It will also mark the first time CFL fans see Duron Carter don the Double Blue.
Argos head coach Marc Trestman confirmed that the CFL All-Star will suit up for Toronto on Saturday. Trestman previously stated that Carter would not see any time on the field during the team’s home-and-home series with the Tabbies.
It appears that the 27-year-old has earned his spot earlier than expected.
“We feel collectively, the coaches and the players that I’ve gone to get feedback from, all say the next step in his evolution is to see how he handles being implemented in a game,” Trestman told TSN.ca. “We felt, all of us together, that I could stand by the two weeks, or I could take some of that back…He’s not going to be starting and he’s not going to be playing a significant amount of plays during this game.
“He’ll be in. Maybe a play or two will make a difference. We hope it does.”
A spark from Carter may be what the Argos need to help avenge their Labour Day loss.
The Ticats took down the Boatmen 42-28 in a game that was full of twists and momentum swings. Hamilton took control early and led 14-0 after 15 minutes of play. Toronto responded in the second half with a pair of touchdowns, cutting the deficit to seven points entering halftime.
The tides turned in Toronto’s favour early in the third quarter when Alden Darby scooped up a fumble deep in Argos territory and ran the football back 100 yards for a game-tying touchdown. The Boatmen took their first lead of the night before the end of the quarter, heading into the final 15 minutes up 28-24.
That’s when the Ticats took over. Hamilton pulled away with majors from Alex Green and Brandon Banks, outscoring the Argos 18-0 in the final quarter.
The Argos offence struggled to find any rhythm. McLeod Bethel-Thompson managed only 163 yards in the air with no touchdown passes and one interception, while completing under 50 per cent of his passes.
“That’s the advantage of a short week against the same opponent; you have to move on,” Bethel-Thompson told Argonauts.ca “We have to get right back out there, so you can’t dwell or linger. Work kind of replaces all bad feelings. Luckily we got to go back to work right away.”
It was a different story for the Ticats, who put on an offensive display.
Jeremiah Masoli threw for 385 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception while Green managed 115 yards on the ground with a pair of rushing majors. Receivers Luke Tasker and Brandon Banksboth eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a game that saw the Ticats rack up 543 yards in net offence.
“We overcame some adversity, which was something we haven’t been able to do,” Head Coach June Jones told Ticats.ca after the game. “We made plays in the fourth quarter. Speedy [Banks] was huge. Alex [Green] was great. Our defence… I didn’t see a ball completed in the second half.”
The Ticats swept the CFL Top Performers of the Week list as Banks, Masoli and Tasker were recognized for their strong performances.
Unfortunately it’s not all good news for the Ticats. The team confirmed that receiver Jalen Saunders is likely out for the rest of the season with an ACL tear in his right knee. Saunders ranked sixth in the league in receiving yards heading into the Labour Day tilt.
Hamilton lost four time CFL East all-star Chris Williams to a season ending Achilles injury just weeks earlier, putting the team down two starting receivers. Williams was part of a blockbuster deal with the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for quarterback Johnny Manziel.
“It’s tough losing two of those kinds of guys,” said Banks. “You know what Chris Williams brings to the table and Jalen [Saunders] was having a great season. He’s one of the best young receivers I’ve been around. We just have to step up.”
The Argos also suffered a setback with the loss of linebacker Marcus Ball. The team’s leading tackler has been moved to the six-game injured list after suffering a leg injury in the Labour Day loss.
Toronto signed former Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Jeff Knox Jr. earlier this week. The 26-year-old was recently released by the Tennessee Titans.
By The Numbers:
7 – Number of games that Jeremiah Masoli has thrown for 300-plus yards this season. The franchise record is held by Henry Burris, who threw for 300-plus yards nine times during the 2013 season.
88 – Team leading receiving targets for Argos receiver S.J. Green.
278 – Combined receiving yards by Luke Tasker and Brandon Banks in last week’s win over Toronto.
The Argos are slowly being backed up into a corner.
Toronto currently sits third in the East Division with a 3-7 record. If the reigning Grey Cup Champions drop their third straight, they will be three games back of Hamilton. With a West Division crossover looming at the Als hot on the heels of the Argos, it’s time for Toronto to step up.
The Ticats have emerged as a favourite to win the East Division and will be going for their third straight win on Saturday. Brandon Banks has been a pivotal part of that success. The 30-year-old leads the CFL with seven games of 100-plus yards, and is on pace for as many as 13 100-plus yards games in 2018. That would set a new CFL single-season record.
– With files from TSN, Argonauts.ca, and Ticats.ca
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