Toronto Argonauts
Kerry Joseph leads Argonauts to 27-17 pre-season win over Ticats
By Canadian Press
Jun 24, 2009 - 12:30:34 AM

HAMILTON - Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille says even he doesn't know who his No. 1 quarterback will be when the CFL season opens next week.

Will it be the decorated veteran Kevin Glenn, who signed as a free agent this spring, or will it be the relative newcomer Quinton Porter, who pulled himself up the depth chart last year from fourth stringer to starter?

"It's still not decided," said Bellefeuille after a 27-17 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Ivor Wynne Stadium Tuesday night in both teams' final pre-season game. "We'll have to go back and evaluate the tape. I wouldn't hedge my bets right now."

The Argonauts may be asking themselves the same question. Toronto's starting QB Kerry Joseph threw one touchdown pass and ran for another, but also recorded a costly fumble that was returned for a 93-yard Hamilton touchdown during his two-plus quarters of work. Backup Cody Pickett added a touchdown pass.

Porter started the game for Hamilton and completed 10-of-18 passing attempts for 133 yards, one interception and zero touchdowns. He also rushed for 33 yards.

Glenn played most of the second half, minus three minutes, completing 6-of-13 passes for 82 yards before being replaced with by Adam Trafalis late in the fourth.

Porter, whose locker-room stall is right next to Glenn's, said he wasn't thinking about the coach's impending decision when he went into the game.

"I didn't prepare thinking about that," he said. "My focus was on getting the team ready to where it needs to be to win. Hopefully, that's what we did today. The decisions that are being made, that's out of my control."

Arland Bruce III and Bryan Crawford also scored TDs for Toronto. Otis Floyd and Terry Caulley scored for Hamilton.

Toronto kicker Justin Medlock was good on his lone field-goal attempt, a 41-yarder. Eddie Johnson came in as kicker and went 1-for-2. He had a 38-yard attempt blocked and was good on a 42-yarder. Hamilton receiver Dave Stala took a turn as kicker and went one-for-one from 17 yards.

Joseph hit Bruce with a 25-yard touchdown pass to cap a 57-yard, four-play drive on Toronto's first possession of the game. An interception later in the quarter by Argo defensive back Jason Shivers set up a six-yard touchdown run by Joseph for a 14-0 lead.

On the most bizarre play of the game, Toronto looked about to score on its 11th play of a 95-yard drive with time running out in the first quarter. But Joseph tripped backwards around the 17-yard line and fumbled the ball upwards and into the arms of Hamilton linebacker Floyd who then scampered 93 yards for the score.

Instead of being down by three touchdowns, the Ticats pulled to 14-7 to end a penalty-filled first quarter.

Porter engineered an 84-yard drive on 12 plays for Hamilton, ending with a four-yard scoring run by Caulley to make it 14-14 before Medlock's field goal gave Toronto a 17-14 lead at the half.

Glenn started the second half for Hamilton, driving the team 55 yards to set up Stala's 17-yarder to tie the game 17-17.

Pickett came in for Joseph midway through the third and immediately drove the team 33 yards on four plays, hitting Crawford with a five-yard TD pass for a 24-14 lead. Johnson's 42-yard field goal made it 27-17 late in the fourth.

Bellefeuille said after the game he liked how Glenn moved the ball. But he also liked how Porter was able to rush for a couple first downs, which gives the offence an "added dimension." Ideally, Bellefeuille said he wants to go into the season with a clear starter and a more-than-competent backup. There will be no job sharing.

"It just comes down to who gives us the best chance to win," he said.

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