Not content to bask in the glow of a host of pregame accolades, slotback Milt Stegall turned it on late in the fourth quarter to help the Winnipeg Blue Bombers squeak by the Toronto Argonauts.

Stegall consistently got open late in the fourth quarter as Winnipeg kicked field goals on their last two drives to escape with a 15-13 home win in front of 29,533 at Canad Inns Stadium. He finished with nine catches for 151 yards.

Prior to the game, Stegall was honoured for setting the all-time CFL touchdown record on July 27 with his 140th score.

"The win topped it off," said Stegall. "It just says a lot about this organization. There's no way I can thank them, but hopefully the win will say enough thanks to them."

Rob Pikula redeemed himself by making the winning kick from 28 yards with just eight seconds left. Pikula had previously missed a 40-yard attempt and had also shanked a pair of punts for Winnipeg (5-2-1).

"I wanted to make up for that missed field goal earlier," Pikula said. "I got the opportunity at the last second, a game-winning field goal to do that, so I'm pretty happy to do that." 

Winnipeg's Charles Roberts battles for extra yards Friday at Canad Inns Stadium.
(John Woods/Canadian Press)

Charles Roberts was again a workhorse, scoring the team's lone touchdown while racking up 108 yards on 25 carries. Roberts, who consistently performs well against the Argos, is now 49 yards shy of passing the legendary Leo Lewis as the club's all-time rushing leader (8,861 yards).

For Toronto (2-6), their fifth consecutive loss may be the most bitter to swallow. The Argonauts led for much of the game but could not convert a host of great special teams plays into enough points while the Winnipeg offence stalled in the second half until Stegall and his teammates found another gear.

"You have to make plays," Toronto coach Mike Clemons said. "A guy has to break a tackle and make a play. When you run the ball, you have to run the ball more effectively. We have to be more efficient. It's not huge things, it's little things and detailing."

The Argonauts scored their only touchdown when quarterback Rocky Butler found Byron Parker for a second-quarter major. The play was set up by a fake punt.

Butler went 14-of-25 passing for 155 yards and no interceptions, but was sacked five times.

Toronto hopes to have No. 1 pivot Michael Bishop back in the lineup against Hamilton on Labour Day, Sept. 3. The Argos now trail the Bombers by seven points in the CFL East Division.

Argos utilize trickery

After a first quarter that featured three sacks (two for Winnipeg) and each side missing a makeable field goal, things got interesting at the start of the second, with a pair of Argo defensive players contributing offensively.

With Toronto's Noel Prefontaine lined up for a punt, the Argos instead snapped the ball to linebacker Michael Fletcher, who rumbled 26 yards on the surprised Bombers.

On the next play, Butler connected on a 27-yard score to Parker, who can play receiver or defensive back.

With the score 7-2 Toronto late in the second, Butler was harassed again and he fumbled. Linebacker Barrin Simpson recovered for Winnipeg deep in Toronto territory.

Roberts gained 13 of his rushing yards on the ensuing drive, taking it in from four yards for a 9-7 lead.

The Argos regained the lead on the final play of the half when Prefontaine nailed a 52-yarder. Bashir Levingston set up the play with a 15-yard punt return.

The third quarter was a battle of field position, with Toronto holding a decided advantage.

After wasting a terrific punt return from Dominique Dorsey, the Argos got on the scoreboard after a 36-yard return from Arland Bruce, although they had to settle for a 25-yard Prefontaine field goal after a wide-open Tony Miles dropped a pass in the end zone.

Winnipeg quarterback Kevin Glenn, out of synch with his receivers much of the night, finally moved his team late in the fourth, thanks in large part to Stegall and Roberts.

Stegall got open for a pair of receptions to lead to a 29-yard Pikula field goal with just over five minutes left.

Stegall accounted for another 40 yards on two catches in the winning drive, with teammates O'Neil Wilson and Derick Armstrong also making key plays. 

Rob Pikula gets a lift from teammates Tom Canada (44) and Corey Jenkins (45) as dejected Toronto Argonaut Adriano Belli (78) looks away.
(John Woods/Canadian Press)

Glenn's late-game rally raised his ledger to a healthy 21-of-35 for 299 yards, with no interceptions.

Pringle honours Stegall

Stegall received a heartfelt tribute prior to the game from Mike Pringle, the previous co-record holder with George Reed for most touchdowns, while Manitoba Premier Gary Doer declared it "Milt Stegall Day" in the province.

CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon was also on hand to honour Stegall.

Robert Edwards gained 33 yards on nine carries in his first game with Toronto. Edwards, 32, was released last weekend after nearly three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes.

His younger brother Terrence had a quiet night for Winnipeg, making just two catches for 12 yards.

The Blue Bombers return to action on Sept. 2 in Regina against Saskatchewan, the CFL West leaders.

With files from the Canadian Press