For all intents and purposes, the Toronto Argonauts played their first and only pre-season game of 2021 in their regular-season finale at BMO Field Friday night. The Argos, minus 19 starters from last Friday’s 31-12 east-clinching victory over Hamilton, lost their first home game of the 2021 season 13-7 to the Edmonton Elks.
The Boatmen got on the board early with an Antonio Pipkin two-yard touchdown run. But Toshiki Sato would miss the extra point, setting the tone for where the game would eventually end up. Edmonton would answer with a rushing major from their quarterback Taylor Cornelius, who raced into the end zone easily from 18 yards out. Two more added on Sean Whyte field goals were all the Elks needed to win what was a very lackluster game. Toronto would score just one more time in the game, a rouge on a Sato punt in the second half.
Both the Argos and Elks offenses were very sluggish throughout the evening. With both teams combining to turn the ball over five times. A missed extra point early on and the Argos’ lack of confidence in replacement kicker Toshiki Sato, who was subbing for Boris Bede, led to Toronto bypassing field goal attempts in key sequences of the game. Once on a short field goal attempt, near the end of the first half with Toronto down 10-6.
It was fitting that the game would end on a punt out of bounds by Edmonton. It was that kind of night in the Six. A stark contrast from the electric atmosphere last Friday when Toronto clinched the East over Hamilton.
With the victory, Edmonton (3-10) snaps an eight-game losing streak. They finish their season this Friday at BC. Toronto (9-5) ends the regular season with their first winning year since 2015. The Argos will be back at BMO Field on Sunday, December 5th, when they host the East Final.
