The Toronto Argonauts delivered an offensive show, defeating the visiting B.C. Lions 52-34 at BMO Field on Saturday. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle threw for 430 yards and three touchdowns while adding another on the ground. Toronto’s defense contributed with a key interception returned for a touchdown by Benjie Franklin. Receivers Jake Herslow and Kevin Mital added touchdown catches, and running back Spencer Brown scored on the ground and a two-point conversion. Kicker Lirim Hajrullahu made three field goals and five extra points.
The Lions were led by quarterback Nathan Rourke, who threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Jevon Cottoy scored twice, and James Butler rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Sean Whyte added two field goals and three converts, while punter Carl Meyer contributed a single.
B.C. took an early lead, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. Cottoy scored a touchdown following a nice catch by Ayden Eberhardt on a deflected pass. Butler added another quick touchdown on a run up the middle. Toronto managed only a Hajrullahu field goal in response.
Toronto tied the game 14-14 in the second quarter. Arbuckle scored on a quarterback draw, and Hajrullahu added a field goal. The Argos took their first lead at 21-14 when Franklin returned an interception 57 yards for a touchdown. B.C. responded quickly, with Rourke finding Cottoy for a five-yard touchdown, making it 21-21. The Argonauts regained the lead just before halftime. Arbuckle connected with Mital for a touchdown with only 33 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Hajrullahu’s extra point made the score 28-21 at the break.
Toronto started the third quarter strong. B.C. marched down the field but had to settle for an 11-yard field goal by Whyte after a dropped pass inside the five-yard line, making it 28-24. Toronto then answered with a touchdown drive capped by Brown’s three-yard rush, giving them a 35-24 lead. The Lions responded with a long drive, highlighted by a 34-yard pass from Rourke to Justin McInnis. Butler scored on a short leap, but a failed two-point conversion left B.C. trailing 35-30. Late in the third quarter, Arbuckle threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Herslow, extending Toronto’s lead to 42-30.
Early in the fourth, Rourke scrambled 47 yards to set up a field goal by Whyte, closing the gap to 42-33. Toronto immediately answered as Arbuckle found Herslow wide open for a 70-yard touchdown. Hajrullahu’s convert made it 49-33. B.C. added a single by Meyer, bringing the score to 49-34 with over nine minutes left. Toronto sealed the victory when Rourke fumbled after a sack by Wynton McManis. Branden Dozier recovered for the Argos, and Toronto ran out the clock. Brown’s late rushes secured first downs, and Hajrullahu added a 20-yard field goal in the final seconds to finalize the score at 52-34.
Nick Arbuckle’s performance was the highlight of the night, throwing for four total touchdowns and running for another. Toronto’s balanced attack combined effective passing, strong rushing, and opportunistic defense to overcome an early deficit. Toronto Argonauts win, improving their record to 3-8, while B.C. falls to 5-6. The Argos’ high-powered offense demonstrated the team’s potential in the CFL, delivering a performance that will be remembered for explosive plays and strategic execution.
