Arbuckle Shines as Argonauts Outgun Lions in High-Scoring Clash
It was a wild afternoon at BMO Field, and fans definitely got their money’s worth as the Toronto Argonauts stormed past the BC Lions with a thrilling 52–34 victory. The star of the show was Nick Arbuckle, who had the game of his life. He threw for a career-high 430 yards, tossed three touchdown passes, and even ran one in himself. For Arbuckle, the numbers mattered less than the scoreboard, but his performance was one for the record books, pushing him to the top of the CFL passing charts.
The game didn’t start smoothly for Toronto. BC came out firing, building a 14–3 lead by the end of the first quarter. But the Argonauts showed resilience. Arbuckle and his offense responded with a balanced attack, and the momentum quickly shifted. Despite losing two starting offensive linemen and playing without top receiver Damonte Coxie, Toronto found ways to keep pushing the ball downfield. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie admitted afterward that the team “needed a win in the worst way,” and his players delivered when it counted.
Also Read:By halftime, the Argos were up 28–21, highlighted by Arbuckle’s 15-yard strike to Kevin Mital and a 57-yard pick-six from Benjie Franklin. From there, the floodgates opened. Spencer Brown, who had only just joined the team two weeks earlier, pounded the ball on the ground for 85 yards and a touchdown, giving Toronto balance in an offense that had struggled with rushing all season. Then came the fireworks through the air. Jake Herslow became Arbuckle’s go-to target, pulling in five catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including a back-breaking 70-yard score that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
The Lions weren’t without fight. Quarterback Nathan Rourke put up solid numbers of his own, throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns, while James Butler and Jevon Cottoy each found the end zone twice. Still, turnovers and missed chances cost BC, especially in the second half when Toronto’s pass rush forced mistakes. Linebacker Wynton McManis’s late sack and fumble recovery sealed the deal for the Argos.
By the time the final whistle blew, Toronto had snapped its three-game losing skid and given the fans a reason to cheer with their most complete offensive performance of the season. Arbuckle credited the victory to the collective effort, praising both the protection up front and the receivers who made big plays under pressure.
With the win, the Argos improved to 3–8 and now turn their focus to the Labour Day Classic against Hamilton, a matchup always circled on the calendar. The Lions, now 5–6, head into their bye week needing to regroup before facing Ottawa.
It was one of those games where momentum swung wildly, points piled up quickly, and a quarterback stepped into the spotlight. For Nick Arbuckle and the Argonauts, it wasn’t just about stats — it was about proving they could rise to the challenge and finally finish strong.
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