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TORONTO – Lirim Hajrullahu’s 29-yard field goal on the final play of the game gave the Toronto Argonauts a 26-23 win over the hapless Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday afternoon.
Hajrillahu’s boot capped an incredible 12-play, 74-yard drive by Toronto (7-6), which had the ball at its 14-yard line with 2:25 remaining. And it continues a season of misery for Ottawa (0-12).
Brett Lauther made it 23-23 with a 21-yard field goal at 10:09. It was set up by Kalil Pimpleton’s 88-yard kick to Toronto’s 17-yard line before a BMO Field gathering of 12,494.
Lauther pulled Ottawa within 23-20 with a 28-yard field goal at 7:21. Kelly found Damonte Coxie on a 21-yard TD strike a minute later to put Toronto up 23-17 when Redblacks defensive lineman Luiji Vilain blocked the conversion.
Toronto picked up its fifth win in its last six meetings with Ottawa. Rookie Chad Kelly was 35-of-42 passing for 443 yards with two touchdowns to add to his CFL-leading 29 touchdowns on the season. He also threw two interceptions, bringing his league-leading total to 20.
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Ottawa is not only winless this season but also suffered its 18th straight loss dating back to 2025. The Redblacks extended their losing streak in the CFL’s modern era.
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The contest was Redblacks head coach Ryan Dinwiddie’s first at BMO Field since heading to Ottawa. He spent five seasons as Toronto’s head coach, appearing in the Eastern Division final four times and winning two Gray Cups (2022, ’24) while being named the CFL’s 2023 coach of the year after leading the Argos to a club record 16 wins.
And Dinwiddie’s Toronto went 30-13 at BMO Field and 51-35 overall while reaching the playoffs four times. But Ottawa’s struggles continued despite bringing in 12 new faces – including 11 on defense – to the active roster for Saturday’s contest.
But Ottawa starter Jake Maier suffered his 12th straight loss, extending the CFL’s record for most losses by a starting quarterback to start a season. Maier completed seven of 10 passes for 42 yards before being replaced by McLeod Bethel-Thompson in the second quarter.
Bethel-Thompson, who won two Gray Cups with Toronto (2017, 2024), was 16-of-23 passing for 192 yards and one TD.
Bryson Barnes and Keelan White scored Ottawa’s goals. Lauther kicked a convert and three field goals.
David Ungerer III scored Toronto’s other goal. Hajrullahu added four field goals, one and a conversion.
Lauther’s 46-yard field goal at 12:32 of the third quarter made it 17-17. Kelly staked Toronto to a 17-14 lead with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Ungerer at 10:21 of the third quarter.
Bethel-Thompson found White wide open on a 28-yard TD strike at the 7:17 mark of the third quarter after Hajrullahu hit a 35-yard strike at the 4:34 mark.
Hajrullahu’s 23-yard field goal to end the second quarter made it 7-7 at halftime. He was limited to 47 yards, eight plays.
Barnes put Ottawa up 7-4 with a one-yard TD run 13:07 in. Bethel-Thompson came off the bench to engineer a 70-yard, 13-play drive in place of Maier, who completed seven of 10 passes for 42 yards.
The scoring play followed two missed opportunities for Toronto, thanks to an interception thrown by Ottawa’s King Ambers.
The Ambers stopped the Argos’ 68-yard, 11-play drive in the first quarter with a pick at Ottawa’s 12-yard line. He added his second touchdown came in the Redblack end zone in the second quarter.
The interception drastically tarnished a solid opening half for Kelly, who completed 17 of 22 passes for 235 yards.
Hajrullahu put Toronto up 4-0 with a 25-yard field goal at 8:10. His 98-yard kick for one opened the scoring just 12 seconds into the first quarter.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2026.
© 2026 Canadian Press
