Argos’ quarterback Bethel-Thompson looking forward to rematch with Eskimos

“I learned what death felt like and maybe that’s a metaphor but maybe it’s not,” Bethel-Thompson said Thursday. “(What) it feels like to be too far into it, to want it too much, to make it life or death and when you get punched in the mouth.

“When you’re too far into it what the game can feel like, how everything can feel too fast or too out of control and what you need to do to just kind of breathe and come back into the moment. If you’re playing two steps ahead of yourself you’re never going to see what’s right in front of your face. It was a good learning experience.”

And the lesson learned?

“Be myself, play my game and be in the moment,” he said. “If I can play my game I’m going to have a lot of success.

“I’m excited to see what that looks like.”

Bethel-Thompson looked good against Winnipeg, completing 37-of-49 passes for 343 yards and three TDs while rushing for 44 yards on five carries. Bethel-Thompson’s 11-yard touchdown pass to S.J. Green with 13 seconds remaining tied the score 27-27 before Tyler Crapgina booted the game-winning convert.

“It was a great death that night (loss to Edmonton) and it was a beautiful rebirth after that,” Bethel-Thompson said.

Ideally, Bethel-Thompson would’ve preferred Toronto playing the following week rather than going on a bye. But he said there are benefits to having some down time.

“The quick answer is yeah, I would’ve wanted to get right back on the field,” he said. “We got on a roll at the end of that game . . . but my body feels better than it did.

“That was a long road stretch (three straight games away from BMO Field before facing Winnipeg) and we needed a break from football. That’s why this game is so important, to get us back rolling going into this stretch.”

But head coach Corey Chamblin felt Toronto desperately needed the break.

“That was the last little bit of juice we had with all the stuff we went through,” he said. “You can see now the guys are a lot fresher.

“I think the biggest thing with the win is you’ll reset yourself and find yourself back in a positive mindset. It creates more positive energy not only in the locker room but outside the locker room.”

Edmonton comes off a 16-12 win over Ottawa as CFL passing leader Trevor Harris (2,631 yards) finished 33-of-40 passing for 327 yards in his first game against his former team. C.J. Gable ran for 116 yards and two TDs on 18 carries while adding four catches for 34 yards.

Harris has recorded 20 or more completions in 21 straight games, just three short of the CFL record held by Ricky Ray, the former Eskimo/Argo who retired earlier this year.

But registering a second straight win won’t come easily for Toronto.

Edmonton’s offence leads the CFL in net yards (423.6 per game), average plays from scrimmage (63), fewest sacks allowed (three) and passing (328.9) while being tied for most average yards per play (6.7). The Eskimos’ defence comes in first overall in fewest offensive points allowed (16.5 per game), yards allowed (251.6), offensive plays (48.5), yards per play (5.2) and sacks (26).

“The good thing is this is our second time seeing them,” Chamblin said. “We should be better prepared for what we’re going to see.

“They’ll have their wrinkles and we’ll have to adjust to it but they won’t have 1,000 wrinkles.”

Toronto is also expecting a season-high home crowd with the CNE opening Friday.

“It just means we’re the main attraction,” Chamblin said with a chuckle. “We understand we’re in the entertainment business and we get paid to perform.

“You want to perform in front of a big crowd. I think it will be huge to have them.”

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (5-3) VERSUS TORONTO ARGONAUTS (1-6)

Friday, BMO Field

DOMINANT ESKIMOS: Edmonton has won the last two meetings versus the Argos and six of the last eight. But the Eskimos haven’t been victorious in Toronto since 2016.

ROAD WOES: While Edmonton is a stellar 4-0 at home this season, it’s just 1-3 on the road. Since 2018, the Eskimos are 11-2 at Commonwealth Stadium but 3-10 away from it.

TURNOVER ISSUES: Toronto has committed more turnovers than its opponent in every one of its games this year. The Argos are lost overall in turnover ratio at -17.

PENALTY TROUBLES: Edmonton is the CFL’s most-penalized team (105) and has been flagged 10 or more times in all eight of its games this season.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Argos’ quarterback Bethel-Thompson looking forward to rematch with Eskimos

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