(Toronto) The Toronto Argonauts will have the opportunity to take their revenge against the Montreal Alouettes.
Published at 6:44 p.m. Updated at 8:32 p.m.
Tim Wharnsby The Canadian Press
Quarterback Chad Kelly threw four touchdown passes and scored one on the ground to lead the Argonauts to a 58-38 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks in the Eastern semifinals on Saturday.
The Argonauts join the Alouettes in the Eastern final for the second year in a row. The defending champions defeated the Argonauts 38-17 in 2023.
The duel will take place next Saturday at Percival-Molson stadium.
“We know we’re going to face the best version of themselves,” Kelly said of the Alouettes. We will have to be ready to face whatever they throw at us. »
Kelly and the Argos were not ready against the Rouge et Noir, who took a 13-3 lead in the first quarter. But the Toronto team exploded with 38 points in the second half.
A touchdown by the Rouge et Noir in the final minute allowed the two teams to tie the Canadian Football League record for the most points (96) in a playoff game, which had been set by the Alouettes and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2011.
“On offense, we can be explosive,” said Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. We’ll have to do it again next week. »
Rouge et Noir quarterback Dru Brown set CFL records with 46 completed passes and 61 attempted passes.
He threw three touchdown passes for 476 yards, but was also the victim of two interceptions. He had an incredible first half completing 26 of 31 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns.
“It’s tough right now,” Brown said. We won’t return to work until next year. »
The visitors were in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, but the loss was their sixth in their last seven meetings.
Kelly finished the duel with 18 of 20 completions for 358 yards. He also ran twice, accumulating 29 yards rushing.
DaVaris Daniels, twice, Makai Polk, who finished the game with 158 yards through the air, and Jake Herslow caught all four of Kelly’s touchdown passes.
Lirim Hajrullahu made all three of his field goal attempts for the Argonauts, including a 53-yarder.
