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Argos look to continue win streak vs. B.C. at home on Friday

With a 2-1 record and a two-game win streak under their belts, the Toronto Argonauts host the 1-2 B.C. Lions this Friday, July 23 at Rogers Centre at 7:30 p.m., presented by Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Starters Rob Murphy and Jason Pottinger will line up against their former team as former Argo Jamal Robertson returns to Toronto for the first time in a visitors uniform. The 2010 edition of the Double Blue have shown they prepare hard and play hard until the final whistle blows, keeping fans in their seats with exciting football until the very end of the game. The first three games of the season were decided in the final two minutes, with the Argos victorious in the last two.

Fans who arrive early should head to Gate 11 for the Community Crew BBQ. Marc Angelo will grill up sausages with all of the proceeds benefitting the programs of The Argos Foundation. Local Toronto singer Lisa Manis will perform the national anthem while former Argos coach and executive Leo Cahill will welcome supporters to the game as part of a new alumni videoboard feature each home game.

Grassroots football will again be featured prominently as the Kingston Thunder Tanks will form the Argos fan tunnel and the Scarborough Thunder will scrimmage at halftime. The Orangeville Outlaws will be the beneficiaries of the 50/50 draw and play on the field pre-game as part of the Tim Hortons’ Timbits minor football program. The popular Jr. Cheer program will see 5-10 year old participants perform on the field at halftime and cheer on the players in the fan tunnel. As well, youth from Studio 3 Dance will dance at halftime.

After the game, fans are invited to head over to the Official Post-Game Party at Jack Astor’s, 144 Front Street West, to say hi to some of your favourite Argos players and the 2010 Argos Cheerleaders, presented by the Toronto Sun. The party will also feature a Budweiser special.

Argos Roar Back to win Home Opener

Argos Fullback Jeff Johnson
Revenge - how sweet it is.

After losing their first game to the Calgary Stampeders two weeks ago, the Toronto Argonauts settled the score in their home opener, battling back from an 11 point deficit to knock off the Stampeders 27-24 on Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre.

On a beautiful summer night with the roof open, the Double Blue delighted their fans dramatic fashion, scoring the winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

Fullback Jeff Johnson, who scored the winning touchdown, thought the team showed a lot of character in being able to come from behind and squeak out the victory.

“It’s never over until it’s over and we showed a lot of character being able to battle back,” said Johnson. “Kudos to Calgary, they were on a shorter week than we were and they came to play. We were lucky to win that game with the amount of mistakes we made early in the game. We were fortunate to come away with the win. It’s a huge win, a character win.”

Defence Comes Up Big
 
Argos Quarterback
Cleo Lemon
In comparison to their first two games of the season where Toronto surrendered 30 or more points, the Argos defence was the difference on this night. The Double Blue pressured Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris all night long forcing him to throw four interceptions. The defence not only made key stops but kept the game from getting out of hand after the Calgary scored back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter.

“I think the defensive staff had a great game plan and guys went out and executed it,” said Argos Coach, Jim Barker. “They just did a phenomenal job.”

Barker also praised his players for their effort and for their ability to battle back, especially against a team like Calgary. And more importantly, after two straight wins, his players can say that they have that winning feeling – which has been a rarity for the Argos the past two seasons.

“It gives them that feeling,” said Barker.  “We need to get that swagger, that when we go on the field we expect to win. And now we beat a team like Calgary that’s one of the elite teams in this league and came from behind to do it when they could have very easily folded.”

With winning comes confidence – a feeling that was on many players’ minds after the game.

“It builds confidence,” said quarterback Cleo Lemon. “Winning is one of those things that you just continue to roll and once you won a couple, you get that feeling and you don’t want to let it go. So the guys have a great feeling right now and we want to continue that.”

Despite guiding the offence into the Stampeders’ territory on a number of occasions, Lemon wasn't able to put up the same type of numbers as last week when the Argos defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 36-34. The Argos instead, had to settle for four field goals but could have had more – kicker Grant Shaw missed two of his six attempts.
 
Argos wide receiver
Chad Owens catches
the ball for the
two-point conversion
Lemon was finally able to get the elusive touchdown when he handed off the ball to Johnson with 1:57 left, and even though it was just a one yard carry, he received a tremendous block from offensive tackle Rob Murphy to give him the open lane.

With the score 25-24 after the touchdown, the Argos took the necessary gamble and went for the two-point conversion. Lemon threw a lob pass into the end zone where Chad Owens, in coverage, leapt into the air and brought the ball down to increase the lead to 27-24.

From there the defence did its job and forced Calgary to lose the ball on downs. Toronto then ran down the clock for their second victory of the season.  

