Backup QB Arbuckle leads Toronto past Winnipeg 41-24 for the Argonauts' 19th Grey Cup title

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the Toronto Argonauts to their record-extending 19th Grey Cup title, throwing two second-half touchdown passes in a 41-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday night at B.C. Place.

Forced into action after starter Chad Kelly broke his ankle in Toronto's East championship victory over Montreal, Arbuckle completed 26 of 37 passes for 252 yards in Toronto's second Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg in three seasons.

“You couldn’t script this,” said Arbuckle, selected the outstanding player of the game. “If everybody was to know everything, all the things we overcame as a family, from my whole life and football career to be here, it’s God’s work.

“I’ve been so fortunate to have the support and belief in me from my wife and everybody to just keep chasing it and persevering. Look at it now.”

Toronto has won its last eight appearances in the Grey Cup dating to 1991 and is 8-0 against Winnipeg, also beating the Blue Bombers in 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950 and 2022.

“Nick did that, he won us a dang championship, what else is there to say,” said Toronto running back Ka’Deem Carey, who ran for 79 yards and a TD on 15 carries. “I know everybody in this locker room knew who Nick was and knew what he was going to do.”

Winnipeg was appearing in its fifth straight Grey Cup. It won consecutive titles in 2019 and 2021, with the 2000 season canceled.

“It’s still pretty raw,” Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said. “Anytime you don’t win your last game, there’s a tendency to view it as failure and I don’t know about (that). It was a hell of a ride this year, quite a different season. We just didn’t play our best football at the end. ”

Arbuckle threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett to give Toronto a 24-16 lead with 7:31 left. On the first play after the kickoff, DaShaun Amos intercepted Zach Collaros' pass and returned it to the Winnipeg 16 to set up Brian Hajrullahu's 14-yard field goal with 5:11 remaining.

Robert Priester iced it with 3:12 left with a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown. Wynton McManis then returned another interception 58 yards to the 4, with Carey scoring on the next play to make it 41-16.

Collaros, the only player to make five straight Grey Cup starts, was 15 of 30 for 202 yards and four interceptions. Brady Oliveira, the league’s outstanding player and top Canadian this year, ran for 84 yards and a TD, scoring on a 1-yard run and adding a 2-point conversion in the final minute.

Toronto — which beat Winnipeg in both regular-season meetings — took a 17-10 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter on Arbuckle's 17-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital — a play after Fraser Sopik recovered Lucky Whitehead's fumble on a punt return.

Winnipeg cut it to 17-13 on Sergio Castillo's 40-yard field goal with 2:13 left in the third. The Blue Bombers' Michael Ayers then blocked John Haggerty's punt, but Toronto ended up with a first down because Kyrie Wilson interfered with an Argonauts player while the ball was loose.

The Blue Bombers got the ball back two plays later when Willie Jefferson intercepted Arbuckle's pass and returned it 4 yards to the Toronto 30, setting up Castillo's 23-yard field goal.

Prince Harry made a pregame appearance. The Duke of Sussex is promoting the Invictus Games that will be held in the area in February.

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Toronto Argonauts' Robert Priester (19) scores a touchdown after an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with Benjie Franklin (23) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, center right, celebrates with teammate Ka'Deem Carey (25) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Bailey Feltmate (36) and teammate Brady Oliveira (20) sit on the bench after losing the 111th Grey Cup to the Toronto Argonauts, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Daniel Adeboboye (21) lifts the Grey Cup after defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) lifts the Grey Cup after defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Kevin Mital (10) scores a touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Keric Wheatfall (88) can't make the catch as Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) defends during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Keric Wheatfall (88) can't make the catch as Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) defends during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) scores a touchdown as Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nick Taylor (12) looks on during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Willie Jefferson (5) strips the ball from Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) during the the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Peter Nicastro (52) recovers a fumble against the Toronto Argonauts during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Deonta McMahon (24) runs against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Benjie Franklin (23) can't make an interception on a pass intended for Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Kenny Lawler (89) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) runs back an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) makes an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) celebrates his interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Kevin Mital (10) leaps to evade a hit from Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Terrell Bonds (24) and scores a touchdown during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) celebrates his touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with teammates during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) passes against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — James Harden now stands alone at No. 2 in 3-pointers.

The Los Angeles Clippers guard connected on the 2,974th 3-pointer of his career Sunday night and broke a tie with Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen for the No. 2 spot on the NBA’s list.

“It’s an unbelievable accomplishment and just a testament to the work that I’ve been putting in,” Harden said. “As I get older and chip away at an unbelievable career, you start to accomplish things like that and I don’t ever want to take it for granted.”

Harden’s history-making shot came from the right wing with 6:09 left in the first quarter in a 116-105 victory over the Utah Jazz. The only player ahead of Harden on the list is Golden State’s Stephen Curry at 3,782.

Curry and the Warriors are in Southern California to face the Clippers on Monday.

“I’m one of the most confident guys we have in this league, but no, I probably won’t catch Steph, and I don’t think anybody will, honestly,” Harden said.

Harden was 2 of 8 from 3-point range and finished with 20 points, 11 assists and six rebounds.

Allen needed 1,300 games to make his 2,973 3-pointers. Harden passed him in 1,086 games.

“Both of those guys,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said last week, “are extraordinary shooters.”

Harden is one of three players in NBA history to have 300 3-pointers in a season. He made 378 in 2018-19; the other players on that list are Curry (who has done it five times, including an NBA-record 402 in 2015-16) and Klay Thompson (who made 301 in 2022-23).

“To be a scorer at all three levels and to be second all-time in 3-pointers made is crazy,” Lue said after the game. “And a lot of tough 3s: off the dribble, step backs, pocket 3s, pulling up off the dribble on pick and rolls.

“Just to see what he has accomplished from a two-guard to the transition to point guard, his whole career has been great.”

Harden also is 15th on the NBA’s career list in points and 13th in assists. The only other player who ranks in the top 15 in scoring, assists and 3-pointers — appearing on all three lists — is LeBron James, the league’s career scoring leader who is fourth in assists and eighth in 3-pointers.

Allen passed Reggie Miller for No. 1 on the 3-pointers list during the 2010-11 season and held the record for more than a decade. Curry passed Allen during the 2021-22 season.

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Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, left, shoots as Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, left, shoots as Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)