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Toronto beats Calgary on FG

Oct 15, 2011 - 3:52 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Noel Prefontaine kicked the game-winning 18- yard field goal as time expired, sending the Toronto Argonauts to a 31-29 win over the Calgary Stampeders from Rogers Centre.

Toronto began the eventual winning drive with just over one minute to go and got some help from the Stampeders in the form of penalties.

With 54 seconds to go, Steven Jyles completed a pass to Cory Boyd on 3rd-and- five but Boyd was brought down short of the marker, which would have sealed the win for Calgary, but Brandon Smith was called for illegal contact, keeping the game alive for Toronto.

On the very next play, Jyles was intercepted by Demetrice Morley, but Geoff Tisdale was flagged for another illegal contact, allowing Prefontaine to kick Toronto (4-11) to the win.

"It was just another kick," Prefontaine said of his game-winner. "I was just trying to connect and make a good kick."

With the loss, Calgary (8-7) wasted a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the West, although the Stampeders have clinched a playoff spot along with British Columbia and Edmonton.

Jyles threw for 118 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, while Boyd had a huge day on the ground for the Argos, running for 148 yards on 18 carries.

Chad Owens caught three passes for 43 yards, while Brandon Rideau hauled in a touchdown pass for Toronto.

Backup quarterback Drew Tate was sensational for Calgary, throwing for 263 yards and two scores in relief of starter Henry Burris, who completed 6-of-11 for 65 yards and two interceptions.

"It was just unfortunate how it happened at the end," Tate said. "I felt good about the way we moved the ball. We were making plays."

Jon Cornish rushed for 128 yards on 12 carries, while Johnny Forzani and Nikolas Lewis caught touchdown passes for the Stampeders. Rene Paredes was good on all five of his field goal attempts.

After a two-and-out by Toronto to start the game, Calgary took over on its own 24-yard line. A 57-yard burst by Cornish sparked an 81-yard, seven-play drive down to the Toronto six before Paredes connected on a 13-yard field goal to give his team a 3-0 lead.

Midway through the first stanza, Toronto took advantage of superb field position to take a 7-3 lead. A Calgary fumble on its own 27 gave Toronto the ball back at that spot. The Argos needed only two plays, highlighted by a 13- yard touchdown run by Boyd to take the lead.

Calgary cut the lead to one on their next possession when Burris led an 11- play, 56-yard drive to the Toronto 21 and Paredes capped the drive with a 29- yard field goal.

Midway through the second quarter, Jyles led his team on an 11-play, 82-yard drive and B.J. Hall capped the march with a three-yard sprint into the end zone to give the Argos a 14-6 lead.

With just over two minutes to go before halftime, the Toronto defense made a big play when Byron Parker intercepted Burris and returned it 31 yards to paydirt for a 21-6 advantage.

Paredes was good on a 28-yard field goal with under a minute remaining in the half to pull Calgary within 21-9, but Toronto came right back on their next possession as Jyles found Rideau in the end zone for a 16-yard strike with just six seconds remaining in the half for a 28-9 advantage.

Tate led his offense on a six-play, 76-yard drive to begin the second half before he found Lewis for an 11-yard touchdown pass to pull Calgary within 28-16.

Paredes was good on his fourth field goal attempt of the game from 40 yards out to make it 28-19 with just under 3 1/2 minutes to go in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth, Tate brought his team within two, leading a nine-play, 90-yard drive before finding Forzani with a 22-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline to make it 28-26.

With under four minutes to go in the contest, Paredes was true from 24 yards out, giving the Stampeders their first lead of the game, 29-28.

Game Notes

Calgary leads the all-time regular season series since 1945, 41-39-1...Toronto will miss the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons...Toronto is 3-4 at home this season...It was Boyd's fifth rushing touchdown of the season and his ninth career 100-rushing yard game...Toronto's 21-point second quarter was its highest point total in one quarter this season.