Argos make playoffs by beating Bombers

The Toronto Argonauts' long journey back to the CFL playoffs is finally over.

The Argos clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2007 with a 27-8 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday, and head coach Jim Barker said it didn't come easy.

"Well it's exciting," said Barker. "I mean they're a team that's won seven games in two years. (Argos linebacker) Willie Pile and some of these veterans that were here, and that have gone through those things ... they deserve this."

The loss in front of a season-low crowd of 23,446 at Canad Inns Stadium also eliminated the Bombers (4-12) from playoff contention.

"The great thing was they earned their way in," said Barker. "They didn't wait for somebody else to lose. They earned their way in. They came out here into Winnipeg, which is a tough place to play, and beat a team that was playing for everything. Their whole season was on the line. So that was a big win for us."

Argos running back Cory Boyd made a 66-yard catch and a nine-yard run by quarterback Cleo Lemons accounted for the first time in eight games Toronto (8-8) has scored a pair of offensive touchdowns.

Lemon completed 17-of-29 pass attempts for 212 yards, one TD, no interceptions and a fumble he lost that the Bombers couldn't convert into points.

Boyd, who didn't practise during the week because of a sore ankle, had 11 carries for 86 yards to up his league-leading total to 1,291 yards.

Toronto is two points behind second-place Hamilton (9-7), but the Tiger-Cats won the season series between the Ontario rivals 3-0 so the Argos can only grab second if they win their last two games and the Ticats lose their final two.

The Argos finish the regular season with a home-and-away series against Montreal (11-5), while Hamilton travels to Calgary (11-5) and then hosts B.C. (6-10).

"Whatever is going to happen is going to happen," Barker said. "We have to control ourselves. We have to get ourselves better."

While the Argo offence showed improvement, it was a special teams' play that provided the scoring highlight.

Receiver Chad Owens scored his fourth kick-return touchdown of the season with four seconds left in the first half after Bomber kicker Justin Palardy was short on a 51-yard field-goal attempt into the wind.

"Licking my chops," said Owens. "I kind of anticipated it being short. So as soon as he hit it, I knew it was going to be short so when I caught it, I just wanted to hesitate a sec (to let the blockers) get around and do their job and I just ran. It was pretty simple."

Owens' touchdown gave the Argos a 17-5 halftime lead.

Three of Owens' kick-return scores have been against the Bombers, including another off a missed Alexis Serna field-goal attempt and one from a punt return. His other was on a punt return against Calgary.

The Bombers lost more than the game and post-season play.

Starting quarterback Steven Jyles and backup Alex Brink both left the game with shoulder injuries. Rookie Joey Elliott, out of Purdue, went in with about five minutes left in the third.

It's suspected Jyles separated his shoulder after Argo linebacker Kevin Eiben tackled him during a run, forcing a fumble that was picked up by Toronto defensive back Byron Parker. The turnover with 2:19 left in the first quarter didn't lead to any points.

Brink's shoulder injury happened when he was tackled by defensive end Ronald Flemons. He continued playing, but was soon replaced by Elliott, who was 8-of-16 for 75 yards and one interception.

Bomber rookie head coach Paul LaPolice said they'll assess their quarterback situation in the next day or so. They wrap up the regular season with a road trip to Edmonton and a home game against Calgary.

Bomber receiver Terrence Edwards didn't have to think hard about what went wrong with his team's season, which included seven losses by four or fewer points and one by a touchdown.

"We gave away the whole season from all the mistakes," said Edwards, who had five catches for 45 yards.

"That's about it. We gave it up. We beat ourselves a lot. We'll give credit to the opponent, but a lot of games we beat ourselves with mistakes at inopportune times."

The fourth-year Bomber doesn't want to see another off-season of mass changes because he believes the core of the team could come together and learn how to win close games.

Bomber cornerback Jovon Johnson had a similar analysis.

"It's been the story of our season —find a way to lose," Johnson said.

"We have a good team, it's just a matter of us going out and performing like we know we can."

Accepting their season only has two games remaining is hard, Johnson added.

"It hurts, but at the same time now we've just got to go out and play for pride." Johnson said.

LaPolice admitted his team didn't do enough to put itself in playoff contention. 

"It's unfortunate, but I know every team goes through struggles and we have to hit those straight on and try to find ways to win and overcome those," LaPolice said. 

"It's disappointing for us, for an organization, for our players and obviously myself, but we have to keep trying to teach and trying to get them better."

Toronto got its other points off Noel Prefontaine field goals from 38 and 13 yards. 

Winnipeg's scoring came from a 38-yard field goal by Palardy and 53-yard punt single by Mike Renaud.

Prefontaine also conceded two safeties to add four points to Winnipeg's total.