Durant hits Smith with two long TD passes to lead Riders past Argonauts

TORONTO – Darian Durant threw three touchdown passes, including two long ones to Taj Smith, to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders past the Toronto Argonauts 39-28 on Thursday night.

Durant cemented the win before a disappointing Rogers Centre gathering of 18,211 with a 70-yard TD strike to Smith at 6:51 of the third quarter to put Saskatchewan (3-0) comfortably ahead 29-14. Durant also found a wide-open Smith on a 61-yard touchdown pass in the opening half.

Durant finished 14-of-19 passing for 245 yards before suffering a foot injury and being replaced by Drew Willy with 9:52 remaining. But running back Kory Sheets anchored the victory, surpassing the 100-yard rushing plateau for the third consecutive contest with 178 yards and two TDs.

Sheets, who had three 100-yard games last year, has rushed for career highs in the first three weeks of the season.

Toronto (1-2) made it interesting early in the fourth when Ricky Ray hit Chad Kackert on a 48-yard touchdown pass to cut its deficit to 32-21. But the defending Grey Cup champions still suffered their second straight loss despite Ray finishing 27-of-37 passing for 334 yards and two TDs.

Saskatchewan, the CFL’s lone undefeated team, has been dominant at Rogers Centre, winning seven of its last eight games there and eight-of-11 overall against the Argos. The Riders also scored more than 30 points for the third straight game.

Rob Bagg had Saskatchewan’s other touchdown. Chris Milo added the converts and a field goal while Ricky Schmitt booted a single.

Andre Durie and Zach Collaros scored Toronto’s other touchdowns. Noel Prefontaine kicked the converts, two field goals and a single.

The first half’s biggest play didn’t count but helped stake Saskatchewan to its 21-14 half-time lead.

Defensive back Jamie Robinson returned a Durant interception 88 yards for the TD at 6:43 of the second that would’ve given the Argonauts an 18-7 advantage. But it was negated by a pass interference call on Robinson.

That gave Saskatchewan possession at the Toronto 14 and set up Sheets’ two-yard TD run at 7:30 to put the Riders ahead 14-11. The visitors took a 21-11 lead when Durant found Smith all alone at 14:10.

The Argos’ Ray started smartly, connecting on his first 12 passes, the third-highest total in club history and five short of the franchise record. Included was a 10-yard touchdown pass to Durie to end the first that put the Argos ahead 11-7.

After punting four straight possessions in the second, Ray moved Toronto downfield to set up Prefontaine’s 44-yard field goal to end the half.

NOTES: Durant has yet to throw an official interception this season and the three TD passes give him 102 for his CFL career . . . Bagg scored his first TD since 2010 after missing all of 2011 and all but three games in 2012 with knee injuries . . . Former Argo defensive lineman Ricky Foley received his Grey Cup ring from Toronto GM Jim Barker prior to the game. Foley spent three seasons with the Double Blue before signing with Saskatchewan as a free agent. He earned his first sack of the season in the first, tackling Ray for a 10-yard loss . . . Prefontaine played a day after his wife delivered the couple’s third child, a daughter . . . Mike Rae holds the Argos record for most consecutive completions at 17.