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Argos turn to Franklin for Week 18 bout with Ticats

TORONTO — In the late stages of Toronto’s Week 17 loss the BC Lions, head coach Marc Trestman looked to James Franklin in the fourth quarter to spark an otherwise struggling offence.  Franklin led two touchdown drives in five possessions in the final frame and clearly it was enough to tip the hand of the Boatmen’s bench boss.

The Argonauts confirmed today that Franklin will get the start under centre when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Friday night at BMO Field.

Franklin — who hasn’t started since Week 7 — was good on 9 of 14 passes for 103 yards and passed for two touchdowns in what was almost a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback in Vancouver.  He spelled McLeod Bethel-Thompson who passed for 97 yards and tossed four interceptions in the first three quarters of the game.

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Franklin looks to redeem himself after he took over for Ricky Ray in Week 3 but was only able to notch one win in four tries before being demoted for Bethel Thompson.

For his part, Bethel-Thompson took a firm grip on the starters role after putting together two consecutive mid-season wins but since has not been able to dig the Argos out of the loss column.

Despite being eliminated from the playoffs, the start is critical for Franklin as he tries to set himself up for next season, especially with Ray’s future in doubt and the club seemingly uncommitted to a succession plan.