English
The Toronto Argonauts secured a playoff berth on Saturday after defeating the Edmonton Elks 24-19 at BMO Field. Quarterback Chad Kelly threw two touchdown passes to lead Toronto past Edmonton, clinching both a post-season spot and a home playoff game for the Argonauts.
Late Interception Seals the Win
Edmonton pushed hard in the final minutes and drove deep into Toronto territory. However, cornerback Tarvarus McFadden ended the threat with an interception in the end zone with just 19 seconds left on the clock. McFadden picked off Cody Fajardo’s pass at the Toronto 21-yard line to preserve the victory.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
Earlier, Benjie Franklin also came up with a crucial interception. Edmonton had driven to the Toronto four-yard line on a 12-play, 70-yard drive that consumed over six minutes. Franklin’s pick stopped the Elks from tying the game at that point.
The Elks were chasing their fifth consecutive win on Saturday. Edmonton last achieved that feat back in 2017. The loss dropped their record to 10-4, while Toronto improved to 8-6 on the season.
Kelly Battles Through Injury
Kelly finished the game completing 13 of 19 passes for 289 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. His performance came despite ongoing physical concerns. Kelly suffered a broken toe in Toronto’s 28-24 loss in Regina on August 29. On Saturday, he also took a hit to his right hand during the first half.
Early in the game, Kelly was seen limping after a first-quarter touchdown pass and briefly visited Toronto’s medical tent. Despite that, he stayed in the game and continued to deliver. His 19-yard touchdown pass to Dymere Miller at 12:33 of the second quarter put Toronto ahead 17-10. On that play, Kelly rolled right, reversed field, and found Miller in the corner of the end zone.
Kelly opened the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital at 4:12 of the first quarter. That capped a two-play, 70-yard drive to start the game.
Scoring Summary and Key Moments
Mital, Miller and Ralph Holley all scored touchdowns for Toronto. Kicker Lirim Hajrullahu added the converts and a field goal. Holley’s score came in dramatic fashion. A high snap led to a fumble, and Holley scooped up the ball and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown at 8:11 of the third quarter. That gave Toronto a 24-16 lead.
For Edmonton, Fajardo scored on a one-yard run at 9:55 of the first quarter to tie the game at 10-10. Kicker Vincent Blanchard contributed four field goals and a convert. Blanchard cut the deficit to 24-19 with a 19-yard field goal, set up by Montrell Washington’s 38-yard punt return. However, Blanchard missed from 42 yards with 6:05 remaining, which kept Toronto’s five-point lead intact.
The game also featured several flashpoints. Elks defensive back Chelen Garnes received an ejection for rough play following an altercation with Mital. Mital also received a flag for unnecessary roughness on the same play. In addition, Toronto’s Damonte Coxie and Edmonton’s J.J. Ross drew offsetting objectionable conduct penalties. An Argonauts coach also received a penalty for contacting an official during one of Edmonton’s late drives.
The Argonauts played before a crowd of 15,991 at BMO Field. With the win, Toronto not only locked up a playoff spot but also secured the right to host a post-season game. The game was played on September 19, 2026.
