Cameron Dukes threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Toronto Argonauts defeated B.C. Defeated. Lions 35-27 on Sunday night. Today we will discuss about Toronto Argonauts 2024 schedule: Tickets,Quarterback,Bailey gives Life.
Toronto Argonauts 2024 schedule: Tickets,Quarterback,Bailey gives Life
The BC Lions were the clear favorites to open their CFL season with a win over the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday night. Most expected was a solid win for the Lions.
Instead, the Argonauts stunned the entire CFL with a 35–27 upset.
There were several lead changes in the game, but the Toronto defense made up the difference, allowing only seven points and five sacks in the second half.
BC’s Vernon Adams Jr. and Toronto’s Cameron Dukes had turnovers in the game, but both were otherwise great. Adams threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns, while Dukes threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
Both quarterbacks showed an effective ability to move the football out of the pocket when facing a pass rush. The Dukes scored a rushing touchdown.
It seemed like it was a story of the halves as Adams threw for nearly 200 yards in the first half against Toronto’s secondary.
They were able to fix their issues in the second half but allowed 363 total yards.
BC’s defense got off to a fast start, scoring a defensive touchdown to give the Lions a 20–6 lead in the second quarter. However, from there, the wheels fell off for the Lions’ defense. Toronto had 254 yards passing and 120 rushing yards in the win.
Adams dominated the first half in a very strong season opener. However, their offensive line struggled to protect them in the second half.
Defensive linemen and linebackers such as Jake Ceresna, Jared Brinkman, Folarin Orimolade, Theadrick Hansen and Vinton McManis put pressure on Adams in the second half.
The Argos defense achieved six sacks in the game, five of which came in the second half. Four sacks in the fourth quarter made the difference in getting the win for the Argos.
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Cameron Dukes used his right arm and legs to make his first CFL home win.
Dukes threw three touchdown passes and helped the Toronto Argonauts defeat B.C. Ran for another to take him ahead. Lions 35-27 on Sunday night in the season opener for both teams. Dukes made his third career start, but his first at BMO Field, and the second-year professional said nerves were not an issue.
“I feel like the only time I get nervous in my life is when I’m playing football,” he said. “I mentally get away from everything and I just get out here and play the game I love.
“You have people around you that believe in you and you have a coaching staff that believes in you. It takes the nervousness away.”
Toronto Argonauts 2024 schedule: Tickets,Quarterback,Bailey gives Life
The Argos are a Dukes team, at least through the first half of the season. Incumbent Chad Kelly, the CFL’s outstanding player of the season last season, was suspended for Toronto’s pre-season contests and at least its first nine regular season games for violating the league’s gender-based violence policy.
Toronto Argonauts 2024 schedule: Tickets,Quarterback,Bailey gives Life
The six-foot-one, 205-pound Duke completed 21 of 27 passing for 254 yards and a touchdown as Toronto (1-0) defeated B.C. But achieved fourth consecutive home win. (0-1). But he also lost a fumble, which defensive lineman Tibo DeBelli returned 20 yards for a TD, putting the Lions ahead 20–6 at 6:56 of the second quarter.
“I tried to do too much in that game and I hurt our team,” Dukes said. “Luckily we were able to get it out in the end but it’s something I have to fix.”
Quarterback
John Haggerty’s spectacular 60-yard punt helped B.C. on its own 10-yard line with 2:04 remaining. With 1:25 to play the Lions turned the ball over on downs at their own one-yard line, drawing a crowd of 12,767 to BMO Field.
Dukes’ one-yard TD run at 13:38 put Toronto ahead 35–27. BC turned the ball over – their fifth of the game – for a last down with 48 seconds remaining.
“We’re all going to make mistakes,” Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “I thought (Duke) came back (after their mistake) and made the plays we needed to make to win the game.
“We put ourselves in a bad situation in the second quarter but you definitely saw the character in that locker room… We found a way to win this game.”
Vernon Adams Jr. played B.C. Driven. With less than four minutes remaining at the Toronto 31-yard line. But the veteran quarterback fumbled after being hit hard by Argos defensive lineman Jake Ceresna. Tackle Jordan Williams recovered.
Shawn White’s 51-yard field goal at 4:00 gave B.C. Earned. Profit of 27-26. But Lirim Hazrullahu made a field goal from 38 yards out at 7:46 to put Toronto ahead 29–27.
Adams completed 25 of 33 passing for 363 yards with two touchdowns. But he also had an interception, fumbled twice and was sacked six times as Toronto defeated B.C. Had overtaken. 19-7 in the second half.
“It’s the first game of the season, but we had a similar situation last year where we needed to step up a little bit in the second half, third quarter,” Adams said. “Ultimately, at the end of the day as a quarterback I have to take care of the ball.
“I had a lot of fumbles and interceptions, so if I take care of the ball I think we’re in a better position to win the game. It’s the first game of the season and we can only get better.”
Bailey gives Life
Dinwiddie said: “Our difference-maker was our front seven. I thought they did a great job, got after the quarterback. It was a very impressive defensive performance in the second half.”
Ka’Deem Carey, Rasheed Bailey and DeJohn Brissett had touchdowns for Toronto. Hazrullahu made two converts and three field goals.
Justin McInnis and Travis Fulgham represent B.C. Scored other touchdowns. Whyte kicked two converts and two field goals while Stephen Flintoft kicked one goal.
Brissett’s 26-yard TD catch at 3:15 of the third put Toronto ahead 23–20. White’s 36-yard boot at 6:35 tied the score, before Hazrullahu made it 26–23 with a 34-yard field goal at 11:10. Flintoft’s 42-yard single at 14:38 cut the Argos’ lead to 26–24.
Adams was 11 of 12 passing for 171 yards and two TDs in the first half, his only incompletion being an interception. He also rushed for a team-high 25 yards on eight carries.
The Dukes completed 11 of 14 attempts for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the opening half.
Adams, with his two scoring strikes, helped B.C. ’s 20-point second quarter. He hit a wide-open Fulgham on a 50-yard toss at 6:04 to put the Lions ahead 13–6.
That happened when Adams found McInnis on a 29-yard TD pass to make it 6–6 at 2:56. The snap attempt to convert had failed.
Duke’s eight-yard TD strike to Carey opened the scoring at 13:57 of the first. This capped a smart 10-play, 84-yard march but the conversion was unsuccessful.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2024.
