TORONTO — Dan LeFevour gave the Toronto Argonauts a much-needed boost Sunday night.
LeFevour threw for 329 yards and a touchdown in Toronto’s 33-21 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The start was LeFevour’s first in the CFL in more than two years but he was able to lead the Argos to just their second victory at BMO Field and snap their four-game losing streak.
LeFevour became the starter after incumbent Ricky Ray (fractured rib) was hurt in Toronto’s 49-36 road loss to Hamilton on Monday. He only had two full practices with the Argos’ offence and last started a game in 2014 with Hamilton.
LeFevour played in Montreal’s 2015 season opener but as a backup and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in that game.
"Yeah, I was nervous all week," LeFevour admitted. "I’ve always said I prepare for every game as if I’m the starter."
Toronto fully utilized LeFevour’s mobility, running naked bootlegs, moving the pocket and even ran the option. But he also threw two interceptions.
"He had feedback on eight to 10 plays that we put in," Milanovich said. "Veterans have more opinions than young guys do and we asked him, ‘Hey, do you like this?’
"Essentially he had zero reps in our offence prior to this week so we kind of let him, within our system, read things the way he was comfortable with because there just wasn’t enough time to get him to do it the way we’d want it to be done."
LeFevour also relished beating Hamilton, the team he began his CFL career with in 2012. He remained with the Ticats through 2014 — when he suffered a season-ending knee injury — before the club signed present starter Zach Collaros in free agency.
"I won’t lie," LeFevour said. "They went with a great quarterback in Zach, who is a great player.
"I’m not there anymore and it’s great to get a (win.)"
Toronto (5-6) captured the rubber match of its three-game season series with Hamilton (5-6). After being outscored 32-6 in the second half on Labour Day, the Argos outscored the Ticats 17-1 over the final two quarters before an energetic BMO Field gathering of 17,214 that included Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban.
"Obviously very important," Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich said. "It’s very difficult when they’re doing what you want them to do and they’re coming up just a bit short.
"They needed that, they needed to be rewarded for what they were doing."
LeFevour was sharp early, capping Toronto’s opening seven-play, 71-yard march with a 15-yard TD pass to Tori Gurley at 5:13 of the first. Lirim Hajrullahu made it 10-0 with a 36-yard boot at 11:50 before connecting from 24 yards out at 3:34 of the second following T.J. Heath’s first of two interceptions.
"The first drive, that was critical, I thought, for us to get the lead," Milanovich said. "(LeFevour) gave them hope and he played well.
"He’s a veteran and that’s what veterans can do for you."
Toronto opened the second half with an impressive 81-yard, two play scoring drive. After Gurley’s 45-yard catch, Brandon Whitaker scored on a 36-yard run at 1:22 to put the Argos back ahead 23-20.
Whitaker increased Toronto’s lead to 30-20 with a six-yard TD run at 4:21 just two plays after Justin Hickman blocked Brett Maher’s punt. It marked the third straight game Hamilton has surrendered a blocked punt. Hajrullahu’s 30-yard field goal at 13:40 put Toronto ahead 33-20.
"The first play of the second half where (LeFevour) threw it up and Tori made that great catch, I think that gave us all a lot of confidence," Milanovich said. "It was important for us to start the third quarter that way."
Hamilton linebacker Simoni Lawrence had nothing but praise for LeFevour.
"He wasn’t panicking out there, he was having fun," Lawrence said. "He was running around throwing the ball, making plays to win the game.
"He was playing with confidence, that was the big thing."
Collaros drove Hamilton to the Toronto 11-yard line with just over five minutes to play but Heath recorded his second interception and returned it to the Argos’ 32-yard line.
But Heath didn’t have time to enjoy his stellar performance. Toronto dealt Heath, a 2017 first-round pick and 2018 third-round selection to Winnipeg for quarterback Drew Willy post-game. Ironically, the Argos visit the Blue Bombers next week.
Collaros finished 22-of-39 passing for 300 yards with his 15th TD pass in five games since returning to the lineup Aug. 13. But Collaros also threw three interceptions and was sacked three times.
"We didn’t convert down in the scoring area a couple of times that could’ve put us back into the game," Hamilton coach Kent Austin said.
Added Collaros: "Do we have to flush it and move on? Yes. We can’t have another game like this. Really bad, it’s embarrassing."
Hajrullahu booted three converts and four field goals.
Jeremiah Masoli and Terrance Toliver scored Hamilton’s touchdowns. Maher kicked two converts, two field goals and a single.
