the Argonauts, who are desperate for a returner.

BY THE NUMBERS

MBT hasn’t thrown an interception in three straight games … For the second time this season, emotions got the better of the veteran QB when the Argos pulled the offence off the field on third and inches in the fourth quarter. The previous outburst came in B.C. when MBT was replaced by Kelly midway through the fourth quarter as the Argos were getting routed … A week ago at BMO, the Argos outscored the Ticats 28-6 in the second half. Friday night in the Hammer, the Ticats flipped the script by outscoring the Argos 24-6. Entering the night, Hamilton had been outscored 134-58 in the second half, including a 95-29 disparity in the fourth quarter.

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