Welcome back, Smitty.

We missed you.

The 2-2 Stampeders lead the visiting 0-4 Toronto Argonauts 11-9 at half Thursday night at McMahon Stadium, thanks in part to the excellent play of veteran defensive back Brandon Smith.

Smith picked off a McLeod Bethel-Thompson pass that was intended for SJ Green, leading to the Stamps first score of Thursday night’s tilt at McMahon Stadium.

He came close to causing a fumble and getting another interception later in the half.

The Argos got on the board first, with Tyler Crapigna booting a 50-yard field-goal for the early lead.

But after Smith’s interception near midfield, Stamps pivot Nick Arbuckle – starting again in place of the injured Bo Levi Mitchell – led his team on a quick three-play, 43-yard drive to paydirt before the end of the first quarter.

He hooked up with Markeith Ambles and Ka’Deem Carey on short passes, before hitting a sweeping Juwan Brescacin on a two-yard pass and he legged it another 18 yards getting the edge on a trio of Toronto defenders to beat them to the endzone.

A 30-yard Rene Paredes field-goal and a single from a Rob Maver punt extended the lead to 11-3.

Arbuckle’s three-yard run on a third and inches set the Stamps up for another score in the second quarter, but the pivot threw an interception – the first of his CFL career – in the endzone, picked off by Alden Darby.

Bethel-Thompson marched his club on a seven-play, 85-yard drive as time expired in the half, finding Derel Walker for the major.

They went for a two-point convert, but missed.