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Game Day: Alouettes at Argonauts

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MONTREAL ALOUETTES (2-3) at TORONTO ARGONAUTS (3-3)

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Friday, 7:30 p.m., BMO Field

TV: TSN; Radio: 1050 AM

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Line: Toronto by 2.5 points

Weather: Partly cloudy, 15C; 20% chance of rain; wind 11 km/h

STATS PACK

TOR  MTL

PER GAME AVERAGES (with league rankings)

POINTS FOR

18.7 (8th) 26.2 (1st)

POINTS AGAINST

23.5 (6th) 24.8 (7th)

YARDS RUSH

92.5 (5th) 149.4 (1st)

YARDS PASS

282.2 (4th) 243.6 (6th)

NET YARDS

353.8 (4th) 385.6 (1st)

YARDS ALLOWED

317.7 (3rd) 346.8 (6th)

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

MAC IS BACK

McLeod Bethel-Thompson gets the start for an injured Nick Arbuckle. The QB affectionately known as Mac has posted solid numbers against the Als; what he needs to do is find a way to win. This will be his first appearance of the season at BMO. During the 2019 campaign, MBT led the Argos to two home wins to end the season, each against woeful Ottawa. He will need to be protected, and establishing a run game will help.

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STANBACK TO THE WALL

Als RB William Stanback is the best in the biz. He leads the league with three games of rushing for 100 or more yards. He is a downhill runner in the mold of Riders RB William Powell, who gashed the Argos last week by rushing for 122 yards. Stanback rushed for 139 yards in Montreal’s loss to visiting B.C. last week, including 81 in the opening half.

UP AND ADAMS

Als QB Vernon Adams Jr. missed his head coach and QB coach Khari Jones last week as Jones was in isolation after testing positive for COVID. Jones has nurtured Adams, who is a playmaker. It will be interesting to see how Jones dials up plays for Adams, whose confidence can waver.

KEEPING UP WITH JONESES

Khari Jones and Ryan Dinwiddie are both from Sacramento, Jones from the state capital’s north side, Dinwiddie from the south side. Each started a Grey Cup game for Winnipeg during their playing careers. Friday marks the first time they will battle each other as head coaches. Another Jones, Chris, makes his return with the Argos. His first gig was in Montreal as D-line coach in 2002.

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BEDE RENEWS TIES

P/PK Boris Bede played five seasons in Montreal, appearing in 80 regular-season games. He will play against his former team for the first time as an opponent, an occasion Bede says will be exciting. The Argos are scheduled to play in Montreal on Oct. 22, which likely will bring back plenty of emotions for Bede.

NOTEWORTHY

The Als have six players listed on the six-game injured list, including Mario Alford, who began his run in three-down football with the Argos. The return specialist broke a bone in his ankle against B.C.. His replacement, Rashad Ross, will be making his Als debut … Toronto has 12 players on the six-game injured list … Tigie Sankoh will make his debut for the Argos. The 23-year-old was picked third overall in the global draft earlier this year. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and spent the next couple seasons on the team’s practice squad before being released at the beginning of the 2020 season. Sankoh was born in Sierra Leone, but grew up in Maryland before his family moved to England when he was 15. Sankoh was a defensive back for the London Warriors of the British Football League … Montreal has won three games in a row over the Argos and four of the past five in a rivalry that dates back to 1946.

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THE KEY MATCHUP

Argos OG  Dylan Giffen vs. Als DT Almondo Sewell

The rookie getting his first start against the veteran Sewell, who is among the very best at his position. Giffen is physical, but Sewell is a beast in the interior. The Argos list Giffen as the starter on the depth chart, but there’s still the possibility of Shane Richards getting the call to begin the game. Richards is dealing with an ankle injury. The left guard spot has featured Peter Nicastro, Philip Blake and then Richards as starters. If Giffen does start, and he likely will, it will be the fourth player in seven games to start at left guard. The Als want to control the line of scrimmage and with Sewell as the anchor the Argos’ O-line must be at its best.

OUR TAKE: Als 25, Argos 18

OUR TAKE: Chris Jones eventually will put his imprint on the defence, but it requires time and likely some roster additions to Toronto’s unit. The Als aren’t as banged up as the Argos and their run game sets the tempo with Stanback as the featured back. Adams Jr. isn’t going to be as bad as last week. This is a tough game for the Argos, who have to be clean and win the turnover battle. The Argos are unbeaten at home, but their margin for error is thin.

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