“It was a team win,” said Barker. “I thought our guys battled, fell behind and continued to battle and when you have character like we have in that locker room, it makes the winning that much greater.”

Toronto will remain at home where they will take on the BC Lions next Friday, July 23rd at the Rogers Centre; kickoff is 7:30pm.

Contact Aman Dhanoa at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Photos courtesy of  Toronto Argonauts Football Club

 

Argos Set to Battle Calgary Stampeders in Home Opener

After starting the 2010 season on the road, the Toronto Argonauts return home and will have their collective eyes set on revenge tonight when they take to the field against the Calgary Stampeders at the Rogers Centre at 7:30pm.
 
With only two games into the young CFL season, it’s hard to get a grasp on the 2010 edition of the Toronto Argonauts. After a disappointing 30-16 season-opening loss in Calgary, the team followed up with a 36-34 victory in Winnipeg. The Boatmen put in an all around better effort against the Blue Bombers but barely hung on for the victory.
 
Despite giving up 30 or more points in each game, the Argos sit 1-1 on the season and, after last week’s win, seem to have some jump in their step. The win has supplied the Double Blue with some much needed confidence but will it be enough to avenge their loss in their rematch with the Stampeders?
 
With another game under their belt, the players are one step closer to understanding and executing Coach Jim Barker’s playbook. Quarterback Cleo Lemon, who will be making his regular season home debut, seems to be making the adjustment to the CFL game and should have the offence clicking tonight as well.
 
But the area where Toronto will have to improve the most will be defence. The team simply cannot give up another 30+ points and hope to win. The Argos need to play better team defence from the opening kickoff and put more pressure on the opposing quarterback, otherwise the team might just return to their losing ways.

Contact Aman Dhanoa at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Argos Chad Owens named CFL player of the week

The Toronto Argonauts football club would like to congratulate WR/KR Chad Owens on being named CFL Special Teams Player of the Week for CFL week 2. This is Owens’ first CFL Special Teams Player of the Week award.

Playing in just his second game as an Argonaut, Owens accumulated a career-high 302 all-purpose yards against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He had four kickoff returns for 103 yards, five punt returns for 52 yards, 2 receptions for 30 yards and one missed field goal return which he ran back 117 yards for a touchdown. The missed field goal return was the first of his football career.

Entering week 3, Owens leads the league in punt return yards (168, 16.8 AVG), and is currently second overall in combined yards with 469. In his first game of the season on Canada Day, Owens blazed 90 yards for his first punt return touchdown. He currently leads the Argos with 428 total yards and two touchdowns.

Fans can watch Owens and the rest of the Argos live this Wednesday, July 14 at Rogers Centre as Toronto takes on the Calgary Stampeders at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are available by calling 416-341-2746 or by visiting argonauts.ca

Argos ready for their home opener against Calgary Stampeders

The Toronto Argonauts are only one week away from their 2010 home opener on Wednesday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Rogers Centre, presented by the Toronto Sun, as new head coach Jim Barker and CFL all-star receiver Jeremaine Copeland get set to avenge their former team, the Calgary Stampeders, in a rematch of the Canada Day season opener. Argos QB Cleo Lemon will make his regular season home debut, as GTA natives Andre Durie and Jason Pottinger are slated to make their first starts at home.
 
Fans who arrive early should head to Gate 11 where rock band No Currency will perform and a Community Crew BBQ will grill up sausages from Marc Angelo with proceeds going to the Ajax-Pickering Dolphins.  There will be a silent auction at Gate 9A to benefit the programs of The Argos Foundation. The Canadian Forces will perform the anthem as a Canadian flag is unfurled at midfield.  Coin toss duties will be handled by Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice-Admiral Rouleau, and 12 troops from the Navy, Air Force and Army will accompany the Argos starters for player introductions.
 
The first 10,000 people to arrive at the game will receive a 2010 Double Blue magnet schedule.  Grassroots football will be featured prominently as the Halton Cowboys will form the Argos fan tunnel and scrimmage at halftime and the Markham Raiders will play on the field pre-game.  The St. Mikes Drumline will be in attendance and the 2010 Argos Cheerleaders have prepared a special halftime performance featuring Jason the Argos mascot.  Youth from AB Dance in Markham will also perform at halftime.
 
The gameday trio of in-stadium announcer Nathan Downer, game day host Mark Strong and Argos DJ Scott Boogie will get the crowd going as new videos and in-game features will thrill fans.
 
After the game, fans are invited to head over to the Official Post-Game Party at Jack Astor’s,144 Front Street West, to say hi to some of your favourite Argos players and the 2010 Argos Cheerleaders, presented by the Toronto Sun.  The party will also feature a Budweiser special. 

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