u/Baggio105

▲ 26 r/Alouettes+1 crossposts

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.

Please keep following my blogs and leave your comments.

Much appreciated!

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u/Baggio105 — 11 days ago
▲ 19 r/Alouettes+1 crossposts

Complete Team Effort Powers Alouettes in a 34-13 Victory over the Ottawa Redblacks

This week, the Montreal Alouettes travelled to face the struggling Ottawa Redblacks, with many Montreal fans making the trip by bus and other forms of transportation to support their team. Although Ottawa had yet to win a game this season, head coach Jason Maas and his staff knew better than to overlook any opponent. Montreal defeated Ottawa 37-35 in their first meeting earlier this season, but this time the outcome would not be nearly as close.

Over the past few games, Montreal has committed to a physical running game led by Travis Theis, whose hard-nosed running style has been difficult for opposing defences to contain. That success on the ground has opened up the passing game, something the Alouettes have never been shy about using with offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo calling the plays. Calvillo has tremendous confidence in quarterback Davis Alexander, and with Ottawa focusing on stopping the run, Alexander quickly took advantage by finding Tyson Philpot deep in Redblacks territory early in the game.

Ottawa elected to give Montreal the ball first, hoping to slow down an offence that has consistently scored on its opening possession in recent weeks. Instead, the strategy backfired. Alexander efficiently marched the offence down the field before capping the opening drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker, who has been outstanding since returning from injury.

Montreal's defence then immediately made its presence felt. Defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe dialed up relentless pressure on Ottawa quarterback Jake Maier, forcing a quick three-and-out. Thorpe's game plan was clear: don't allow Maier to repeat the success he enjoyed in the first meeting, when he threw for 336 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The constant pressure never allowed Maier to get comfortable, forcing him into rushed decisions and several costly mistakes throughout the night.

Alexander has developed excellent chemistry with his receiving corps over the past several games. While Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead continue to attract the majority of defensive attention, it has created opportunities for receivers such as Cole Spieker to make big plays when left in single coverage.

The game remained competitive through much of the second quarter before Montreal began to pull away, taking a commanding 24-13 lead into halftime.

Ottawa opened the third quarter with some offensive momentum, driving all the way to Montreal's five-yard line. Facing third-and-goal, head coach Ryan Dinwiddie elected to gamble for a touchdown instead of taking the field goal that would have pulled the Redblacks within one possession. Under heavy pressure from linebacker Najee Murray, Maier was forced into an ill-advised throw that landed directly in the hands of defensive end Joshua Archibald, who had an outstanding game. That interception proved to be the turning point, as the momentum completely shifted in Montreal's favour for the remainder of the contest.

On the very next offensive play, Alexander connected with Tyler Snead for a 48-yard gain, a play that further deflated Ottawa's defence. At that point, the Redblacks simply had no answer for Montreal's balanced offensive attack.

As the game wore on, the Alouettes leaned more heavily on Travis Theis to control the clock. Montreal built a commanding 31-13 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter and never looked back. Despite playing on a short week, the coaching staff had the team thoroughly prepared, and that preparation was evident in every phase of the game.

With just over two minutes remaining, Montreal emptied its bench, allowing several backup players to see action while giving the starters some well-earned rest and reducing the risk of injury.

It was a complete team performance by the Alouettes. Offence, defence, and special teams all contributed key plays throughout the game. Every player appeared confident, energized, and committed to executing the game plan, resulting in one of Montreal's most complete victories of the season.

Big game from Tyson Philpot who had 11 catches for 184 yards, Tyler Snead also had a big night with 9 catches for 174 yards while this week Travis Theis just had 10 carries for 62 yards. Montreal mainly focused on its passing

Note: Tyson Philpot surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark with a second-half reception, reaching the milestone in just eight games this season. He is currently on pace for 2,256 receiving yards, which would shatter the CFL single-season record of 2,036 yards set by Allen Pitts of the Calgary Stampeders in 1994.

