TORONTO — McLeod Bethel-Thompson doesn’t believe in moral victories. Lirim Hajrullahu’s 29-yard walk off field goal earned the Toronto Argonauts a 26-23 victory over Ottawa on Saturday. But twice late in the contest the hard-luck Redblacks squandered opportunities to earn their first win. “There are no moral victories when your backs are against the wall like this,” said the veteran quarterback. “If you don’t get that zero, that goose egg, off the board it means nothing. “Just disappointed I played my role in the trials and tribulations of this tough season … I’ve been through a lot of tough times and here’s another one right in front of your face.” Hajrullahu’s boot capped a stellar 12-play, 74-yard march by Toronto (7-6), which took possession at its 14-yard line with 2:25 remaining. The Argos moved six points ahead of idle Hamilton (4-9) in the battle for second in the East. Bethel-Thompson replaced starter Jake Maier and completed 16-of-23 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown. But trailing 23-20 late in the fourth quarter, the Redblacks’ (0-12) offence couldn’t take full advantage of its opportunities. Ottawa settled for Brett Lauther’s 21-yard field goal at 10:09 that made it 23-23. But that followed Kalil Pimpleton’s 88-yard punt return to Toronto’s 17-yard line. Following a two-and-out by Toronto, Ottawa took over at the Argos’ 53-yard line. But Ralph Holley’s second-down sack of Bethel-Thompson took the Redblacks out of field-goal range. “Can’t take a sack in that situation,” Bethel-Thompson said. “I wish I could’ve got off something quicker and just get the ball out of my hands, even just throwing it into the dirt. “This game can be very cruel sometimes, it was a very cruel ending to what could’ve been something very promising. Just disappointed I played my role in the trials and tribulations of this tough season.” Lauther pulled Ottawa to within 23-20 with a 28-yard field goal at 7:21. Chad Kelly found Damonte Coxie on a 21-yard TD strike a minute into the quarter giving Toronto a 23-17 lead as Redblacks’ defensive lineman Luiji Vilain blocked the convert. Toronto earned its fifth win in its last six meetings with Ottawa. Kelly was 35-of-42 passing for 443 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions before 12,494 spectators at BMO Field. Kelly leads the CFL in passing (career-high 4,404), touchdowns (29) and interceptions (20). Ottawa suffered its 18th straight defeat dating back to 2025. That extended its CFL’s modern-era record for consecutive defeats. “It (a win) would mean everything, man,” Bethel Thompson said. “Just to get the weight off the our shoulders, just to stop (people) talking about us, everyone is adding more weight to it. “Just get the goose egg off our shoulders and not be some stupid mark on the long history of this. We just have to block out the outside noise and continue to go to work and chop wood.” Redblacks head coach/GM Ryan Dinwiddie made his first appearance at BMO Field since heading to Ottawa. He spent five seasons as Toronto’s head coach, appearing in the East Division final four times and winning two Grey Cups (2022, ’24) while being named the CFL’s coach of the year in 2023 after leading the Argos to a club-record 16 wins. Toronto was 30-13 at BMO Field under Dinwiddie and 51-35 overall. But Ottawa’s struggles continue despite bringing 12 new faces — including 11 on defence — to the active roster for Saturday’s contest. Maier suffered a 12th straight defeat, extending his CFL record for most losses by starting quarterback to begin a season. Maier completed seven-of-10 passes for 42 yards before being replaced by Bethel-Thompson in the second quarter. “Just felt like Jake was off a bit … didn’t feel like he was in the right groove,” Dinwiddie said. “Mac obviously gave us some juice but again, at the end, we can’t take that sack. “It’s the CFL, you just have to throw the ball across the line of scrimmage (and) we have to have that in the back of our mind. We have a chance to kick a field goal and go up by three potentially there. Those are the mistakes that are costing us each week.” Defensive back King Ambers caught both of Ottawa’s interceptions in the first half. He halted a 68-yard, 11-play Toronto drive in the first with a pick at the Ottawa 12-yard line. His other came in Ottawa’s end zone in the second. But he ran the ball out to the two-yard line rather than go down and put the Redblacks at their 30-yard line. “Stay in the end zone,” Dinwiddie said. “You’re not giving up a single and you’re not a return guy … it’s just things like that. “We preach it, preach it. Maybe we’re going to have give them a written test of situations and have the guys bring it into us.” Bryson Barnes and Keelan White scored Ottawa’s touchdowns. Lauther kicked the converts and three field goals. David Ungerer III had Toronto’s other touchdown. Hajrullahu added four field goals, a single and convert. Lauther’s 46-yard field goal at 12:32 of the third made it 17-17. Kelly staked Toronto to a 17-14 lead with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Ungerer at 10:21. Bethel-Thompson found a wide-open White on a 28-yard TD strike at 7:17 after Hajrullahu hit from 35 yards out at 4:34. Hajrullahu’s 23-yard field goal to end the second quarter made it 7-7 at halftime. He capped a 47-yard, eight, play march. Barnes put Ottawa up 7-4 with a one-yard TD run 13:07. Bethel-Thompson came off the bench to engineer the 70-yard, 13-play drive replacing Maier. Hajrullahu put Toronto ahead 4-0 with a 25-yard field goal at 8:10. His 98-yard kickoff for a single opened the scoring just 12 seconds into the contest. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2026. Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
