Kelly throws three TDs as Argonauts earn wild-weather win over Tiger-cats

Chad Kelly threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to lead the Toronto Argonauts past the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 39-20 on a rainy Saturday night.

Kelly moved Toronto (5-5) into second in the East Division ahead of Hamilton (4-7). The Argos tied the season series 1-1 heading into their annual Labour Day clash Sept. 7 at Hamilton Stadium.

The key point in the contest game in the fourth quarter when Toronto's Shawn Lemon forced Hamilton starter Tre Ford to fumble. Argos defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo recovered at the Ticats' 33-yard line.

Kelly took advantage, hitting Damonte Coxie on a 27-yard TD pass at 6:45 to put Toronto ahead 32-20.

Then after Hamilton turned the ball over on downs at the Toronto 49, Kelly thrilled the BMO Field gathering of 18,843 with a one-yard TD run at 12:10. It finished an eight-play, 66-yard drive.

Kelly finished 26-of-34 passing for 289 yards and also had an interception. Rookie Isaiah Smith ran for 99 yards on 15 carries.

Ford, who came off the bench to rally Hamilton to a win last week over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, completed 19-of-32 passes for 356 yards.

The contest began at 8:07 p.m. ET — one hour, seven minutes later than originally scheduled — due to a weather delay. When both teams returned to the field at 7:50 p.m. ET, AC/DC's Thunderstruck blared over the stadium's speakers as they warmed up.

But when Hamilton ran the game's first play from scrimmage, it resumed raining. The wet stuff stopped falling midway through the second but returned to start the final quarter before again subsiding.

At halftime, Toronto added former defensive stalwarts Kevin Eiben and Carl Brazley to its all-time list.

Marc Liegghio's 20-yard field goal in the rain 14 seconds into the fourth cut Toronto's advantage to 25-20. And it remained that way following Brady Lidster's miss from 33 yards out at 5:36.

Coxie, with two, and Kevin Mital also had touchdowns for Toronto. Lidster kicked four field goals and three converts.

Larry Rountree III and Jake Dolegala scored Hamilton's touchdowns. Liegghio booted two field goals and two converts.

Lidster's 32-yard field goal at 12:53 of the third stretched Toronto's lead to 25-17. Kelly's 12-yard touchdown pass to Mital at 5:45 put the Argos up 22-17 and capped a 10-play, 71-yard scoring march to open the second half.