Montreal returns home on Saturday, August 8, for a 3:00 p.m. showdown at Molson Stadium against the 6-2 Edmonton Elks—the only team to defeat the Alouettes this season. It promises to be one of Montreal's biggest tests of the year.

Please follow, share, and leave a comment—it is greatly appreciated!

Until next game!

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u/Baggio105 — 18 days ago
▲ 29 r/Alouettes+1 crossposts

Alouettes Continue Winning Ways with Complete Team Victory Over Hamilton

Coming back home to take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after impressive back-to-back victories in Calgary, the Montreal Alouettes were looking to keep their momentum going. It was a beautiful night for football, and after lower attendance in recent games, 21,014 fans came out to support the team. With a victory, Montreal would win the season series against Hamilton should the two teams finish tied in the standings. The Alouettes entered the game with a 5-1 record, while the Tiger-Cats came in at 3-3.

Hamilton was once again without starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Montreal was also missing standout cornerback Kabion Ento and running back Stevie Scott III.

This week, Montreal activated return specialist DeVonte Dedmon from the six-game injured list after he missed the start of the season. On Hamilton's opening kickoff, Dedmon immediately made an impact, breaking several tackles and returning the ball to midfield, giving Montreal excellent field position to begin the game.

Montreal's offence took the field, and with offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo calling the plays this season, the offence has become a pass-oriented attack. Davis Alexander has enjoyed outstanding protection from his offensive line, while running back Travis Theis has consistently found running lanes. The Alouettes opened the scoring with a field goal by Jose Maltos.

Although Montreal's offence is known for its passing game, the Alouettes relied heavily on their rushing attack against Hamilton, keeping the Tiger-Cats' defence guessing. Hamilton focused on double-covering Alexander's favourite target, Tyson Philpot, but that didn't faze either Alexander or the offence.

Alexander spread the ball around with quick slants to Tyson Philpot, Cole Spieker, and Tyler Snead. Fullback Marco Dubois was also a pleasant surprise, making several key receptions to extend drives. Just before halftime, however, Hamilton returned a punt 100 yards for a touchdown after several missed tackles by Montreal's special teams.

Despite the mistake, Montreal took a narrow 10-8 lead into halftime in what was a defensive battle and one of the Alouettes' lowest-scoring first halves of the season.

Coming out for the second half, Montreal wanted to build momentum and energize the crowd. A spectacular sideline catches by Cole Spieker moved the offence deep into Hamilton territory. On the following play, Travis Theis appeared to score but was ruled inches short of the goal line. Montreal then called on newcomer Terry Wilson, who powered the ball into the end zone on a quarterback sneak to give the Alouettes a 17-15 lead. Even with the lead, many fans felt the game was still too close.

As the game wore on, the crowd became Montreal's 13th man. Defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson made two huge tackles for loss that helped swing the momentum. Hamilton regained an 18-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the third quarter also featured back-to-back penalties against the Tiger-Cats. One came from the Hamilton sideline, while all-star defensive back Wynton Mcmanis was ejected after kicking an Alouettes player in the head.

Travis Theis carried the offensive load all night, finishing with 19 carries for 156 yards. It was an outstanding performance by both Theis and Montreal's offensive line, which consistently opened holes while the receivers contributed with excellent downfield blocking.

When Montreal regained the lead 20-18 early in the fourth quarter, the pressure shifted to Hamilton quarterback Tre Ford. Montreal's defence consistently collapsed the pocket, making it difficult for Ford to move the ball into scoring position. After the Alouettes extended their lead to 24-18, Ford needed a touchdown to win the game.

With relentless pressure from Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, Mustafa Johnson, and Josh Archibald, Ford forced a pass that was intercepted by Robert Kennedy III. It was Kennedy's second interception this season against his former team. The first game he returned it for a touchdown.

Montreal's offence then put the game away behind more punishing runs from Travis Theis, whom Hamilton simply could not contain. The Alouettes capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run with just 28 seconds remaining. The fans remained until the final whistle, giving the team a well-deserved standing ovation.

