• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Argos use big second quarter to advance to East Final

Nov 12, 2012 - 12:15 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Ricky Ray threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another, as the Toronto Argonauts used a 31-point second quarter to beat the Edmonton Eskimos, 42-26, in the 2012 East Division Semifinals at Rogers Centre on Sunday.

Ray completed 23-of-30 passes for 239 yards for the Argonauts, who will next face the Montreal Alouettes in the East Division Championship round.

Chad Kackert carried the ball 15 times for 88 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 51 yards and a score. Maurice Mann hauled in seven passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.

"We started off slow," Toronto coach Scott Milanovich said. "It's good to have a veteran quarterback who doesn't get caught up in the situation."

Kerry Joseph connected on 12-of-25 passes for 192 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Eskimos, who lost three in a row to end the regular season. He also carried the ball six times for 58 yards and a score.

Matt Nichols completed 3-of-7 passes for 51 yards before leaving in the second half with a dislocated left ankle.

"We gave up 31 points (in the second quarter) and it was our mistakes," Edmonton coach Kavis Reed said.

Edmonton actually started the game with a 9-play, 91-yard scoring drive. Hugh Charles' 46-yard run set up Joseph's 11-yard TD pass to Cary Koch.

Things fell apart for the Eskimos in the second stanza. After almost throwing an interception, Ray hooked up with Kackert for a 12-yard score.

After Edmonton went two-and-out, Chad Owens returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown.

Toronto got the ball back after Marcus Ball picked off Joseph and returned the ball 53 yards to the Edmonton 29. Mann caught an 11-yard TD pass to make it 21-7 with just over five minutes remaining in the half.

Swayze Waters' 34-yard field goal and Ray's 7-yard touchdown run made it a 31-7 game at the break. The 31 points put up by the Argonauts in the second stanza was the most points scored in a quarter in CFL playoff history.

Grant Shaw's 36-yard field goal early in the third quarter made it 31-10.

Waters made a 38-yard field goal to make it 35-10 with over six minutes to play.

Edmonton scored 16 points in the final few minutes, but it was too late.

Game Notes

Edmonton was without linebacker JC Sherritt due to an ankle injury. Sherritt finished the regular season with a single-season record 130 tackles to go along with three sacks and five interceptions ... Ray faced his former team.