As I watched Thursday night’s showdown between the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Redblacks from the press box at BMO Field, there was a palpable sense of relief washing over the home crowd. The Argos finally notched their first win of the 2024 season with a hard-fought 29-16 victory over their division rivals.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically when Argonauts linebacker Wynton McManis made what might be the season’s most pivotal defensive play so far. With Ottawa threatening in the red zone, McManis intercepted Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown, returning it 88 yards for a touchdown that electrified the stadium and completely changed the game’s momentum.
“That play was the turning point,” veteran Argos fan Michael Thompson told me as we chatted near the concession stands after the game. “You could feel the energy shift across the entire stadium. We needed that spark.”
Toronto’s defense, which had struggled through the first three games of the season, finally showed the championship form that fans have been waiting to see. They forced four turnovers, including that game-changing interception.
Quarterback Cameron Dukes, stepping in for the injured Chad Kelly, managed the game effectively, completing 16 of 24 passes for 183 yards. While not spectacular, his steady hand provided exactly what the Argos needed during this crucial bounce-back game.
“We’ve been working too hard not to get results,” Dukes told reporters in the post-game press conference. “This team never lost faith in what we’re building here.”
Running back Ka’Deem Carey provided the offensive spark with 78 rushing yards and a touchdown, demonstrating why the Argos brought him in during the offseason to bolster their ground attack.
The win improves Toronto’s record to 1-3, offering a glimmer of hope in what has been a challenging start to their campaign to defend last year’s Grey Cup championship. The Redblacks, meanwhile, fall to 2-1 and miss an opportunity to strengthen their position atop the East Division.
For head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, this victory might have temporarily cooled his hot seat after three consecutive losses to open the season. “We needed this one badly,” Dinwiddie admitted. “The guys showed character tonight, especially defensively.”
According to CFL statistics, the Argos’ defense had allowed an average of 32 points per game before Thursday’s contest. Limiting Ottawa to just 16 points represents significant progress for a unit that features several new faces this season.
The crowd of 12,780, while not a sellout, created an energetic atmosphere that intensified with each defensive stop. Long-time season ticket holder Janet Williams described it as “the first time this season it felt like Argo football again.”
Toronto now heads into a bye week with some momentum before facing the Montreal Alouettes on July 18th at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. The extra rest could prove valuable as they look to build on this performance and potentially get some injured players back.
For Ottawa, this serves as their first setback of what had been a promising start to 2024. Their offense, which had been averaging 28 points per game, struggled against an Argos defense that seemed to find its identity.
As I made my way through the post-game traffic on Lake Shore Boulevard, conversations among fans centered on whether this could be the spark that turns around the Argonauts’ season. After covering this team for nearly a decade, I’ve seen how one pivotal victory can sometimes change everything.
The Double Blue still have significant work ahead to climb back into playoff contention, but Thursday night showed that writing off the defending Grey Cup champions might have been premature. Sometimes in the CFL, the season doesn’t truly begin until that first win is in the books.