Overall, Montreal delivered one of its most complete performances of the season. The defence was outstanding, the offence once again proved it can be explosive while maintaining balance, and special teams rebounded nicely after giving up the long punt return touchdown.

It was a well-balanced team victory, with each unit feeding off the success of the other.

Davis Alexander's remarkable streak without throwing an interception came to an end after 356 consecutive pass attempts, setting a new franchise record.

Travis Theis also enjoyed the biggest game of his CFL career with 156 rushing yards. When Stevie Scott III returns from injury, Montreal's coaching staff will have a difficult decision regarding who should be the team's starting running back. Based on his recent performances, Theis has certainly earned consideration and continues to show he belongs as a major part of the Alouettes' offence.

NOTE: it was Davis Alexander’s first game below 300 yards as he went 21-29, 187 yards and 1 interception.

Montreal now faces a short week as it travels to Ottawa to take on the winless Redblacks (0-6) on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Thank you for reading! Please continue following my weekly Alouettes blogs, and as always, your comments and feedback are greatly appreciated.

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u/Baggio105 — 24 days ago
▲ 19 r/Alouettes+1 crossposts

Alouettes Survive Calgary Comeback in Another Wild Finish 38-32 win.

Alouettes Survive Calgary Comeback in Another Wild Finish

The Montreal Alouettes travelled to Calgary for a rematch against the Stampeders after defeating them 37–30 last week at Molson Stadium. Calgary was looking for revenge, while Montreal wanted to continue its winning momentum.

Montreal’s offence came out blazing once again, with quarterback Davis Alexander receiving excellent protection from his offensive line. On a few occasions, Alexander had to scramble and find a receiver while also trying to avoid aggravating the hamstring injury that limited him to just seven games last season.

On Montreal’s opening drive, offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo mixed up the running and passing game, frequently using running back Travis Theis. Theis was difficult to bring down on many of his runs, often requiring multiple Calgary defenders to tackle him.

In the second quarter, Theis took an unnecessary cheap shot from a Calgary defender while going out of bounds. The hit resulted in a 15-yard penalty for roughing out of bounds. The penalty helped Montreal continue its drive, which eventually resulted in another touchdown and gave the Alouettes a 15–0 lead.

Later in the drive, Alexander faced pressure but was able to rely on his legs to escape the rush. He then connected with Tyler Snead on a 40-yard pass. The drive ended with Snead scoring on a 25-yard catch-and-run touchdown, extending Montreal’s lead to 22–0.

On Calgary’s first drive into the red zone, Alexander found Cole Spieker deep in the end zone for a touchdown, making Spieker’s return to the field a memorable one.

Calgary finally got on the scoreboard before halftime when Jude McAtamney connected on a 32-yard field goal, sending Montreal into the locker room with a comfortable 22–3 lead.

Many people may have thought the game was over—but think again.

Montreal’s defence has struggled to stop the run this season, and Calgary took advantage of that weakness in the second half. The Stampeders relied heavily on running back Dedrick Mills, who finished with 130 yards on 15 carries.

Calgary scored on its opening possession of the second half, cutting Montreal’s lead to 22–11 and making the game much closer.

Alexander and the Montreal offence did not panic. He calmly led the team down the field and connected once again with Cole Spieker, who had an outstanding night. Quarterback Dustin Crum then came into the game and scored on a quarterback sneak, extending Montreal’s lead to 29–11.

Although Montreal still had a comfortable lead, there was plenty of football left to play.

In the fourth quarter, Alexander ran the ball and came up just inches short of the first down. It appeared that Montreal could easily convert the short yardage with a quarterback sneak, but the Alouettes instead handed the ball to Travis Theis. The Calgary defenders appeared to stop him short, forcing the officials to bring out the chains to determine whether Montreal had gained enough for the first down.

The measurement showed that Theis had fallen just inches short.

