Chad Kelly threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Toronto Argonauts to a 44-24 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday in front of 13,943 fans at TD Place. The loss dropped Ottawa to 0-2 on the season.
Kelly dominates former team
Facing his former team for the first time, Kelly completed 25 of 32 passes for 424 yards and four touchdowns, though he also threw four interceptions that kept Ottawa within striking distance. Redblacks head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, who previously coached the Argos to four East Division finals in five seasons, watched his former quarterback dismantle his new defence.
Kelly's performance followed a 445-yard, three-touchdown outing in a Week 1 loss to Montreal. The 32-year-old nephew of former Buffalo Bills great Jim Kelly has now thrown for 869 yards and seven touchdowns in two games.
Redblacks rally falls short
Ottawa trailed by 12 points late in the fourth quarter but had a chance to make it a one-score game. With 2:52 remaining, running back Daniel Adeboboye was stopped on a third-down gamble at Toronto's one-yard line. After forcing a punt, Redblacks quarterback Jake Maier threw his second interception of the day to Benjie Franklin. On the next possession, Kalil Pimpleton fumbled a punt, setting up Toronto's final touchdown.
Maier finished 25 of 40 for 281 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Ayden Eberhardt was his top target with eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Early mistakes costly
The Redblacks started poorly when Maier's first pass was intercepted by James Caesar. Kelly capitalized with a 10-play, 75-yard drive ending in a three-yard touchdown pass to Makai Polk. Ottawa's offence went two-and-out on its next series, but Maier redeemed himself with an 18-yard touchdown toss to Eberhardt. The Argos quickly regained the lead when Kelly hit Dave Ungerer with a 47-yard bomb after rookie defensive back Jeremy Lucien fell in coverage, then found Damonte Coxie for a 24-yard touchdown on the next play.
Tough road ahead
Still searching for their first win, the Redblacks face a difficult stretch. They travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes on June 26 before returning home to host the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 3. Ottawa improved to 2-0 on coin tosses but remains winless in games.
