Toronto Argonauts’ Sam Hicks powers club to 20-10 preseason win over Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Sam Hicks scored twice as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 20-10 in a CFL exhibition game, showcasing Toronto’s running attack and marking Chad Kelly’s first start since his 2024 injury.
The Toronto Argonauts entered Wednesday’s preseason matchup with attention focused on their backfield and quarterback depth, and running back Sam Hicks delivered a two-touchdown performance that carried the club to a 20-10 victory over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Hicks’ pair of rushing scores and a steady second-half defensive performance helped the Argonauts outscore Hamilton 20-3 after intermission. The game also marked quarterback Chad Kelly’s first start since a leg injury in the 2024 East Division final, as coaching staffs on both sides used the outing to evaluate personnel ahead of final preseason games.
Hicks’ two touchdowns define the afternoon
Sam Hicks finished the game with 25 yards on five carries, but the numbers only partially reflect his impact on the contest. He broke a nine-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that shifted momentum and later capped the scoring with a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Both runs illustrated the Argonauts’ ability to manufacture yards inside the red zone and to convert short-yardage situations when it mattered most.
Toronto’s ground game provided balance while the offence worked through early inconsistencies at the line of scrimmage. Hicks’ second-half production came as the Argonauts tightened up blocking and targeted lanes more efficiently, allowing Toronto to sustain drives and relieve pressure on the passing game. Special teams and defensive stands also complemented the running attack, giving the Argonauts the field-position edge necessary to control the tempo in the final 30 minutes.
Rountree’s 46-yard answer gives Tiger-Cats early lead
Hamilton opened the scoring when Larry Rountree III burst through for a 46-yard touchdown in the first quarter, showing the speed and downhill running the Tiger-Cats had hoped would jump-start their preseason offence. Rountree finished with a team-high 86 rushing yards on nine carries and demonstrated explosiveness in traffic that warranted attention from Hamilton’s coaching staff. His early touchdown was the game’s most eye-catching play and gave the Ticats a brief but valuable lead.
Rountree’s resume includes experience in the NFL and the UFL, and his physical running style was on display as he sought to carve out a role in Hamilton’s backfield rotation. The long run forced Toronto’s defence to adjust its gap discipline and added urgency to the Argonauts’ plan to commit resources to stopping the run. Although Hamilton’s offence struggled to build sustained momentum after that play, Rountree’s burst underlined the depth the Ticats are evaluating ahead of the regular season.
Penalties hamper Hamilton and influence field position
Discipline proved costly for Hamilton as the Tiger-Cats were flagged 11 times for 144 yards, repeatedly surrendering advantageous field position and stalling promising sequences. Toronto also committed penalties — seven infractions for 73 yards — but the disparities in yardage and timing magnified the impact of Hamilton’s mistakes. Several penalty calls erased drives or set up Toronto scoring opportunities, a recurring issue the still-evaluating Tiger-Cats must address before opening the regular season.
Coaching staff meetings after the game are expected to focus on cleaning up avoidable infractions and tightening communication on the line and in coverage. Preseason penalties often reflect timing and cohesion more than intent, but the cumulative effect in this contest tilted the field toward the Argonauts when possessions were short and margins thin. For Hamilton, the lesson will be procedural as much as technical, with emphasis on situational awareness in practice during the coming days.
Quarterback developments: Kelly’s return and Mitchell’s efficient start
The quarterback situation drew particular attention as Chad Kelly made his first start for Toronto since suffering a leg injury in the 2024 East Division final that sidelined him through the 2025 season. Kelly completed three of seven passes for 29 yards and added two rushes for 24 yards, showing mobility and the ability to manage a game while the coaching staff assessed his recovery and timing. The outing was measured, and Toronto’s staff emphasized that Saturday’s game would be one step in Kelly’s road back to full-game readiness.
Hamilton started veteran Bo Levi Mitchell, the East Division’s outstanding player in the previous two seasons, who completed all three of his pass attempts for 50 yards in limited action. Mitchell’s efficient, controlled series work is consistent with a preseason approach focused on protecting starters while still evaluating execution against live competition. On the other side of the depth chart, Jake Dolegala completed five of 14 passes for 61 yards and threw an interception, while Canadian talent Tre Ford attempted two of 10 passing for 14 yards and added 17 yards rushing on two carries as he continued to work through mechanics and timing.
Each quarterback’s abbreviated snaps served different purposes: Toronto used Kelly’s series to test mobility and play-calling with a returning starter, while Hamilton sought to maintain rhythm and test combinations without prolonging exposure to contact. Coaches on both sidelines will distill these limited reps into plan adjustments for the final preseason matchup and the regular-season depth chart.