A few possessions later, Calgary continued its comeback and cut Montreal’s lead to 32–25. Fans in the stadium and those watching at home were on the edge of their seats as the game began to resemble last week’s matchup, when Montreal’s defence stopped Calgary from tying the game.

This time, however, Calgary’s offence completed the comeback, tying the game with just 1:06 remaining.

What Calgary may not have realized was that Montreal’s offence has been one of the hottest units in the league.

With a calm and composed Davis Alexander at quarterback and Anthony Calvillo calling the plays, the Alouettes moved the ball down the field. Calvillo and Alexander continued to mix the running and passing game while keeping Calgary’s defence guessing.

Even when Alexander came under pressure, he was able to escape the pocket. He eventually found wide receiver Kaseem Ferdinand for a 27-yard touchdown, giving Montreal the lead.

Kicker Jose Maltos-Diaz missed the extra point, however, meaning Calgary still had an opportunity to drive down the field and win the game with a touchdown.

With 1:11 remaining, the game once again came down to Montreal’s defence.

Vernon Adams moved the Calgary offence down the field effectively, but Isaac Abeyema-Bergland made a huge play by batting down a second-down pass. With Calgary facing a critical third down, the Stampeders had no choice but to go for it.

Adams connected with wide receiver Brooks, but Montreal defensive back Faion Hicks stripped the ball from Brooks’ hands. The ball was recovered by Montreal defensive back Najee Murray, who secured the fumble and went down to end the game.

The Alouettes escaped Calgary with another victory.

However, Montreal cannot continue allowing opponents to mount such major comebacks. The Alouettes need to continue playing their game in all three phases—offence, defence and special teams—for the full 60 minutes.

Montreal’s defence also cannot continue allowing this many yards and points if the team wants to win consistently. The offence has been playing at a very high level, but the defence must improve and find a way to limit opposing teams. Montreal will not be able to rely on its offence to score 30 or more points every game. If the Alouettes want to continue winning, the defence must step up and stop allowing opponents to gain so many yards and score so many points.

Alexander connected with seven different receivers the whole game, spreading out to all his offensive teammates. He went 25-for-32 for 402 yards, marking his sixth game with more than 300 passing yards.

Alexander also made history during the game, passing Darian Durant for the most consecutive completed passes without an interception. He has now completed 336 passes without throwing an interception.

The Alouettes will now return home to host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this Sunday at 7 p.m. Hamilton will be without starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who is expected to miss several games with an ankle injury. Former Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford is expected to get the start for the Tiger-Cats.

Montreal will need to be ready.

If you enjoyed this article, please follow and support my work.

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u/Baggio105 — 1 month ago
▲ 18 r/Alouettes+1 crossposts

Alouettes Hold Off Stampeders to Improve to 4-1, but Tackling Concerns Remain

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The Alouettes were hosting the Calgary Stampeders after Montreal were coming off their bye week.  During that week, Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams had a hot hand against the Toronto Argonauts; throwing for six touchdowns.  Montreal’s defence and special teams since the start of the season have been having issues with their tackling; which had to be addressed before tonight’s game.  It was not a sellout crowd, yet fans were loud to cheer on their team, attendance was 18,046.

With Montreal’s offence being the spark plug this season, with the tandem between quarterback Davis Alexander and wide receiver Tyson Philpot, it has been hard to stop these two when Alexander is well protected.  So far this season, Alexander has been sacked three times in fours games, and has time to find his receivers or move out of the pocket slightly.  As one play Alexander moved out to throw and grabbed his hamstring lightly, the same injury which kept him out of play for most of last year.

Montreal started with the ball but couldn’t finish their drive and depended on kicker Jose Maltos-Diaz for a 27-yard field goal.  On Montreal’s next possession, as the defence stopped Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams, with Najee Murray punching the ball out to make him fumble, at Calgary’s own 48-yard line.  Calgary had a hard time covering Tyson Philpot as Alexander found him twice down field.  While in Calgary’s 10-yard line, some trickery from the Alouettes’ offence.  Alexander passed it vertically to wide receiver Tyler Snead, who then through the ball to Tyson Philpot in the end zone; making it 10-0 Montreal.

