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As if so as to add insult to harm, the Argonauts are more likely to be with out future Corridor of Fame operating again Andrew Harris for his or her residence sport towards Calgary subsequent Saturday, and past.

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Accidents ravaged the Argos earlier than and through their 34-27 loss in Hamilton on Friday, their woes starting through the pre-game heat­ups when beginning receiver Cam Phillips damage his groin.

Harris damage his shoulder on Toronto’s first landing of the night time, late within the first quarter, and was instantly escorted to the locker room.

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When he returned, Harris was in avenue garments and watched the rest of the sport from the Argos’ bench space.

A.J. Ouellette — like Harris, a downhill runner, however not as large — took over because the featured again, ripping off a 27-yard run on his first play. However he too bought banged up, forcing the Argos to go along with Canadian rookie Ben Adeboboye down the stretch.

Harris damage his hamstring throughout camp and was saved out of Toronto’s two pre-season video games.
He has but to hurry for a TD and crossed the goalline for the primary time in Double Blue throughout final weekend’s win over the Ticats at BMO Area when he hauled in a two-point convert.

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In Regina, Harris turned the primary Canadian to eclipse 10,000 profession speeding yards, the identical night time he churned out 143 yards, a season-high.

However within the three subsequent video games, Harris managed simply 83 yards, 19 of these on three three carries earlier than getting damage on Friday night time.

Because the 4-4 Argos hit the midway level of the schedule with their date towards the Stamps on Saturday, they have to discover a option to set up a run sport.

Toronto might muster solely 69 yards towards the Tabbies and when backup QB Chad Kelly got here into the sport on brief yardage to attain that opening TD, it was the Argos’ first speeding main of the season.

The rating was arrange on a Robbie Smith interception.

For the second straight week, the Argos didn’t commit a turnover, however there have been many psychological and bodily errors that led to the sector being flipped or large performs surrendered.

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BANKS DILEMMA

Argos receiver Brandon Banks was focused eight instances in his return to the Hammer, however solely two completions had been made.

Banks and QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson proceed to construct chemistry, however nothing appears to be working.

What’s worse is how the Argos exit of their option to force-feed Banks the ball.

Nonetheless, he now not has that explosive edge, and there’s no level in utilizing him down the sector when his lack of measurement results in incompletions.

He did draw a go interference name, late within the second quarter, towards Ciante Evans, though the sport officers didn’t throw a flag on the preliminary play.

An Argos problem flag and an overturned name marked the primary of three penalties by the Ticats as Toronto ended the opening half with MBT hitting DaVaris Daniels for a six-yard TD strike and a 20-14 lead.

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Aside from establishing a subject purpose late in Regina two weeks in the past, Banks has achieved subsequent to nothing when used on the punt return.

At this stage of his profession, he’s greatest suited as a situational participant who must get touches in way more inventive ways in which what the Argos are at the moment doing, which isn’t a lot.

TEMPERS RISING

The primary sport of 4 between Toronto and Hamilton final week produced seven penalties for a mixed 103 yards. Within the bitter rematch, the depth clearly rising, 21 complete flags had been tossed for 248 yards.

The rivalry resumes on Aug. 26 when Hamilton returns to BMO adopted by the Labour Day Basic at Tim Hortons Area.

The Ticats will play host to Montreal this Saturday afternoon in a giant divisional matchup.

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The 2 groups are tied for second within the East at 3-6, the Als coming off that stunning additional time win over the beforehand undefeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night time.

Nobody will give Toronto a lot of an opportunity towards the Stampeders, who all the time appear to beat the Boatmen … except there’s a Gray Cup on the road.

The East is instantly tight and it’s solely going to get tighter within the ensuing weeks.

OUT OF THE WOODS

Kick returner Lawrence Woods made a psychological mistake in Hamilton’s 34-20 loss at BMO when he fielded a punt inside his 5 yard line that finally led to a conceded security.

Within the rematch, Woods set the tone early with a protracted punt return.

On the night time, he averaged 25.5 yards on six returns. He added 69 kickoff return yards for a whopping 222 mixed yards.

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Woods additionally returned a punt for a TD, nevertheless it was referred to as again on a penalty.

Toronto’s punt cowl unit was horrible and even prolonged a Ticats drive following a roughing-the-kicker penalty that backed up the Argos once they regained possession.

Banks averaged 9.0 yards on 5 punt returns, whereas Kurleigh Gittens Jr. returned 5 kickoffs for 106 yards.
Javon Leake, a operating again by commerce, is eligible to return off the six-game injured record for the Stamps contest subsequent weekend and ought to be out there for the Argonauts, who’re determined for a returner.

BY THE NUMBERS

MBT hasn’t thrown an interception in three straight video games … For the second time this season, feelings bought the higher of the veteran QB when the Argos pulled the offence off the sector on third and inches within the fourth quarter. The earlier outburst got here in B.C. when MBT was changed by Kelly halfway via the fourth quarter because the Argos had been getting routed … Every week in the past at BMO, the Argos outscored the Ticats 28-6 within the second half. Friday night time within the Hammer, the Ticats flipped the script by outscoring the Argos 24-6. Coming into the night time, Hamilton had been outscored 134-58 within the second half, together with a 95-29 disparity within the fourth quarter.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com