Kelly throws 4 TDs, Argos return to East finals with romp over Ottawa

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The Toronto Argonauts have their rematch with the defending Gray Cup champion Montreal Alouettes.

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Quarterback Chad Kelly threw four touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Argonauts to a 58-38 CFL victory against the Ottawa Redblacks in the East Division semifinals on Saturday.

The dominant victory advanced the Argonauts to their fourth straight appearance in the East finals and set up a rematch with the Alouettes, who upset Toronto 38-17 a year ago.

“We know we’re going to have their best shot,” Kelly said. “We have to be ready for whatever they throw at us and be ready to go.”

Kelly and the Argonauts weren’t ready to go against the Redblacks, falling behind 10-0 and 13-3 in the first quarter. But Toronto rebounded with an explosive 38-point second half, including a pair of pick-sixes

Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown set CFL playoff records with 46 completions and 61 pass attempts. He threw for three touchdowns, 476 yards and two interceptions that resulted in Toronto touchdowns.

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The visitors were in the play-offs for the first time since 2018, but the semi-final defeat made them six defeats in their last seven outings.

The two teams’ combined output of 96 points tied a playoff record, set when the Alouettes defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2011 East Division semifinals.

“Offensively, we can be explosive,” Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “Now we have to do it again next week.”

Kelly finished with 358 passing yards and completed 18 of 20 before 18,060 at BMO Field. He also rushed for 29 yards on two carries. The Argonauts got a break in the final seconds of the first half. Brown rallied the Redblacks for a touchdown at the end of the half, finishing with an eight-yard pass to slotback Jaelon Acklin.

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But then they botched the ensuing kick-off, trying to get a quick firecracker through the middle of the field. Richie Leone’s kick hit the Argonauts’ front wall. Kerfalla Exume pounced on the ball with three seconds left.

Toronto placekicker Lirim Hajrullahu nailed his 53-yard attempt to bring the home team within 23-20.

“We tried to do a squib kick and put it in the middle of the field,” Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce said. “We had six seconds left in the half, and the only thing I regret is bad luck. It hit one of their players, and they were able to recover it and get a field goal.

Toronto scored two touchdowns before the middle of the third quarter to take a 34-23 lead.

Kelly hit Davaris Daniels for his second touchdown, this time on a nine-yard strike. The drive was set up by a 50-foot rush down the middle from Kelly. The Argonauts’ quarterback was drilled by Redblacks linebacker Frankie Griffin, resulting in an unnecessary 15-yard roughness penalty.

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Kelly showed his displeasure but was forced to leave the game due to concussion protocol.

Three plays later he returned for his third touchdown pass.

On the Argonauts’ next drive, Kelly Makai found Polk for a 57-yard bomb. Three plays later, Kelly ran in for a 15-yard score. Kelly’s fourth touchdown throw, a 13-yard completion to Jake Herslow, arrived at the 2:56 mark of the fourth quarter.

Ottawa’s Lewis Ward hit his fourth field goal of the afternoon, this time from 42 yards, as the third quarter ended with Toronto leading 34-26.

The Redblacks had the ball for 24:11 of the first half, but went to the locker room down 23-20 and settled for three goals.

Brown went an impressive 26 for 31 for 256 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

“Right now, it’s tough,” Brown said. “Because you don’t go back to work until the following year.”

Two quick touchdowns in the second quarter gave the Argonauts a 17-16 lead. Kelly hit Polk for a 70-yard catch-and-run and Daniels from 41 yards. Polk finished with 158 yards on four receptions.

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