WINNIPEG (CP) - Rob Pikula booted a 28-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the game to give the Winnipeg Blue Bombers a thrilling 15-13 victory over the Toronto Argonauts Friday night.
Pikula was replacing veteran placekicker Troy Westwood, who injured his hamstring in Winnipeg's 22-21 win over B.C. on Aug. 10. Both teams were coming off a bye week.
The game started late after Winnipeg slotback Milt Stegall was honoured in a ceremony for setting a new CFL all-time touchdown record last month.
In front of the fourth-straight capacity crowd of 29,533 at Canad Inns Stadium, Stegall received praise and gifts from team, city, provincial and league officials.
The 13-year veteran broke the league record of 137 TDs he shared with former running backs George Reed and Mike Pringle on July 27 against Hamilton. Stegall, 37, has since stretched his total to 140 and had nine catches for 151 yards and no TDs Friday.
Pringle attended the tribute, but Reed couldn't make it.
Winnipeg's points came off a Charles Roberts' four-yard TD run and Pikula field goals from 28 and 30 yards. The kicker also added a pair of singles from a punt and a missed 27-yard field-goal attempt.
Toronto defensive back Byron Parker, who sometimes sees action as a receiver, caught a 27-yard TD pass from Rocky Butler, and Noel Prefontaine hit field goals from 25 and 51 yards.
Butler, who was signed last month after being released by Hamilton in late June, was making his second straight start with Toronto and only sixth start in his six-year career.
He's the fourth QB the Argos have used this season as they wait for Michael Bishop (broken wrist) to come back around Labour Day and veteran Damon Allen (toe) to return late in the season. Mike McMahon was backing up Butler.
Butler finished the night completing 14-of-24 pass attempts for 155 yards. Winnipeg QB Kevin Glenn was 21-of-35 for 299 yards.
Toronto led 10-9 at halftime after gambles and turnovers had a hand in the scoring.
The Argos were facing third and two early in the second quarter when a direct snap went to linebacker Michael Fletcher and he ran for 26 yards. On the next play, Butler threw the TD pass to Parker.
Winnipeg notched its first TD after an Argo turnover. Bomber defensive lineman Jerome Haywood sacked Butler and the ball came loose. Linebacker Barrin Simpson recovered the ball and went nine yards to Toronto's 15-yard line. Four plays later, Roberts ran in for the TD and 9-7 lead.
Roberts went into the game 157 yards short of passing Bomber running back Leo Lewis for the team's all-time rushing record (8,861 yards). He had 25 carries for 108 yards.
Prefontaine booted a 51-yarder as time expired on the second quarter, the second-longest field goal of his 10-year career. His longest was 52 yards in a game last season.
The teams were scoreless in the third quarter, but Prefontaine booted his 25-yarder 12 seconds into the fourth quarter for the 13-9 lead.
The Bombers settled for a 30-yard Pikula field goal with just under three minutes to go after a penalty nixed a third-and-inches situation from Toronto's 19-yard line.