By Canadian Press

Late field goal from Lirim Hajrullahu gives Argos 23-20 win over Redblacks

Jul 31, 2016 | 8:30 PM

OTTAWA — Kicker Lirim Hajrullahu counted for 16 of the Toronto Argonauts points Sunday night, but it was the two points in the standings that gave him the most satisfaction.

Hajrullahu’s fifth field goal of the night — from 53-yards out with 1:15 to play in the game — gave the visiting Argonauts a 23-20 win over the Redblacks and first place in the East Division, one point ahead of Ottawa. 

“We had a great week of practice and I was trusting my holder and my snapper and my protection and that’s all I needed,” said Hajrullahu, who also had a punt single.

“Now we’re going into the bye week and now we’re going in with a win otherwise it would leave a bad taste in your mouth. Now we can go home for the whole week and enjoy it.”

Redblacks kicker Chris Milo made a 55-yard field goal with a little more than two minutes to play in the fourth quarter to tie the game 20-20.

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Toronto’s Logan Kilgore, making his first CFL start in place of the injured Ricky Ray, went 25-of-42 passing for 322 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions.

“I thought he played a hell of a game,” said Argos coach Scott Milanovich.

“We started a little slow offensively, much of which wasn’t his fault. He just kept plugging and got better as the game went on. I was impressed with his poise and his ability to move the pocket and make some plays.”

Ottawa’s Henry Burris, making his return to the lineup after injuring the pinky finger on his throwing hand in Week 1, was 20-of-34 passing for 218 yards, with one touchdown and two picks.

Hajrullahu’s 24-yard field goal at 8:38 of the fourth quarter gave the Argonauts (4-2) a 20-17 lead.

After a drive stalled on an overturned call that would have given the Redblacks (3-1-1) a first down, Milo kicked a 50-yard field goal at 10:41 to level the score at 17-17.

A 37-yard field goal from Hajrullahu at 2:51 of the quarter had given the Argonauts a 17-14 lead.

The teams traded touchdowns early in the third quarter and it was Kilgore striking first as he connected with Kenny Shaw on a 30-yard passing play at 4:07. Hajrullahu converted the score for an 11-7 Toronto lead.

A little under three minutes later Burris and Ernest Jackson combined on a 13-yard catch-and-run play at 6:51 and the Redblacks regained a 14-11 lead following the conversion by Milo.

On the final play of the third quarter Hajrullahu booted a 49-yard field goal to tie the game 14-14.

The only first-half points the Argonauts could produce came from a 71-yard punt single off the foot of Hajrullahu late in the first quarter and a 43-yard field goal in the opening minute of the second quarter.

The Redblacks managed just two first downs in the opening quarter and were unable to put together a sustained drive until half way through the second quarter.

Burris completed five passes in one drive for 74 yards, but on a fake field-goal attempt Burris had his pass intended for Zach Evans in the end zone intercepted by AJ Jefferson.

Two series later Burris was able to put another drive together that totalled 56 yards, and gave way to backup Brock Jensen who snuck the ball into the end zone with 46 seconds remaining in the half for the game’s first major.

Milo converted the score to give Ottawa a 7-4 lead.

On the ensuing drive Kilgore had a pass intercepted by Mitchell White on the Ottawa 11-yard line with nine seconds to play in the half. Burris took a knee twice to run out the clock and go into the break with a three-point lead.

“First off I’ll give them credit. They did what they needed to do to win the game,” said Redblacks coach Rick Campbell.

“From our point of view that was a game for the taking and we didn’t find a way to get it done.”

The Redblacks will host the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday.

Darren Desaulniers, The Canadian Press