Ouellette scores 3 TDs as Argonauts improve to 2-0 with win over Elks

There are no signs of a Gray Cup hangover for the Toronto Argonauts yet.

AJ Ouellette scored three touchdowns as the defending champion Argonauts went undefeated this season with a 43-31 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Sunday.

“He does everything right, does all his assignments and is in the weight room every day,” says Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie of Ouellette. “He’s a great footballer and I’m lucky enough to coach him.

Ouellette had just two touchdowns in 13 games for the Argos last season.

“I felt really good,” he said of the three TD performances. “They made it easy for me. It felt like all the touchdowns were pretty much untouched, which is a shout out to the O-line.”

Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 13 of 23 passes for 264 yards in his second game as the designated starter for Toronto.

“I feel good, but I need to get a lot better,” said Kelly. “I need to be more locked in mentally. Today I felt like I was going on and off. I need to be more consistent throughout the game.

“We are getting better. We should have put a few more points on the board and we shot ourselves in the foot a few times. It is still early in the season. We have won. We just have to keep learning.” and getting better every time.”

Home hex continues

The Argos improved to 2-0, while the Elks had a rocky start at 0-3.

The home hex continues for the Elks, who have lost a CFL-record 19 consecutive home games, a run of futility dating back to October 12, 2019.

Edmonton began scoring midway through the opening quarter on their second possession, a breath of fresh air after being shutout for the first time in 47 years last week when they fell 22-0 to the BC Lions. A 42-yard punt return by CJ Sims launched a drive that would be completed when Kevin Brown reeled in a pass from Taylor Cornelius and dove into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown.

The Argonauts responded with a major of their own on the next drive, designed by Kelly, and received a rushing three-yard major from Ouellette.

The Elks shot ahead again early in the second frame when Loucheiz Purifoy stepped for a Kelly pass and ran it back 27 yards for the pick-six TD.

Toronto came back with a 42-yard field goal from Boris Bede and added a trap single to make it nearly 14-11.

The Argos surged ahead with just over a minute to play in the first half as Kelly shrugged off a sure sack and then found a wide open David Ungerer for a 44-yard touchdown throw.

Edmonton’s Dean Faithfull kicked an 18-yard field goal to end the second quarter with Toronto at 18-17.

The Argonauts managed to extend their lead on a long drive to open the second half, capped off with a two-yard TD led by Ouellette.

Ungerer also came out big in special teams with a blocked kick, which eventually led to a four-yard touchdown run by Ouellette.

The Elks attempted a quarterback substitution, but on the first play, Kai Locksley fumbled his own 24, while Argo Robertson recovered Daniel. Bede scored a 16-yard field goal to extend Toronto’s lead to 36–17.

Edmonton’s bad luck continued as Eugene Lewis was stripped of the ball one step short of the end zone and Daniel van de Argos again took credit for the turnover.

Toronto’s defense continued to shine, as Elk’s third-string QB Jarret Doege was nicked by Royce Metchie and returned 15 yards to the end zone.

Edmonton was able to add another highlight to the proceedings with six seconds left when Doege escaped the pressure and through an onfield hopeful pass that bounced from a defender’s hands to Forbes-Momblau for a touchdown- game of 84 meters.

“They called my number and I was just trying to make the most of my opportunity,” said Doege. “I went in there and just left it all there, just trying to do what I can to help the team build some momentum.”

The Elks recognized the 30th anniversary of their Gray Cup winning team in 1993 with several players from that squad in attendance, including Damon Allen, Willie Pless and Henry (Gizmo) Williams.

Edmonton will play the Redblacks (0-2) in Ottawa on Friday in a battle of winless teams, while the Argonauts will host the BC Lions (3-0) next Monday in a showdown between undefeated teams.