Toronto, ON (My Sportsbook) - Arkee Whitlock rushed for a season-high 145 yards on 17 carries and scored twice to lead the Edmonton Eskimos past the Toronto Argonauts, 22-19, at the Rogers Centre.
Ricky Ray completed 17-of-24 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown, and an interception for the Eskimos, who have won two in a row and four of five. Fred Stamps caught two passes for 60 yards and a TD.
Kerry Joseph connected on 25-of-42 passes for 331 yards, two interceptions, and a touchdown for the Argonauts, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their fifth straight loss Friday. Jeff Johnson caught a TD pass, while P.K. Sam had eight catches for 135 yards. Jamal Robertson rushed for 45 yards on 12 carries in defeat.
Toronto took advantage of an early turnover to take a 3-0 edge. On the second play of the game, Ray's pass was intercepted by Willie Pile and returned 27 yards to the Edmonton 23. The Argonauts settled for a 27-yard Justin Medlock field goal.
On the next Eskimos possession, Ray connected with Stamps on a 63-yard TD pass for a 7-3 lead with about 11 minutes left. A 37-yarder from Medlock and a 51-yard Noel Prefontaine single made it 8-6 in favor of Edmonton after one frame.
Toronto took a 9-8 lead into the locker room after Medlock drilled a 27-yarder at the end of the second period.
The Eskimos used a Whitlock rushing touchdown to take a 15-9 lead with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the third. Edmonton couldn't do much on offense after intercepting a Joseph pass and was forced to punt. Jason Carter fumbled on the punt return and Andrew Nowacki recovered the ball for the Eskimos and made his way to the Toronto four-yard-line. Whitlock then took the handoff and scampered into the end zone.
Medlock's 25-yard field goal early in the fourth cut the deficit to 15-12.
Whitlock's 53-yard TD run with less than 9 1/2 minutes to go in the fourth made it 22-12.
Joseph's two-yard TD pass to Johnson with over two minutes remaining accounted for the final margin.
Game Notes
This was the first meeting between Edmonton and Toronto this season. They will also meet on October 30...This was Whitlock's second 100-yard rushing game of the season...Toronto recorded its first TD pass in seven games on Friday...The Argonauts have dropped 10 of their last 11 outings...Toronto fell to 0-7 versus the Western Conference this year.