TORONTO -- Mitchell Gale's one-yard TD run with just over five minutes remaining to play led the Toronto Argonauts to a thrilling 26-24 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday night.
Gale scored at 9:43 of the fourth to put Toronto ahead 25-21 after Hamilton stopped Steve Slaton short on third-and-one but was flagged for being offside. That gave the Argos a fresh set of downs as Gale's TD came after Swayze Waters connected from 29 yards out at 3:14.
Hamilton pulled to within 25-24 with Justin Medlock's 45-yard field goal at 12:29. Toronto took the ball at its own 35 and Ricky Ray promptly marched the Argos to the Ticats' 24 but Waters' 31-yard field goal was wide at 14:39 for the single, making it a two-point game.
Hamilton took over at its 35 and drove to its 48 before James Yurichuk sacked Ticats quarterback Zach Collaros to end the game, delighting the loud Rogers Centre gathering of 19,258 with the roof closed.
With the win, Toronto (7-9) moved into a second-place tie with Hamilton (7-9) in the East, two points behind the Montreal Alouettes (8-8). The Argos can still finish first in the division with wins next weekend against the Als and then Ottawa the final weekend of the season.
Toronto also captured the season series 2-1, meaning the Argos will secure the higher spot if the two teams end the season tied in the standings.
Hamilton would've clinched a playoff spot with a win and finishes the season with games against Ottawa and Montreal.
Collaros, who finished with three touchdown passes, put Hamilton ahead 21-15 at 13:08 of the third, capping a brilliant 109-yard, 10-play drive with a 27-yard TD strike to Brandon Banks. It was Banks' miscue on a punt return that resulted in a nine-yard loss and put the ball on the Ticats' one-yard line.
Collaros found Sam Giguere on a 43-yard TD strike at 4:49 of the third to to pull Hamilton to within 15-14 to end an 80-yard, five-play drive.
Slaton scored Toronto's other touchdown. Waters kicked the convert, three converts and a single. The other points came on a safety.
Luke Tasker had Hamilton's other touchdown. Justin Medlock booted three converts and a field goal.
Tasker's 50-yard TD grab was the second quarter's lone scoring play and cut Toronto's intermission lead to 15-7 as the opening half was a tale of two quarters. After struggling mightily, Hamilton made a game of it in the second, forcing two fumbles registering Tasker's touchdown.
Toronto opened the first with a safety after Collaros was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone just 1:16 in. Then following Swayze field goals of 36 and 22 yards, Slaton capped the quarter taking Ray's short pass and rumbling 22 yards for the TD to cap a 70-yard, eight-play drive that put the Argos ahead 15-0.
But both teams were hurt by penalties as Hamilton was flagged nine times for 85 yards and Toronto seven calls for seven yards. The Argos' safety came the result of a flag against the Ticats and the drives that led to Waters' second field goal (22 yards) and Slaton's TD were aided by infractions committed by the visitors.
Then in the second, Toronto twice had first downs negated by penalties, most notably a holding call nullifying Slaton's 27-yard run to the Hamilton 14 that set up Ed Gainey's recovery of a Zander Robinson fumble. Then later in the quarter, a Mike Bradwell 12-yard reception to the Hamilton 39 came back because of another holding call that resulted in the Argos ultimately punting.
NOTES -- There was a moment of silence before the opening kickoff to honour the memory of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who died in separate incidents this past week . . . Running back Curtis Steele and linebacker Greg Jones didn't dress for Toronto while Hamilton's scratches were defensive back Emanuel Jones and offensive lineman Jeremy Lewis. Jones had 12 tackles for Toronto last weekend against Montreal . . . . The Ticats have used 54 different players in their starting lineup this season. That includes 12 different starters on both the offensive and defensive lines . . . Ray made his 188th career start and 16th straight for Toronto while Collaros started just 18th CFL game . . . Hamilton cornerback Delvin Breaux turned 25 on Saturday.