Exhibition roundup: Elks, Roughriders record wins in other CFL action
Saturday’s slate of CFL exhibition games produced additional storylines across the league, offering coaches and evaluators fresh tape to analyze. In Langford, B.C., the Edmonton Elks defeated the B.C. Lions 34-16 behind efficient passing and special teams contributions. Quarterback Taylor Powell completed 13 of 14 passes for 160 yards, while Zach Zebrowski and Cole Snyder also connected for touchdown passes, providing Edmonton with a multi-quarterback offensive showcase. The Elks led comfortably after halftime and used a balanced attack to keep the Lions off-balance.
For the Lions, Chase Brice delivered an efficient relief performance, completing eight of 10 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Emani Bailey and Jayden Williams contributed on the ground and through the air. Special teams performances, including field-goal kicking and returns, played a decisive role in the final margin, underscoring how exhibition games remain valuable for depth chart determination. Edmonton’s coaching staff highlighted consistent execution across units as the key to securing the win.
In Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Roughriders mounted a comeback to beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 31-27 after falling behind early. Quarterbacks Brayden Schager and Jack Coan each threw touchdown passes for the Roughriders, and Saskatchewan’s offence produced big plays through the air and on the ground to erase a first-quarter deficit. Receiver Abdul Janneh paced the receiving corps with 107 yards on six catches, while Jonathan Klim connected on three field goals, including a 51-yarder that helped swing momentum.
Winnipeg’s young quarterbacks faced pressure from Saskatchewan’s pass rush and secondary, which forced turnovers and limited the Bombers’ opportunity to sustain drives in the second half. The Blue Bombers displayed flashes of offensive balance early, but turnovers and missed chances proved costly in a tight affair. Coaches across the league will parse second- and third-string performances as they finalize rosters.
What coaches and roster decisions will focus on ahead of final preseason games
With one final preseason matchup remaining for both Toronto and Hamilton — scheduled for Friday night in Guelph, Ont. — coaching staffs are expected to use the game to finalize evaluations at the skill positions and special teams. The Guelph outing represents the last extended look at live reps for players fighting for final roster spots and for starters seeking to fine-tune timing and protection calls. Expect to see rotation patterns that emphasize depth testing and situational football more than long drive building from the first units.
For Toronto, short-yardage packages, red-zone efficiency, and Kelly’s continued game management will be the primary topics of review. The Argonauts will weigh Hicks’ performance alongside other runners in camp as the team prepares for a June 12 season opener in Montreal. In Hamilton, attention will turn to discipline and penalty correction, as well as tightening the offensive line play to protect passing windows and maintain gap integrity in the run game before the Ticats open their regular season on June 4 against the Montreal Alouettes.
Special teams will also receive added scrutiny. Kick and punt returners, coverage units and kicking accuracy frequently decide close games, and coaches will assess consistency and ball security to determine personnel and strategy adjustments. Coaches are likely to stress fundamentals in practice sessions this week while preserving key veterans’ health ahead of regular-season play.
Sam Hicks’ performance and Chad Kelly’s return are positives for Toronto, but the club’s staff will also look to shore up pass protection and timing in the intermediate game. Hamilton’s staff will prioritize discipline and situational execution while continuing to evaluate Rountree and other running options as potential change-of-pace contributors. Both teams head into the final preseason week with clear decision points to address.
The upcoming regular-season schedule places both clubs against the Montreal Alouettes to open their campaigns, providing immediate tests for line play and defensive schematics. Toronto’s June 12 trip to Montreal will be an early exam of its offensive balance on the road, while Hamilton’s June 4 home opener offers a chance to present a more disciplined and rapid-turnover-free version of the team. Early-season health and roster clarity will be critical for both clubs’ coaching staffs.
As the CFL moves from exhibition play into the regular season, performances like Hicks’ two rushing scores provide concrete data points for roster construction. Coaches and general managers will pore over film from Saturday’s game, weighing short-term gains against long-term durability and consistency. The final preseason game in Guelph will likely determine several final decisions, but Saturday’s contest has already informed the trajectories of multiple players and position groups.
Toronto’s running back room, Hamilton’s disciplinary protocol, and the developing quarterback narratives are among the items teams must resolve before Week 1. Each club will balance the desire to preserve veteran health with the imperative to finalize a competitive opening-day roster. Preseason results rarely predict regular-season outcomes, but they do set the agenda for the next phase of preparation and adjustments.
Toronto’s 20-10 victory over Hamilton was a measured but meaningful step in their preseason buildup, highlighted by Sam Hicks’ timely runs and Chad Kelly’s cautious return to game action. The Tiger-Cats leave with clear areas for improvement, most notably in preventing costly penalties and sustaining offensive drives after explosive plays. Both clubs now pivot to last preseason testing in Guelph and a quick turnaround to open the 2026 regular season with matchups against Montreal that will test early progress and roster choices.
