Argonauts Upset Lions 35-27 In Week 1 Victory

Cameron Dukes used his right arm and legs to make his first CFL home start a victorious one.

Dukes threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to lead the Toronto Argonauts past the B.C. Lions 35-27 on Sunday night in the season opener for both teams. Dukes made his third career start but first at BMO Field and the second-year pro said nerves weren’t an issue.

“I feel like the only time I’m not nervous in my life is when I’m playing football,” he said. “I get away from everything mentally and I just get out here and play the game I love.

“You’ve got guys around you who trust you and you have a coaching staff that trusts you. That takes the nerves away from it.”

The Argos are Dukes’ team at least through the first half of the season. Incumbent Chad Kelly, the CFL’s outstanding player last season, was suspended for both of Toronto’s pre-season contests and at least its first nine regular-season games for violating the league’s gender-based violence policy.

The six-foot-one, 205-pound Dukes finished 21-of-27 passing for 254 yards in leading Toronto (1-0) to a fourth straight home victory over B.C. (0-1). But he also lost a fumble that defensive lineman Tibo Debaillie returned 20 yards for the TD that put the Lions ahead 20-6 at 6:56 of the second quarter.

John Haggerty’s stellar 60-yard punt put B.C. at its 10-yard line with 2:04 remaining. The Lions turned the ball over on downs at their one-yard line with 1:25 to play, delighting the BMO Field gathering of 12,767.

Dukes’ one-yard TD run at 13:38 put Toronto ahead 35-27. B.C. turned the ball over — their fifth in the game — a final time on downs with 48 seconds remaining.

“We’re going to make mistakes, all of us,” Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “I thought (Dukes) bounced back (after his fumble) and made the plays we needed to make to win the game.”

BC QB Vernon Adams finished 25-of-33 passing for 363 yards with two touchdowns. But he also had an interception, fumbled twice and was sacked six times as Toronto outscored B.C. 19-7 in the second half.

“It’s the first game of the season but it was something with us last year where we need to come out a little faster in the second half, in the third quarter,” Adams said. “Ultimately, at the end of the day as a quarterback I’ve got to take care of the ball.

“I had too many fumbles and an interception so if I take care of the ball I think we’re in a better spot at winning the game. It’s the first one of the season and all we can do is get better.”

(Canadian Press)