Chad Kelly throws two TD passes as Argos clinch playoff berth with win over Elks

“The first half wasn’t bad but the second half was very, very underwhelming. We’ve got to be able to run the ball, too. Some of that is on me as well, we’ve got to get better.”

Kelly finished 19-of-31 passing for 373 yards with two interceptions. But Kelly was a one-man show in the first half, completing 13-of-19 passes for 289 yards with the two TDs and a pick.

However, Toronto ran the ball just six times in the contest while improving to 4-0 at BMO Field.

“We always work to be as multi as we can but each game will present different challenges,” said Toronto head coach Mike Miller. “Sometimes it’s like that, you don’t match up as well against certain teams.

“But we’ve got to go with whatever is helping us move the ball and we’re ready to make those adjustments. This (making playoffs) was a goal of the season and I’m pleased with how we did it … we want to be a physical football team and I think we kept answering the bell on that against a good team.”

Edmonton (10-4) threatened to complete the comeback, driving to the Toronto 21-yard line. But Tarvarus McFadden’s interception with 19 seconds remaining ended the threat.

Edmonton remains atop the West Division and was chasing a fifth straight win. It last achieved that milestone in 2017.

“Turnovers hurt us, ” said Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam. “Turnovers in the red zone, especially (an) unforced error, gives them a touchdown.

“We got hit with too many explosions in the first half. Defensively, we pulled it together in the second half, but those explosions were just …”

Edmonton’s Cody Fajardo completed 31-of-42 passes for 360 yards with two interceptions and also ran for 63 yards and a touchdown. Austin Mack had seven receptions for 116 yards while Justin Rankin rushed for a game-high 89 yards while adding five catches for 47 yards.

Vincent Blanchard cut Toronto’s lead to 24-19 with a 19-yard field goal before a BMO Field gathering of 15,991. The four-play, 52-yard march was set up by Montrell Washington’s 38-yard punt return and included a penalty against an Argos coach for contacting an official.

Blanchard missed from 42 yards out with 6:05 remaining. That forced Edmonton to go for the touchdown late rather than move downfield for a winning field goal.

Kevin Mital, Dymere Miller and Ralph Holley scored Toronto’s touchdowns. Lirim Hajrullahu added the converts and a field goal.

Blanchard kicked four field goals and a convert.

Edmonton was poised to tie the game, driving to the Toronto four-yard line. But Benjie Franklin’s interception halted the 12-play, 70-yard drive.

Holley’s 55-yard fumble-return TD at 8:11 gave Toronto a 24-16 lead. Fajardo had a shot at the recovery following a high snap but couldn’t corral the ball, allowing the six-foot-one, 285-pound Holley to scoop it up and rumble downfield for his first-ever defensive touchdown.

“It was a defensive effort, I just finished the play,” said Holley, adding he scored a touchdown once in high school as a running back. “I could’ve kept going, that adrenalin was pumping.

“I only felt tired after I knew I’d scored.”

The win was sweet redemption for Toronto, which dropped a 42-12 decision in Edmonton on Aug. 15.

Blanchard connected from 16 yards out at 4:19 to pull Edmonton to within 17-16.

Blanchard’s 18-yard field goal at 14:47 of the second quarter cut Toronto’s halftime lead to 17-13. But despite Kelly’s first-half play, it looked like it might be a short day for him as Kelly was limping after a first-quarter TD pass to Mital and went to Toronto’s medical tent.

Kelly suffered a broken toe in Toronto’s 28-24 loss in Regina on Aug. 29. And on another first-half possession Saturday, Kelly took a shot to his right hand.

Kelly’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Miller put Toronto ahead 17-10 at 12:33. Kelly began by rolling to his right, then reversed field before finding Miller in the corner of the end zone.

Things got testy on the march as Elks defensive back Chelen Garnes was ejected for rough play after an altercation with Mital, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Then Toronto’s Damonte Coxie and Edmonton’s J.J. Ross received offsetting objectionable conduct penalties.

Fajardo made it 10-10 with a one-yard TD run at 9:55. Hajrullahu’s 19-yard field goal extended Toronto’s lead to 10-3 at 11:56 of the first.

Kelly capped Toronto’s opening two-play, 70-yard drive with a 14-yard TD pass to Mital at 4:12. It came after Blanchard’s 33-yard field goal at 3:16.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Chad Kelly throws two TD passes as Argos clinch playoff berth with win over Elks

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