Argos upset Als in East final, reach 2nd Grey Cup in 3 years
There will be a new Grey Cup champion in 2024.
Despite quarterback Chad Kelly suffering a broken ankle in the contest, the Toronto Argonauts clinched a berth in the 111th Grey Cup after holding off the Montreal Alouettes to win the 2024 East Division final 30-28 at Molson Stadium on Saturday.
The Argos will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in next Sunday's Grey Cup game at BC Place after the Bombers knocked off the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22 in the West final.
Montreal, which upset the Argos on the road in last year's East final en route to a championship, had its fourth-quarter comeback finish just short. Cody Fajardo threw two touchdown passes in the final frame, making it a two-point game when he tossed a 22-yard touchdown to Walter Fletcher with 1:59 left. But Benjie Franklin intercepted Fajardo's pass on the Alouettes' two-point convert attempt that could've tied the contest.
The two-point attempt is NO GOOD.#GCPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/nPdjFsahxC
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 9, 2024
On the ensuing Argos drive, backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle hit David Ungerer III for a huge first down at midfield. Two plays later, referees flagged Alouettes linebacker Tyrice Beverette for pass interference on Dejon Brissett, which allowed Toronto to kneel out the victory deep in Montreal territory.
Kelly had an up-and-down day before his injury, throwing a pair of interceptions but completing 11 passes for 182 yards and one major, along with 26 rushing yards. The 2023 Most Outstanding Player found Damonte Coxie in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown on the final play of the first half. Arbuckle completed 5 of 8 passes in relief.
The Alouettes were uncharacteristically sloppy all afternoon, turning the ball over six times, including four fumbles. Fajardo tossed two interceptions, including a pick-6 in the first quarter. Montreal's special teams also didn't help, allowing Toronto to rack up 183 total return yards.
Argos return specialist Janarion Grant, the East's Outstanding Special Teams Player nominee, had a 71-yard punt-return TD in the second quarter. It was Grant's second career postseason punt-return major, tying the league record, per CFL Stats.
This will be the Argos' 25th all-time Grey Cup appearance and 12th in the modern CFL era (since 1958), as well as their second under head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. The Boatmen have won each of their last seven Grey Cup appearances since 1991.