Zeke Moreno and the Argos' D had little luck keeping the Riders out of the end zone in the first half
Well, so much for a switch in personnel doing anything to change the Argos’ fortunes. Bart Andrus went back to Kerry Joseph at quarterback for Saturday’s game in Saskatchewan, but the Riders used four first half touchdowns to come out with a 32-22 win at chilly Mosaic Stadium.
Joseph, who threw 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions after being reinstated following a late-season benching last season, did about as much to warrant his spot behind centre as he did in last week’s second half against Montreal. By that, I mean very little. He was 8-of-22 for 82 yards and threw a late second quarter interception that led to a Saskatchewan touchdown. After getting roughed up on a touchdown run of his own just before halftime, Joseph sat the third but returned after Cody Pickett suffered an oblique injury.
The Argos had chances to make things interesting — they stopped Saskatchewan on third down deep in their own territory in the third quarter, but could only salvage a Justin Medlock 11-yard field goal after Pickett missed an open receiver in the end zone. Another Medlock field goal cut the Riders’ lead to seven in the fourth, but a late Luca Congi field goal put the game out of reach.
Miraculously, the Argos are still mathematically in the playoff hunt at 3-11, though the chances of them actually making it are about the same as Andrus ever admitting to being wrong (like in the Arland Bruce III debacle, perhaps?). Toronto returns home to face the Edmonton Eskimos Friday.
