TORONTO - Dru Brown’s 23-yard TD pass to Nick Demski with 44 seconds remaining rallied the Winnipeg Blue Bombers past the Toronto Argonauts 25-22 in the East Division semifinal Saturday afternoon.
asserted
pass → remain → semifinal
After the TD pass to cap a 52-yard, five-play drive, Brown hit Demski on the two-point covert.
asserted
Brown → cap → covert
The march was set up by former Argo Thiadric Hansen’s recovery of Janarion Grant’s fumble on a punt return.
asserted
march → set → return
Winnipeg will travel to Montreal for the East final next weekend.
asserted
Winnipeg → travel → final
The Alouettes and Bombers split their season series 1-1.
asserted
Alouettes → split → series
Toronto starter Chad Kelly left with just over nine minutes remaining with an apparent right shoulder injury.
asserted
Kelly → leave → injury
Kelly had completed 18-of-30 passes for 193 yards and a TD before a season-high 21,786 spectators at BMO Field on a gorgeous fall afternoon and didn’t return.
asserted
Kelly → complete → afternoon
Toronto’s defence forced four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles).
asserted
defence → force → turnovers
But the offence mustered just three field goals, which kept Winnipeg in the game.
asserted
which → muster → game
And with 2:07 to play, the Argos opted to punt on third-and-one from its 45-yard line, giving Winnipeg possession at its 24 with 1:54 to play.
asserted
Argos → play → 1:54
Nick Arbuckle was two-of-six passing for 25 yards in relief of Kelly.
asserted
Arbuckle → pass → Kelly
Brown was 18-of-30 passing for 206 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.
asserted
Brown → pass → TDs
Lirim Hajrullahu’s 41-yard field goal at 2:37 gave Toronto a 22-17 lead.
asserted
goal → give → lead
Winnipeg was making its second straight appearance in the East semifinal after losing 42-33 last year to Montreal.
asserted
Winnipeg → make → Montreal
Winnipeg is the 14th crossover team — all from the West — since the CFL adopted the format in 1996.
asserted
CFL → adopt → 1996
Those teams have a 6-8 all-time record in the East playoffs, and none have reached the Grey Cup.
asserted
none → have → Cup
David Reese and Ontaria Wilson had Winnipeg’s touchdowns.
asserted
Reese → have → touchdowns
Sergio Castillo added two converts and a field goal.
asserted
Castillo → add → converts
Tyler Kahmann scored Toronto’s touchdown.
asserted
Kahmann → score → touchdown
Lirim Hajrullahu booted the convert and five field goals.
asserted
Hajrullahu → boot → convert
Reese’s 52-yard fumble return TD at 14:22 of the third pulled Winnipeg to within 19-17.
asserted
TD → pull → Winnipeg
Defensive lineman Michael Fletcher knocked the ball away from Kelly, who’d dropped back to pass.
asserted
who → knock → Kelly
It came after Winnipeg drove to the Toronto 31 before Tim White fumbled after being hit by Alex Teubner.
asserted
White → come → Teubner
Lemon had his second recovery, returning it 22 yards.
asserted
Lemon → have → it
The Argos opened the second half marching 73 yards on 10 plays but settled for Hajrullahu’s 10-yard kick at 5:38.
asserted
Argos → open → 5:38
They dodged a huge bullet after a too many men penalty on third down gave Winnipeg possession at Toronto’s 38-yard line but Castillo’s 47-yard field goal into the wind was wide.
asserted
goal → dodge → wind
Toronto forced three first-half turnovers (two interceptions, fumble) but only mustered three field goals for the 16-10 halftime lead.
asserted
Toronto → force → lead
Hajrullahu gave Toronto its six-point lead with a 28-yard field goal at 14:18 of the second quarter.
asserted
Hajrullahu → give → quarter
It was set up by Lemon’s 23-yard return of Brown’s fumble off Soane Toia’s sack.
asserted
It → set → sack
Hajrullahu’s 37-yard field goal at 12:40 put Toronto ahead 13-10 following Dathan Hickey’s interception at the Argos’ 16-yard line.
asserted
goal → put → line
Castillo had made it 10-10 with a 42-yard field goal at 6:48.
asserted
it → make → 6:48
Hajrullahu’s 42-yard boot nine seconds in put Toronto ahead 10-7.
asserted
boot → put → Toronto
It was set up by DaShaun Amos’ 19-yard interception return.
asserted
It → set → return
Kahmann’s 20-yard TD grab made it 7-7 at 12:48 of the first.
asserted
it → make → first
Kelly completed all six passes, throwing for 54 yards on the eight-play, 70-yard drive.
asserted
Kelly → complete → drive
Wilson’s sensational one-handed 32-yard TD grab at 2:54 opened the scoring.
asserted
grab → open → scoring
It capped a five-play, 88-yard march that was aided by 15-yard horsecollar penalty against Toronto’s Adarius Pickett after a holding penalty negated Trey Vaval’s 44-yard kickoff return to start the contest.
asserted
penalty → cap → contest
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
The Aporia
