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Author of the article:
The Canadian Press
Shan Jones
Published June 25, 2023 • Last updated 31 minutes ago • read for 4 minutes
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EDMONTON – There are no signs of a Gray Cup hangover for the Toronto Argonauts yet.
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AJ Ouellette scored three touchdowns as the defending champion Argonauts went undefeated this season with a 43-31 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Sunday.
“He does everything right, does all his assignments and is in the weight room every day,” says Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie of Ouellette. “He’s a great footballer and I’m lucky enough to coach him.
“It’s hard to give him and Andrew (Harris) enough touches that they deserve. But I know if we give Andrew enough touches, he’ll have those gigs every week.
Ouellette had just two touchdowns in 13 games for the Argos last season.
“I felt really good,” he said of the three TD performances. “They made it easy for me. It felt like all the touchdowns were pretty much untouched, which is a shout out to the O-line.
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Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 13 of 23 passes for 264 yards in his second game as the designated starter for Toronto.
“I feel good, but I need to get a lot better,” said Kelly. “I need to be mentally more locked up. Today I felt myself going on and off. I have to be more consistent throughout the game.
“We are getting better. We should have put a few more points on the board and we shot ourselves in the foot a few times. It’s still early in the season. We’ve got the win. We just have to keep learning and getting better every time.”
The Argos improved to 2-0, while the Elks got off to a rocky start at 0-3.
“I would have lost my house gambling that our record wouldn’t be where it is today, but it is what it is,” said Elks head coach Chris Jones.
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The home hex continues for the Elks, who have lost a CFL-record 19 consecutive home games, a run of futility dating back to October 12, 2019.
Edmonton began scoring midway through the opening quarter on their second possession, a breath of fresh air after being shutout for the first time in 47 years last week when they fell 22-0 to the BC Lions. A 42-yard punt return by CJ Sims launched a drive that would be completed when Kevin Brown reeled in a pass from Taylor Cornelius and dove into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.
The Argonauts responded with a major of their own on the next drive, designed by Kelly, and received a rushing three-yard major from Ouellette.
The Elks shot ahead again early in the second frame when Loucheiz Purifoy stepped for a Kelly pass and ran it back 27 yards for the pick-six TD.
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Toronto came back with a 42-yard field goal from Boris Bede and added a trap single to make it nearly 14-11.
The Argos surged ahead with just over a minute to play in the first half as Kelly shrugged off a sure sack and then found a wide open David Ungerer for a 44-yard touchdown throw.
Edmonton’s Dean Faithfull kicked an 18-yard field goal to end the second quarter with Toronto at 18-17.
The Argonauts managed to extend their lead on a long drive to open the second half, capped off with a two-yard TD led by Ouellette.
Ungerer also came out big in special teams with a blocked kick, which eventually led to a four-yard touchdown run by Ouellette.
The Elks attempted a quarterback substitution, but on the first play, Kai Locksley fumbled his own 24, while Argo Robertson recovered Daniel. Bede scored a 16-yard field goal to extend Toronto’s lead to 36–17.
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Edmonton’s bad luck continued as Eugene Lewis was stripped of the ball one step short of the end zone and Daniel van de Argos again took credit for the turnover.
Toronto’s defense continued to shine, as Elk’s third-string QB Jarret Doege was nicked by Royce Metchie and returned 15 yards to the end zone.
The Elks finally got back on the board with less than three minutes to play in the fourth, when a 72-yard return by Sims led to a two-yard pass from Doege to Vincent Forbes-Momblau and a two-point conversion by Doege.
Edmonton was able to add another highlight to the proceedings with six seconds left when Doege escaped the pressure and through an onfield hopeful pass that bounced from a defender’s hands to Forbes-Momblau for a touchdown- game of 84 meters.
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“They called my number and I was just trying to make the most of my opportunity,” said Doege. “I went in there and just left it all there, just trying to do what I can to help the team build some momentum.”
COMMENTS
Out injured for Edmonton were cornerback Ed Gaines, receiver Manny Arceneaux, offensive lineman Cole Nelson and quarterback Tre Ford. …Among those missing from Toronto’s lineup were defensive lineman Shawn Oakman, linebacker Henoc Muamba, wide receiver Markeith Ambles, receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr., offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek, and offensive lineman Shane Richards.
BIG BETTER TIMES
The Elks recognized the 30th anniversary of their Gray Cup winning team in 1993 with several players from that squad in attendance, including Damon Allen, Willie Pless and Henry (Gizmo) Williams.
NEXT ONE
Edmonton will play the Redblacks (0-2) in Ottawa on Friday in a battle of winless teams, while the Argonauts will host the BC Lions (3-0) next Monday in a showdown between undefeated teams.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 25, 2023.
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