The Montreal Alouettes suffered a predictable 27-3 defeat against the British Columbia Lions in a game lacking significance for the Alouettes. Coach Jason Maas criticized the team’s performance, highlighting penalties and missed opportunities. Quarterback Cody Fajardo, returning from a personal absence, had limited impact, while the defense struggled against former Alouettes player Vernon Adams fils. Injuries plagued the Alouettes, who will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next in their final game of the season.
VANCOUVER – It’s safe to say that the Alouettes’ loss in Vancouver on Saturday was quite foreseeable.
The British Columbia Lions triumphed with a score of 27-3 in a game that held little significance for the Montreal team, who were also enduring a challenging road schedule.
While Vancouver fans may feel revitalized after this match, supporters of the Alouettes shouldn’t be overly alarmed. This defeat was anticipated, although its lopsided nature was unexpected.
“We need to improve in every aspect of our game, and the players are aware of that,” lamented Alouettes head coach Jason Maas following the match. “We incurred too many penalties, which is uncharacteristic for us, and we simply didn’t meet our expectations. We also failed to capitalize on opportunities near the opponent’s end zone.”
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Quarterback Cody Fajardo, returning to action without participating in Alouettes practices since his recent fatherhood, was not in a position to perform miracles. In the first half, Fajardo demonstrated some precision, completing seven out of nine passes for just 67 yards. After a sluggish start, he recovered, contributing more effectively to the offensive play.
With ball-carrier Walter Fletcher on leave, Quebec native Sean Thomas Erlington stepped in but could not quite deliver a standout performance. American Stevie Scott III offered a slightly better contribution, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
Defense Struggles Against Adams fils
It was primarily the Alouettes’ defense that fell short of expectations during the game in Vancouver. Former Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams fils took advantage of this, particularly with a 52-yard reception by Stanley Berryhill that left defensive back Dionte Ruffin outmatched.
Adams fils, selected over Nathan Rourke for this matchup, was involved in an interception caught by Wesley Sutton. Tyrice Beverette also capitalized, snatching a ball that landed in the hands of receiver Ayden Eberhardt. Overall, Adams fils ended the game with an impressive 393 passing yards.
This match marked the final game of the season for the Lions (9-9), who must win two playoff games on the road to secure a spot in the Grey Cup final on November 17.
Concerns Over Injuries
For the Alouettes (12-4-1), a more troubling issue arose when offensive lineman Josh Donovan sustained an injury in the first quarter and was replaced by Jamar McGloster.
In the second half, Davis Alexander took over at quarterback, completing 11 passes for 67 yards. The team also experimented with short-yardage runs with him instead of utilizing specialist Dominique Davis, but this tactic was unsuccessful.
Earlier on Saturday, the Argonauts (10-7) triumphed over the Ottawa Rouge et Noir (8-8-1) with a score of 38-31 in Toronto, securing home-field advantage for the Eastern semi-final on November 2. The winner of this match will face the Alouettes the following week in the Eastern Section final. Meanwhile, Montreal will conclude its season next Saturday with a home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.