Calgary started to make a game out of it with a touchdown of their own, just before the first quarter ended.

Calgary’s returner felt more dangerous than our Mario Alford who didn’t seem to have ideas where to run during his kick returns and punt returns. As Tyreik Mcallister finished the game with 4 kickoff returns for 103 yards, while Shaun 1 return for 8 yards.  Compared to Mario Alford of Montreal, who he has been exciting in the CFL, not this season, as tonight he had 4 kickoff returns for 71 yards, and none of his returns seemed to scare Calgary’s Special teams.

Davis Alexander, Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead put the game on their shoulders as they extended the lead to 24-13 before going into halftime.

Montreal’s front line of Mustafa Johnson Isaac Berglund and Joshua Archibald put pressure on Vernon Adams in the third and fourth quarter.  CB Lorenzo Burns, had one hell of a game with 5 tackles and batting down 1 important pass, he was all over the back, including Tyrice Beverette and Najee Murray.

Montreal’s offence has averaged 30 plus points per game, but it seemed as if the team stopped playing after making it 37-23 with 6:26 remaining in the game. 

Not sure why defensive coordinator stopped the pressure on Vernon Adams, giving him time to find his receivers to make the game 37-30 with 2:17.  Montreal had the chance to kill the game on offence, they moved the ball well, but with a call on 2^(nd) down at 2-yards to go, offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo decided to call a long pass play to Tyler Snead which did not materialize.  Which means, Calgary still had hopes to tie the game, with many still in their seats.  Calgary in Montreal’s red zone, on a 3rd down and long to tie the game, Montreal edge rusher and newcomer David Pareles knocked down a pass from Vernon Adams tosecure the win.  Montreal now moves to 4-1, first in the East, while Calgary move to 2-3, and are third in the West.

These two team’s faceoffs against each other once again this Saturday in Calgary, with Calgary looking to avenge their loss.

 Hope you enjoyed the read and thoughts of the game, please follow.

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u/Baggio105 — 1 month ago
▲ 6 r/CFL

Alouettes Grind Out a 37-35 victory, yet tackling needs attention.

With summer in full swing in Montreal, the Alouettes hosted the Ottawa Redblacks (0-2) in front of a solid crowd of 17,138. Montreal has continued to find ways to win early this season, but concerns are growing on the defensive side of the ball as they continue to allow too many yards.

Last week in Edmonton, Elks running back Justin Rankin piled up 230 total yards, repeatedly breaking tackles and exposing Montreal’s defensive struggles. Heading into this week, head coach Jason Maas emphasized the need to clean up tackling and improve discipline on defence.

Once again, Montreal’s offence set the tone. However, kicker José Maltos-Díaz surprisingly missed his first field goal attempt after a streak of 25 straight makes.

The Alouettes quickly responded. Late in the first quarter, Davis Alexander escaped the pocket and connected with wide receiver Alexander Hollins for a 53-yard touchdown, giving Montreal early momentum.

Despite starting the season with backup running back Travis Theis filling in admirably for the injured Stevie Scott III, the backfield continues to look strong. Scott has since returned and looked like he had not missed a beat, giving the coaching staff confidence in both backs to share duties effectively.

Quarterback Davis Alexander continues to be the engine of this offence, throwing for over 300 yards in his first four games of the season. His offensive line deserves credit as well, consistently giving him time in the pocket, though Alexander has still been forced to scramble on several occasions to avoid pressure.

His favourite target remains Tyson Philpot, who delivered another standout performance with 12 receptions for 198 yards. One of the highlights of the game came when Alexander rolled out of the pocket and found Philpot near the 4-yard line on a spectacular improvisational play.

Montreal went into halftime up 21–6 and appeared in control, but Ottawa had other plans.

