Scott Milanovich's game plan for Sunday's Grey Cup remains a work in progress, but it won't involve the Toronto Argonauts following the same dangerous path that they took to get to the CFL title game.
The Argos have had to rally from early 10-0 deficits twice in the playoffs in order to take their place as the home team against the Calgary Stampeders in the 100th Grey Cup game at Rogers Centre. As a result of its resiliency, Toronto finds itself in its first CFL title game since winning the league championship in 2004.
"We would love to get started fast," Milanovich said Monday. "Nobody enjoys falling behind, but fortunately if we do fall behind we'll be OK."
Edmonton surged to a 10-0 advantage over Toronto in the East Division semifi-nal Nov. 11 at Rogers Centre, outrushing the home team 99-0 through the first quarter. But the Argos countered with two turnovers that set up 14 points in a playoff-record 31-point second to take control of the contest en route to a 42-26 victory.
On Sunday at Olympic Stadium, Toronto fell behind early 10-0 in the first quarter and had three first-half turnovers - a fumble and twice on downs in short yardage situations, including once at the Montreal goal line. Again, the Argos' defence delivered, forcing three turnovers (two interceptions, fumble recovery) while the offence scored two TDs in the third to erase a 17-10 half-time deficit to advance to the Grey Cup with a 27-20 victory before more than 50,000 spectators.
Milanovich said being able to twice rally for the win in the playoff attests to the Argos' resiliency.
"It speaks to their belief and faith in their teammates," he said. "It's one of the last things we said when we left the locker-room, when things get tough today you just have to find strength in your teammates and they'll pull you through it."
In both playoff contests, the Argos' mirrored the calm demeanour of their starting quarterback Ricky Ray. The 10-year veteran, twice a Grey Cup champion over his first nine seasons with Edmonton, finished 28-of-37 passing for 399 yards and a TD to lead Toronto to the win over Montreal.
The previous week, Ray led Toronto to its first win in three games this season with Edmonton, the team that dealt Ray to the Argos in the blockbuster trade in December 2011.
"Ricky just does not get rattled," Milanovich said.
