Sat Oct 6 18:54:33 2007

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Argonauts hammer Eskimos

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Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Michael Bishop passed for 257 yards with two scores while a pair of special teams touchdowns allowed the Toronto Argonauts to defeat the Edmonton Eskimos, 33-8, at Rogers Centre

Robert Edwards rushed for 54 yards on 14 carries for Toronto (7-7), which has won three straight games. Arland Bruce finished with seven catches for 106 yards in the win.

The Eskimos (5-8-1) played without starting quarterback Ricky Ray, who is most likely out for the remainder of the season with a separated right shoulder that was suffered in a home loss to these Argos last week.

Instead it was Stefan LeFors, a University of Louisville product, who made his first career start. LeFors was 11-of-22 in relief of the injured Ray last week, and finished this game 15-of-29 for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Tyler Ebell rushed nine times for 48 yards in the loss.

After a safety gave the Argos an early 2-0 lead, the score became 9-0 when Dominique Dorsey returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown later in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, a Toronto drive culminated in a two-yard pass from Bishop to Jeff Keeping that pushed the hosts' lead to 16 and the defense held Edmonton off the scoreboard for the remainder of the first half.

An improbable 71-yard single by Seam Fleming got the Eskimos on the board in the third quarter and after a 10-yard touchdown pass from LeFors to Trevor Gaylor later in the third, the visitors climbed within 16-8.

Another special teams touchdown by Toronto sealed the victory in the fourth quarter. As Fleming took the snap, his punt attempt was blocked and the ball was scooped up by Byron Parker, who ran it 23 yards into the end zone for a 23-8 lead.

The combination of a 32-yard field goal by Noel Prefontaine and a 42-yard scoring strike from Bishop to Tony Miles -- both in the fourth quarter -- completed the scoring.

Game Notes

LeFors was sacked six times...Bishop improved to 7-1 as a starter this year...Since 2004, Toronto is 18-3-1 when it scores 23 or more points in a game...The Argos are 7-1 in the last eight meetings between these teams.