TORONTO - Joe Smith took the lustre off a record-setting performance by Bashir Levingston.

Smith's two third-quarter touchdowns rallied the Grey Cup-champion B.C. Lions to a 24-22 win Thursday over the Toronto Argonauts in the first game of the CFL season. The loss tarnished Levingston's CFL-record 129-yard return of a missed field goal late in the first half that thrilled the Rogers Centre gathering of 29,157 and put Toronto ahead 15-10.

But Smith rained on Levingston's parade. Two plays following Ian Smart's 76-yard kickoff return to open the second half, Smith scored on a two-yard run, then added a one-yard TD scamper at 11:56 to put the Lions ahead 24-15.

"It's always big to go into someone's house and get a win," said Smith, who ran for a game-high 79 yards on 18 carries. "Especially to start the season."

But Michael Bishop came off the bench to pull Toronto to within 24-22 with an eight-yard TD strike to Michael Palmer at 6:25 of the fourth. It came five plays after Leron Mitchell recovered Smart's fumbled punt return - his second recovery of the game - at the B.C. 40-yard line.

Bishop brought the house to its feet with a 51-yard TD strike to Andre Talbot, but it was called back due to a holding penalty.

However, the contest more resembled an exhibition game as neither offence looked sharp. B.C. managed just 259 total yards while the Argos mustered just 210. Both teams had three turnovers but the Lions, who had a CFL-best 59 sacks last year, registered six.

"The offence still has to find its identity," said Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson, who was 17-of-27 passing for 179 yards and an interception. "We tried a lot of things differently - throwing long, short, run - we need to settle with what works."

Jamall Johnson had B.C.'s other touchdown. Paul McCallum booted three converts and a field goal.

Arland Bruce III had Toronto's other touchdown. Noel Prefontaine had a single and Chris Hardy booted three converts.

True to his word, Argos coach Mike Clemons used two quarterbacks. Veteran Damon Allen started and was 14-of-18 passing for 130 yards and a TD over three quarters before Bishop played the fourth, finishing 7-of-13 passing for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Clemons all but said Bishop earned the start for Toronto in Hamilton next weekend.

"It would probably serve us best not to discuss it," Clemons said. "I think you all know it (Bishop's play) meant something."

Bishop, who also relieved Allen in both of Toronto's playoff games last year, said he'd welcome the chance to finally start.

"When I have the opportunity to start, I can set my own tone," he said. "The last few times I've come into game, we've been behind and it's tough to set your own tone."

Allen, a 23-year CFL veteran and pro football's career passing leader, said he will take the coaches' decision in stride.

"I'm not going to worry about it," he said. "If they decide Michael is the guy, then I will be ready to play.

"But this was a game we had a chance to win and we can get better as a football team."

Levingston's electrifying return capped an exciting finish to what otherwise was a defence-dominated first half.

Levingston took McCallum's missed 32-yard try, ran straight a few yards, then broke to his right. After getting a block near the goal-line, Levingston ran untouched up the field and was so wide open that he merely jogged in from about 35 yards out.

Levingston's return broke the CFL record of 128 yards set by Calgary's Ron Hopkins in 1990.

"It is what it is," Levingston said. "Had we won, I probably would think more about it, but we didn't and so it's just another touchdown."

Turnovers set up the other two first-half touchdowns.

Mitchell recovered Cory Rodgers' fumbled punt return at the B.C. 11-yard line, setting up Allen's touchdown pass to Bruce at 13:03 that cut B.C.'s lead to 10-8.

The Lions' TD came when Barron Miles blocked Prefontaine's punt at the Toronto goal-line and Johnson recovered it in the end zone at 11:33 of the first. Prefontaine needed help leaving the field and when he returned, he missed a 33-yard field goal for a single 14 seconds into the second.

Hardy then came on to handle all kicking duties.

Clemons said Prefontaine injured his leg slightly on the block, but the bigger issue was he hit his head hard on the turf on the play and felt too woozy to continue.

NOTES: Argos officials denied radio reports Thursday that slotback Derrell Mitchell, released last weekend by Edmonton, had re-signed with Toronto. Mitchell, a 10-year CFL veteran, spent the first seven years of his career with the Double Blue and was on Toronto's sidelines for the game . . . Running back John Avery, receiver Obed Cetoute, tackle Glenn January and linebacker Willie Pile were Toronto's pre-game scratches. Not dressing for B.C. were kicker Rob Pikula (who the Lions are trying to trade), defensive back Markeith Knowlton, offensive lineman Amariah Farrow and receiver Adam Nicholson . . . The Lions return 38 players from last year's championship team, including 20 starters.