The Redblacks made a significant change at quarterback, moving away from veteran Dru Brown in favour of former Stampeder Jake Maier.

Ottawa adjusted its offensive strategy, focusing on quick releases to counter Montreal’s pass rush.

The approach worked to some extent, as Montreal’s offence stalled at times with a few two-and-outs, allowing Ottawa to claw back into the game.

Defensively, Montreal’s front continued to generate pressure, with Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, Joshua Archibald, and Mustafa Johnson combining for consistent disruption, including two sacks on Maier.

Montreal led 21–12 heading into the fourth quarter, but Ottawa closed the gap to 21–18 by the end of the third.

Running back Stevie Scott III added a highlight of his own, breaking free for a 20-yard run—his longest of the season—showing patience and power as he fought through contact to the outside.

There was also a controversial officiating moment when Montreal was penalized for offside on number 62, despite it appearing that an Ottawa defender was the one lined up early. The call stalled Montreal’s momentum at a key moment in the game.

Once again, however, defensive tackling remained an issue for Montreal. The coaching staff will need to address this quickly, as the team continues to allow far too many yards and second-chance opportunities.

Special teams, usually a strength for Montreal, nearly changed the outcome. With 56 seconds remaining, Ottawa returner Kalil Pimpleton broke loose for a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown, narrowing the gap to 37–35.

The stadium remained tense as Ottawa attempted an onside kick in the final seconds, but Tyson Philpot calmly secured the ball to seal the victory for Montreal.

The Alouettes head into a bye week before hosting the Calgary Stampeders (1–2) at Molson Stadium on July 11 at 7:00 p.m.

While Montreal escapes with another win, the message is clear: the offence is firing, but defensive consistency will need to improve if the team wants to remain among the league’s elite.

Hoping you all enjoyed this recap, and see you in 2 weeks time.

 

u/Baggio105 — 2 months ago
▲ 27 r/Alouettes+1 crossposts

Alouettes Rally Past Argonauts in Thrilling Home Opener

With the Montreal Alouettes hosting the Toronto Argonauts in their home opener before an almost sold-out crowd of 21,106, fans were treated to a thrilling contest that kept them on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

Montreal entered the game battered and bruised. The Alouettes were without starting running back Stevie Scott III, while all-star centre Justin Lawrence and standout receiver Cole Spieker were both placed on the six-game injured list. Toronto, meanwhile, was playing its first game of the season with quarterback Chad Kelly returning behind centre.

The Alouettes wasted no time electrifying the crowd. Known for opening games with a running play, Montreal surprised everyone on its first offensive snap with a flea-flicker. Davis Alexander connected with Tyson Philpot for a 46-yard gain, setting up Montreal's first touchdown drive and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Despite the fast start, Toronto controlled much of the game and held the lead for long stretches. Montreal would not regain the advantage until the fourth quarter when back up QB Dustin Crum punched in a one-yard quarterback sneak to give the Alouettes a 24-23 lead.

The game's defining moment came later in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Mica Awe burst through Toronto's protection to block a punt, which was recovered in the end zone by defensive back Arthur Hamelin for a touchdown. The score gave Montreal a 30-23 lead after Jose Maltos-Diaz missed the extra point, leaving the door slightly open for Toronto with 2:44 remaining.

Montreal's defence stepped up once again, forcing a stop before the offence delivered the knockout blow. Rather than running out the clock, Alexander went deep and found Philpot for a 26-yard touchdown that effectively sealed the victory.

Toronto answered with a late touchdown, but Philpot recovered the ensuing onside kick to put the game away.

Montreal's offensive line provided excellent protection throughout the night, allowing Davis Alexander to put together an outstanding performance. The quarterback completed 30 of 42 passes for 441 yards and several touchdowns. His numbers could have been even better if not for a few uncharacteristic drops by reliable receiver Tyler Snead.

