The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-24 on Sunday at B.C. Place, securing their 19th Grey Cup title — the most in CFL history. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the charge with two touchdown passes and earned MVP honours after stepping up for injured starter Chad Kelly.
Toronto’s defense played a crucial role, recording four interceptions — tying the Grey Cup record — three of which came in the fourth quarter. These defensive efforts included a 164-yard return total and a touchdown, ensuring Toronto outscored Winnipeg 24-11 in the final frame.
Fourth-Quarter Heroics
Lirim Hajrullahu’s 14-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter gave Toronto a 27-16 lead, following DaShaun Amos’s 45-yard interception return. A misconduct penalty on Winnipeg’s Deatrick Nichols placed Toronto at the eight-yard line, setting up the critical score.
Arbuckle connected with Dejon Brissett on a 17-yard touchdown earlier in the quarter to extend the Argos’ lead to 24-16. Brissett’s standout performance earned him the award for the game’s top Canadian.
Robert Priester sealed the Argonauts’ victory with a dramatic 61-yard interception return for a touchdown with just over three minutes left on the clock, putting Toronto ahead 34-16. Ka’Deem Carey added another score with a four-yard run set up by Wynton McManis’s 58-yard interception return.
Arbuckle completed 26 of 37 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating composure under pressure. Despite an early fourth-quarter interception by Winnipeg’s Willie Jefferson, the Bombers could only capitalize with a 23-yard field goal from Sergio Castillo, narrowing the score to 17-16.
Toronto’s balanced offensive attack saw contributions from Kevin Mital, who scored a touchdown, and kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, who made four field goals and four converts.
Winnipeg, appearing in its fifth consecutive Grey Cup, suffered its third straight loss. Quarterback Zach Collaros, the only player in CFL history to start five consecutive championship games, struggled with four interceptions. He completed 15 of 30 passes for 202 yards.
Running back Brady Oliveira, this year’s CFL Most Outstanding Player, rushed for 84 yards and scored a late one-yard touchdown, adding a two-point convert. However, these efforts were not enough to counteract Toronto’s dominance.
The game remained competitive into the second half. Following a Jonas Brothers halftime performance, Toronto broke a 10-10 tie when Arbuckle threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital. This play was set up by Jack Cassar’s recovery of Willie Whitehead’s fumble on a punt return.
Winnipeg briefly regained momentum with Castillo’s 40-yard field goal, narrowing Toronto’s lead to 17-13, but turnovers proved costly in the end.
The Argonauts’ defense was a difference-maker. Toronto’s secondary delivered when it mattered most, particularly in the final quarter. Benjie Franklin’s first-half interception led to a field goal that kept Toronto within striking distance, while Amos, McManis, and Priester’s late-game heroics sealed the win.
Before kickoff, Prince Harry made a surprise appearance, delighting the 52,349 fans in attendance. The Duke of Sussex promoted the upcoming Invictus Games, which will take place in Vancouver and Whistler in February 2024.
Toronto extended its record to 8-0 against Winnipeg in Grey Cup history, with their last championship loss dating back to 1991. The Argonauts continue to build on their legacy as the CFL’s most successful franchise.
As Toronto celebrates another Grey Cup triumph, the team’s blend of experience, resilience, and clutch performances on both sides of the ball stands out as the hallmark of their historic victory.
