Throughout the evening, the Alouettes did not live up to their talent. In extremis, they managed to snatch a draw. But this 19-all tie against the Calgary Stampeders gives off a whiff of defeat.
The Alouettes were the big favorites to win. They are the defending champions. They sit atop the East Division and have only lost twice this season.
On the other side of the field were the Stampeders in deep trouble. Victims of eight defeats, including four in a row. The expected outcome was a clear, decisive, unassailable victory. It was a completely different scenario that materialized in Calgary.
“Anything other than a win is not acceptable to us,” linebacker Darnell Sankey summed up on the Alouettes’ YouTube channel after the game.
PHOTO JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Arthur Hamlin (33) and Darnell Sankey (1) of the Montreal Alouettes try to bring down Reggie Begelton (84) of the Calgary Stampeders.
The Sparrows trailed throughout the game. With just one second left, kicker Jose Carlos Maltos nailed a 42-yard field goal to tie the game at 13-13.
Both teams traded field goals on their offensive possessions in overtime. As per CFL rules, after two attempts by each team, if the game remains tied, the game is a tie.
It was the first time since 2022 that the Alouettes went to overtime. Their last tie was in September 1998.
A slow start, again
Throughout the week, the Alouettes’ motto was clear: they had to get off to a good start. While the team often starts off on the wrong foot, their striking power allows them to come back from behind most of the time.
Rather than rising, the Als got off to their worst start of the season at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday.
Things went wrong on the first possession, when Walter Fletcher fumbled the ball after a nice 12-yard run. Less than three minutes later, Marken Michel got the Stampeders on the scoreboard. The receiver took advantage of a small route to the left, towards the inside. Exactly how the Lions did it last week, to score two majors. Clearly, the Alouettes have not learned from their mistakes.
PHOTO JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) fakes a pass to Walter Fletcher (25).
Three minutes later, on a punt return, James Letcher Jr. fumbled the ball, allowing Calgary to score a field goal. Two turnovers by the Sparrows, and it was 10-0 Stampeders.
In regulation time, just one more field goal was enough for the Stampeders to reach an unexpected overtime.
“This is not acceptable, we have to play championship football all the time,” said Darnell Sankey. “We’re starting too slowly. When playoff football comes around, we can’t afford to do that. We have to get back on the field and figure this out.”
Ineffective offensive
The Alouettes would likely have suffered a third defeat if it hadn’t been for two key plays. In the fourth quarter, a precision kick from the opponent ended up on the left post. Before that, in the second period, a sneak attempt by the quarterback at the goal gate ended in a turnover.
This draw was a defensive affair for the Alouettes. Calgary attempted twice more runs and 11 more passes than Montreal. But the Alberta team, in the end, had to settle for a single touchdown.
The offense had a much more laborious night. On several occasions, Cody Fajardo tried to find options from his pocket. Left it, looking for an open receiver. And finished the sequence empty-handed. The quarterback was sacked three times, but he completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts.
PHOTO JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) is pushed back by Calgary Stampeders Elliot Graham (37).
In the deep zone, Fajardo was unable to spot his team. This weakness was especially obvious in overtime, when Charleston Rambo was all alone in the end zone. Fajardo saw him late, and his attempt was blocked by the opponent. Who knows, if this pass had been released earlier, the Alouettes might have been able to celebrate their 11e victory.
The end of the season is of relative importance for the Alouettes, since the team is already qualified for the playoffs, with five games to play. However, its place at the top of the East Division could be threatened by the Redblacks. Ottawa is three points behind Montreal in the standings. The gap could have been even narrower, had the Redblacks not lost to the Tiger-Cats on Saturday.
The two teams will meet in Ottawa in a week.
Controversial game, justified verdict
The Alouettes thought they had scored a touchdown early in the second quarter when Sean Thomas Erlington blocked a punt before going into the end zone. The major was however nullified, as a roughing penalty was assessed to Erlington. The Sparrows were furious, starting with coach Jason Maas.
The officials made the right call, however. Since 2019, it has been illegal for a defensive player to make contact with the kicker’s leg that was not used for the kick. Despite his spectacular effort, Erlington was therefore given a deserved roughing penalty.