Edmonton Elks fall to Toronto Argos 39-36 after last-second field goal

Cameron Dukes and the Toronto Argonauts' ground game proved to be too much for the Edmonton Elks on Saturday night.

Lirim Hajrullahu's 37-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Argonauts to an entertaining 39-36 win over Edmonton. Dukes threw for 214 yards and two TDs, but it was the Argos' 186-yard rushing effort that anchored the victory before an announced BMO Field gathering of 10,857.

"It [effective ground attack] makes the job a lot easier when you've got to respect both games [pass and run]," Dukes said. "Our offensive line does an absolutely amazing job.

"The holes were unbelievable, Ka'Deem Carey just runs so hard, all of our running backs do. It's great to have that."

Carey rushed for a game-high 104 yards and a TD on 19 carries. Deonta McMahon added 50 yards and a touchdown on four carries while Dukes had a major and two-point convert in his four carries for 17 yards. Canadian Daniel Adeboboye contributed 15 yards on two carries.

"It was huge," Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said of the rushing game. "Ka'Deem really showed up.

"He battled through a little thing at halftime, I was going to sit him and let the other guys go. He's a warrior and played well."

Hajrullahu's boot came after Janarion Grant's 17-yard punt return. Former Argo Javon Leake opted to handle a bouncing 55-yard John Haggerty punt at the Edmonton one-yard line but stepped out of bounds following a four-yard return.

After two incompletions, the Elks (0-3) had to punt, giving Toronto (2-0) possession at Edmonton's 45-yard line with 57 seconds remaining.

Dinwiddie pondered having Haggerty boot the single but decided against it because that would've given Edmonton possession at its 40-yard line.

"I said, 'Let's pin them and if we stop them