Argonauts vs. Blue Bombers: Boatmen let ticket to East final slip through their fingers at BMO Field - Toronto Star

A late fumble recovered by former Argos linebacker Thiadric Hansen and gave Winnipeg new life.

Argonauts return specialist Janarion Grant fumbled a punt in the final two minutes of Saturday’s East final against the Blue Bombers at BMO Field.  

The Argonauts were eliminated from Grey Cup contention in uncharacteristic ways.

Up 22-17 on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers late in Saturday’s CFL East Division semifinal at BMO Field — in front of a pumped-up crowd announced at 21,786 — star returner Janarion Grant fumbled a punt with 1:42 left. The ball was recovered by former Argos linebacker Thiadric Hansen and gave the visitors new life.

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With just 44 seconds on the clock, Winnipeg’s Nick Demski caught a 23-yard pass from Dru Brown for a touchdown, then added a two-point conversion for a 25-22 victory. The Blue Bombers will travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes in the East final next Saturday.

“This is going to hurt for a while,” said Mike Miller, in his first year as Toronto’s head coach. “At the end when it doesn’t go the way you want, that’s the game. You’ve got to play all four quarters, play it to the end, all three phases. It’s just unfortunate.”

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The 32-year-old Grant has been one of Toronto’s most reliable players, and his fumble wasn’t the only reason they lost a winnable game.

Starting quarterback Chad Kelly completed 18 of 30 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown before leaving early in the fourth quarter with a right shoulder injury. Nick Arbuckle took over for the final eight minutes in a battle of backup quarterbacks. Brown started for the Blue Bombers in place of Zach Collaros, who suffered a rib injury in their last game of the regular season.

Brown’s final stats mirrored Kelly’s (18 for 30, 206 yards) with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Winnipeg committed four turnovers in all, but the Argos failed convert those into touchdowns.

Toronto’s running game also continued to struggle. Winnipeg’s Brady Oliveira outrushed the Argos, 95 yards to 48.

Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea, a former Argonauts linebacker and special teams co-ordinator, supported Grant after the game.

“Janarion Grant is a Hall of Fame returner, and those things happen to Hall of Fame returners,” he said. “Nobody, not even me, understands what it’s like to be running this way as fast as you can and having 12 guys run at you ... the opposite way as fast as they can.”

Toronto’s defence was scrambling early, allowing a 32-yard touchdown by Winnipeg’s Ontaria Wilson in the first three minutes. It took the Argos about 10 minutes to respond with Kelly’s 20-yard pass to freshly minted CFL rookie of the year Tyler Kahmann in the end zone.

Defensive back DaShaun Amos followed soon after with an interception inside enemy territory to give Toronto another possession in the opening quarter, and kicker Lirim Hajrullahu booted a 42-yard field goal for the home team’s first lead of the afternoon.

Late in the third quarter, Toronto defensive lineman Shawn Lemon recovered a Tim White fumble, but the home crowd’s excitement was short-lived after Kelly was strip sacked on the next series. Winnipeg’s David Reese recovered the fumble and took it 58 yards for a touchdown, cutting Toronto’s lead to 19-17 heading into the final frame.

With just over two minutes to play, the Argos had third-and-one at their 45-yard line but opted to punt, gambling they could stop the Bombers and get the ball back to preserve a 22-17 lead. After two incomplete passes the Bombers did have to punt, but Grant lost the handle.  

“It’s frustrating ... one more touchdown probably changes the whole dynamic there at the end,” said Miller.  

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Gilbert Ngabo is a Toronto-based sports reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @dugilbo.