The connection between Alexander and Tyson Philpot was nearly unstoppable. Philpot finished with nine receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns, repeatedly finding ways to beat Toronto's secondary.

Off-season acquisition Jerreth Sterns also made a significant impact, hauling in nine catches for 112 yards.

Running back Travis Theis wasn't heavily utilized on the ground, carrying the ball eight times for 43 yards, but he remained effective whenever called upon. He also added three receptions for 32 yards and consistently created problems for Toronto's defence.

Defensively, Montreal struggled at times to contain Chad Kelly. Early in the game, defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe relied on a three-man rush, allowing Kelly ample time to survey the field. Kelly took advantage, finishing the night 28-for-46 for 445 yards.

As the game progressed, Montreal began increasing the pressure, forcing Kelly into mistakes. Just before halftime, rookie linebacker Bubba Bolden, who entered the game after Tyreece Beverette was injured, intercepted Kelly to preserve a 14-13 Montreal lead heading into the locker room.

When it mattered most, the Alouettes' defensive front began to assert itself. Led by Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, Josh Archibald, and the returning Mustafa Johnson, Montreal generated key pressure late in the game.

Toronto frequently targeted Arthur Hamelin in coverage, finding success at times against the young defensive back. However, cornerback Kabion Ento delivered another strong performance, breaking up two crucial passes in the end zone to prevent Toronto touchdowns.

While Montreal's defense made several game-changing plays, the unit will likely focus on cleaning up the big plays it allowed. The Argonauts accumulated 516 net yards of offense, a number the Alouettes will want to reduce moving forward.

The Alouettes now head west to face the Edmonton Elks next Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. The matchup will feature several familiar faces, including former Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo and former Alouettes receivers Austin Mack and Kaion Julien-Grant.

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Hope you enjoyed my column.

Please continue reading next week.

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u/Baggio105 — 2 months ago
▲ 0 r/Juve

Juve need to improve their defence; with young Italian talent.

As these past years have been tough on Juve fans, the rebuild has to start on defence, they were always strong on defence with Italian talent. Scouts have to look at the future, and people like chiellini have to find defensive coaches in their youth academy to teach them to defend like he did. With Chiellini and Barzagli in their youth academy back, no one use to pass.

Now, with Bremer and Gatti, it has gotten worse, they should look at the U21 national team, select the CBs from there and develop them.

There are too many pieces to this puzzle to fix, but slowly start building, and we can eventually talk about strikers and midfielders. Juve use to field 6-8 Italians, starters. Now? I think 3.

Spaletti isn’t the solution, neither is conte, De Zerbi is better than both imo. Let’s see what the summer signings bring.

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u/Baggio105 — 2 months ago
▲ 18 r/Alouettes+1 crossposts

Penalties kept the game close; Als win 30-27 in overtime

With the Alouettes opening their season on the road amid plenty of uncertainty, Montreal answered early questions with resilience, mounting a comeback to secure a 30–27 overtime victory in Hamilton.

The first half painted a difficult picture for Montreal. The Alouettes were plagued by discipline issues, taking 10 penalties for 113 yards, disrupting any chance at sustained momentum. Despite their struggles, they trailed by just seven at halftime.

Things worsened early in the third quarter when Hamilton extended its lead to 14 points, leaving Montreal fans with little to celebrate. However, the turning point came on a crucial mistake by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. His pass was intercepted and returned for a pick-six by Robert Kennedy III, instantly shifting momentum in Montreal’s favor.
That play sparked life into both the offence and defence, setting the stage for a determined comeback.

Quarterback Davis Alexander delivered an outstanding performance, completing 26 of 38 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Tyler Snead for one score and continued to show strong chemistry with his primary target, Tyson Philpot, for the other.
With renewed energy and confidence, the Alouettes battled back to force overtime, where they ultimately sealed the victory in dramatic fashion.

The win not only marks a strong start to the season but also highlights Montreal’s ability to overcome adversity—something that could prove crucial as the year unfolds.

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u/Baggio105 — 3 months ago