Montreal Alouettes Continue Their Winning Ways Against the Edmonton Elks
The Montreal Alouettes hosted the 6-2 Edmonton Elks on Saturday, looking to avenge their loss in Edmonton. With a crowd of roughly 22,500 fans coming out to support their team, Montreal entered the game riding a five-game winning streak.
Montreal went into this game with five injuries on defence, including Mustafa Johnson, Najee Murray, Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, and Wesley Sutton. On offence, they were still without star centre Justin Lawrence. These are all significant key players, and with Montreal playing against the second-best team in the league, many wondered how the Alouettes could pull this one off.
Montreal’s offence has been on fire this season, averaging at least 30 points per game. Montreal’s offence took the field and moved the ball well, but on an aggressive trick play, Tyler Snead received a lateral and tried to throw the ball downfield to Cole Spieker. Unfortunately, the pass was intercepted in the end zone. Montreal’s defence was then called upon to stop former Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo.
Not only were Montreal missing all those key players on defence, but their replacements did a heck of a job stopping Fajardo and running back Justin Rankin, who has been tough to stop for any team in the league. Defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe called great plays and prepared the team to stop Rankin while keeping Cody Fajardo on his toes.
The first half was a close game, with Montreal throwing the ball well. Quarterback Davis Alexander wanted to keep his winning streak going and get his revenge against his former mentor, Cody Fajardo.
In the second half, special teams made a huge punt block, which kept the ball around the 50-yard line and resulted in a Montreal touchdown. Special teams were big in this game, especially with Devonte Dedmon getting more reps after starting the season injured. He led the special teams in returns, consistently returning the ball to around midfield. This gave the Montreal offence great starting field position on each drive.
Everything was going Montreal’s way, and the team looked well prepared for this game.
Cornerback Lorenzo Burns should have had yet another interception in the second half, but the officials called it incomplete. He is another underrated cornerback, and many teams try to challenge him, but his ability and determination to make big plays always seem to come at the right time.
Montreal’s interception finally came as Edmonton was moving the ball well late in the third quarter. Montreal’s defensive captain Tyrice Beverette who anticipated the play and came up with a big interception, killing any momentum Edmonton was trying to build in this game. The Montreal crowd got louder as the game progressed.
It has been a hot season for the combination of Davis Alexander and wide receiver Tyson Philpot. Philpot is on pace for a record-breaking 2,300-yard season. He finished the game with 10 receptions for 131 yards, and it was his first game catching three touchdowns.
Also having a big game was Tyler Snead, who caught five passes for 146 yards, while Cole Spieker caught four passes for 34 yards.
Alexander finished the game 22-of-28 for 352 yards, was intercepted once, and, for the first time in his career, threw four touchdowns in one game.
It has been nice to see the amazing protection Alexander has been getting this season from his offensive line, giving him time to find an open receiver and move the ball downfield.
Running back Travis Theis finished the game with 14 carries for 100 rushing yards while adding three catches for 41 yards.
Montreal led 24-17 at halftime. Coach Maas and his staff made adjustments going into the locker room, and Montreal dominated the second half.
Once Montreal extended its lead to 34-17, offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo decided it was time to use the clock and run the ball more often with Travis Theis, who has been very dominant this season but remains underrated.
You have to give credit to Coach Jason Maas and his staff for preparing the team each week and having the players believe that they can win every game.
Montreal has another bye week this coming week, before facing the Ottawa Redblacks at Molson Stadium on August 20th. The Alouettes will be looking to continue their winning ways and improve to 9-1.
The players don’t look at the statistics. What matters to the players is winning, and that is what they have done for half the season.
We all know what matters most: the Grey Cup.
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