Toronto Argonauts use big offense to defeat Ottawa Redblacks and win East Semi-Finals

TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts will play a rematch with the defending Gray Cup champion Montreal Alouettes.

Quarterback Chad Kelly threw for four touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Argonauts to a 58-38 CFL victory over the Ottawa Redblacks in the East Division semifinals on Saturday.

The dominant victory allowed the Argonauts to advance to their fourth straight East final and set up a rematch with the Alouettes, who routed Toronto 38-17 a year ago.

“We know we’ll do our best,” Kelly said. “We have to be ready for whatever they throw at us and be ready to go forward.”

Kelly and the Argonauts weren’t ready to go against the Redblacks, trailing 10-0 and 13-3 in the first half. But Toronto came back with an explosive 38 points in the second half.

Ottawa defenseman Drew Brown set CFL playoff records with 46 completions and 61 pass attempts.

He threw for three touchdowns, 476 yards and two interceptions, leading to a Toronto touchdown.

The visitors qualified for the knockout stages for the first time since 2018, but the semi-final defeat handed them six defeats in their last seven matches.

Both teams’ combined total of 96 points tied a playoff record set when the Alouettes defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2011 East Division semifinals.

“Offensively, we can be explosive,” Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “Now we have to do it again next week.”

Kelly finished with 358 passing yards, completing 18 of 20 in front of 18,060 at BMO Field. He also rushed for 29 yards on two carries. The Argonauts got a break in the last seconds of the first half. Brown rallied the Redblacks for a touchdown late in the half, capping it with an eight-yard pass to cornerback Jaylon Acklin.

But then they botched the ensuing kickoff while trying to quickly set off a firecracker down the middle of the field. Richie Leone’s shot hit the Argonauts’ front wall. Kerfalla Exume fell on the ball with three seconds left.

Toronto’s Lirim Khairullahu succeeded on his 53-yard attempt to bring the home team within 23-20.

“We tried to hit the midfield shot,” Ottawa head coach Bob Dyess said. “We had six seconds left in the half and my only regret was bad luck. It hit one of their players and they were able to recover it and make a field goal.”

Toronto scored two touchdowns midway through the third quarter to take a 34-23 lead.

Kelly hit Davaris Daniels for his second touchdown, this time from nine yards out. The drive was set up by a 15 yard rush down the middle from Kelly. The Argonauts’ quarterback was coached by Redblacks linebacker Frankie Griffin, resulting in an unnecessary 15-yard roughing penalty.

Kelly expressed his displeasure, but was forced to leave the game due to concussion protocol.

He returned three plays later for his third touchdown.

On the Argonauts’ next drive, Kelly found Makai Polk for a 57-yard bomb. Three plays later, Kelly rushed forward for a 15-yard score. Kelly’s fourth touchdown, a 13-yard completion to Jake Herslow, came with 2:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Ottawa’s Lewis Ward made his fourth field goal of the day, this time from 42 yards, and the third quarter ended with Toronto leading 34–26.

The Red and Blacks had the ball 24:11 in the first half, but went into the locker room leading 23-20, content with three goals.

Brown was an impressive 26 of 31 for 256 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

“It’s tough right now,” Brown said. “Because you won’t be back at work until next year.”

Two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter gave the Argonauts a 17-16 lead. Kelly hit Polk for 70 yards and Daniels for 41 yards. Polk finished with 158 yards on four receptions.