Kissing My Sister

by JARRETT RUSNAK

Our Toronto Argonauts defeated my Saskatchewan Roughriders 31 – 26.

With the win, Toronto secured a home playoff game for the first time since 2007.  Defeat at the hands of Saskatchewan would have meant potentially missing the playoffs with a loss to Hamilton next Thursday at Rogers Centre.

I am truly happy Toronto will be hosting the semi-final for the 100th Grey Cup playoffs.  That game will be a slobber knocker.  The energy in the stadium will be outstanding.  Toronto remains my pick to represent the East in the big game.  Mission accomplished.

Still, I can’t help but feel a bit empty inside.  My Riders lost a close one.  Our Argos won a must win game for the first time this season.  Feels a bit like kissing my sister.

Ricky Ray impressed me.  His 11 play, 75 yard touchdown drive into the wind in the second quarter, took 4 minutes off the clock.  Toronto controlled the line of scrimmage that drive.  It was methodical.  It was exactly what Toronto needed to do – which is something they haven’t done since September.  It restored my faith in the team.  I know I’m not the only one to feel this way.

We now all need to hope Saskatchewan wins, and Edmonton loses from here on out.  Otherwise, Toronto will be hosting Saskatchewan for that previously mentioned Eastern Semi-final.  The Argonauts do NOT want to see Rogers Centre half full of green painted Rider fans contributing to the electric atmosphere of that game.  They don’t.  They can’t.  Nothing good will come of it.

It would also mean that the prospects of a Saskatchewan/Toronto Grey Cup game would also be dead.  I couldn’t think of a better match-up to cap the season.