Mitchell throws five TD strikes to lead Tiger-Cats past Argonauts

TORONTO - Bo Levi Mitchell and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats continue their mastery of the Toronto Argonauts.

Mitchell threw five touchdown passes as Hamilton defeated Toronto 51-38 on Friday night. The win was the Ticats' fourth straight against the Argos and Mitchell improved to 16-2 all-time versus the defending Grey Cup champions.

"I pride myself on winning my entire career," Mitchell said. "I think when you're playing on great teams and you have a great defence, great special teams it's hard for any team to beat you.

"I've been a part of special teams."

Mitchell completed 19-of-24 passes for 332 yards and became the 11th player in CFL history to crack the 40,000-yards plateau. Three of his TD passes were to Kenny Lawler, who had six catches for 207 yards.

"What I saw was 89 (Lawler) one-on-one multiple times and that's not a good decision," Mitchell said. "I'm going to give that guy a chance, same with the other guys but Kenny had a special night.

"That's who he is."

Hamilton had high expectations for Lawler when the team signed the former Winnipeg Blue Bomber in free agency. And the six-foot-one, 180-pound receiver hasn't disappointed, registering 24 catches for 483 yards and five TDs thus far.

"I knew we were going to be a good team and it's up to us to make it great," Lawler said. "Week by week that's what we're doing and it's starting to come along."

Mitchell cemented the win with a 16-yard TD pass to Kiondre Smith at 4:29 of the fourth quarter to put Hamilton ahead 44-26. It came after Toronto had pulled to within 37-26.

"I think that's as good as I've seen him play," Milanovich said of Mitchell.

Toronto pulled to within 44-32 on Khalan Laborn's one-yard run at 8:01 but the two-point convert attempt was unsuccessful. Then Hamilton's Isaiah Wooden Sr. returned the kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown at 8:47.

Toronto (1-4) dropped to 0-3 at home before a BMO Field gathering of 12,701. The Argos now head on a bye week before visiting the Montreal Alouettes on July 17.

And the hope is the Argos might get some reinforcements. Among their walking wounded are quarterback Chad Kelly (leg), running back Deontra McMahon (ankle) and linebacker Wynton McManis (knee).

"Unfortunately, every time we got going on offence … and scored some points I feel like we gave up a touchdown every time," said Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. "The bye week is there, I told the guys take some time and reflect on it.

"I will as well (and) look at all of the games and find ways we can try and be creative and find an edge. I think guys have to lick their wounds a bit, spend some time with the family … and let's come back motivated with a lot of urgency."

Hamilton earned its first road victory of 2025 and only its second win in its last eight visits to BMO Field.

Nick Arbuckle finished 27-of-38 passing for 339 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. His six-yard TD pass to Kevin Mital at 14:08 completed the scoring as the two-point convert was unsuccessful.

Tyler Ternowski and Greg Bell had Hamilton's other touchdowns. Marc Liegghio booted six converts and a field goal.

Kevin Brown, Janarion Grant and Damonte Coxie scored Toronto's other touchdowns. Lirim Hajrullahu added two converts and two field goals.

One play after Toronto punter John Haggerty was flagged for an illegal kick, Mitchell hit Lawler on a 46-yard touchdown pass at 11:08 of the third. That put Hamilton ahead 37-19 as the convert was unsuccessful.

Arbuckle countered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Coxie at 14:57, cutting Hamilton's lead to 37-26.

Bell capped Hamilton's opening possession of the third with a six-yard TD run at 6:34. But Grant returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for the touchdown at 7:09, cutting Hamilton's advantage to 31-19 as the two-point convert was unsuccessful.

Mitchell's three first-half TD passes staked Hamilton to its 24-13 halftime lead. The Ticats averaged nine yards per play in the opening half and were a stellar seven-of-10 on second down.

Hajrullahu's 53-yard field goal at 12:42 of the second cut Hamilton's lead to 24-13. Mitchell's 25-yard touchdown pass to Ternowski at 7:06 put the Ticats ahead 24-10.

Hajrullahu's 50-yard field goal at 1:40 had pulled Toronto to within 17-10. Mitchell found Lawler on a 79-yard TD strike at 13:31 of the first that put Hamilton ahead 17-7.

It followed Liegghio's 44-yard boot at 10:13, which was set by Wooden Sr.'s 51-yard punt return. Lawler made it 7-7 with a 25-yard TD catch at 6:21 immediately following former Argo DaShaun Amos's interception.

Brown opened the scoring with a two-yard run at 3:21 that capped a six-play, 68-yard drive to start the contest.

UP NEXT

Tiger-Cats: Host the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, July 12.

Argonauts: Visit the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, July 17.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.