Toronto Argonauts beat Edmonton Elks 24-19, clinching playoff berth

Toronto Argonauts beat Edmonton Elks 24-19, clinching playoff berth DAN RALPH TORONTO THE CANADIAN PRESS PUBLISHED 25 MINUTES AGO Open this photo in gallery: Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly throws a pass during the game on Saturday. ARLYN MCADOREY/THE CANADIAN PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Chad Kelly and the Toronto Argonauts are playoff bound. Kelly threw two touchdown passes as Toronto held on for a 24-19 win over the Edmonton Elks on Saturday afternoon. The Argonauts clinched a post-season berth and home playoff game. Edmonton (10-4) threatened to take the late lead, driving to the Toronto 21-yard line. But Tarvarus McFadden ended the threat, intercepting Cody Fajardo’s pass in the end zone with 19 seconds remaining. Edmonton was chasing a fifth straight win. It last did so in 2017. Vincent Blanchard cut Toronto’s lead to 24-19 with a 19-yard field goal before a BMO Field gathering of 15,991. The four-play, 52-yard march was set up by Montrell Washington’s 38-yard punt return and included a penalty against an Argos coach for contacting an official. Blanchard missed from 42 yards out with 6:05 remaining to keep it a five-point game. Kevin Mital, Dymere Miller and Ralph Holley scored Toronto’s (8-6) touchdowns. Lirim Hajrullahu added the converts and a field goal. Fajardo had Edmonton’s touchdown. Blanchard kicked four field goals and a convert. Edmonton was poised to tie the game, driving to the Toronto four-yard line. But Benjie Franklin’s interception halted the 12-play, 70-yard drive that took 6:19 off the clock. Holley’s 55-yard fumble-return TD at 8:11 gave Toronto a 24-16 lead. Fajardo had a shot at the recovery following a high snap but couldn’t corral the ball, allowing Holley to scoop it up and rumble downfield. Blanchard connected from 16 yards out at 4:19 to pull Edmonton to within 17-16. Blanchard’s 18-yard field goal at 14:47 of the second quarter cut Toronto’s halftime lead to 17-13. But Kelly was a one-man show, completing 13-of-19 passes for 289 yards with two TDs and an interception. Yet, early on it looked like it might be a short day for Kelly. He was limping after a first-quarter TD pass to Mital and went to Toronto’s medical tent but remained in the game. Kelly suffered a broken toe in Toronto’s 28-24 loss in Regina on Aug. 29. And on another first-half possession Saturday, Kelly took a shot to…