CFL | The Alouettes beat the Tiger-Cats thanks to an in extremis field goal

(Montreal) The Alouettes played with fire, but they finally gave their fans a chance to celebrate on Saturday afternoon at Percival-Molson Stadium.

David Côté had a 48-yard field goal on the last play of the game and the Montreal team defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-28.

Seth Small had just given the Tiger-Cats the lead a few seconds earlier, but the Alouettes’ offense managed in time to give Côté a chance to play the heroes.

This victory allows the Alouettes (4-6) to climb to second place in the East Division, ahead of the Tiger-Cats (3-7). The Toronto Argonauts (4-4) hosted the Calgary Stampeders in the evening.

Trevor Harris threw touchdown passes to Eugene Lewis, Kaion Julien-Grant and Reggie White Jr. for the Alouettes. Côté had two field goals and two conversions, while Joseph Zema provided a single on a punt.

Lewis also scored a two-point conversion.

Matthew Shiltz threw two touchdown passes to Tim White. Backup quarterback Jamie Newman also scored a rushing major for the Tiger-Cats. Small had three conversions and two field goals, but missed one for a single.

The Alouettes have lost receiver Tyson Philpot. He was stunned in the second quarter when he was tackled by two rivals at the same time. He lay on the ground for a few moments and had to go through the CFL’s concussion protocol.

Defensive back Najee Murray also left the game early with a lower body injury.

The Alouettes will play their next game on September 2, when they host the Ottawa Redblacks.

The hard

The Alouettes could have been the first to score, but Kameron Kelly intercepted a pass from Harris, which was aimed at Reggie White Jr.

A penalty by the Alouettes for roughing the kicker opened the door for the Tiger-Cats, but the streak ended after an incomplete pass from Shiltz on a third down at the goal gate.

It was only a postponement for the Tiger-Cats, who finally opened the scoring with 1:01 to go in the first quarter. Shiltz joined Tim White, who mocked Kenneth Durden’s tackle by stretching his arm over the goal line.

Côté put the Alouettes on the scoring with a 26-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Small was imprecise for 43 yards on the Tiger-Cats side, but he still scored a single on the play.

The Alouettes finally got going. Harris capped a six-play 70-yard streak with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Lewis. The two connected again for a two-point conversion and an 11-8 lead for the Alouettes.

The Tiger-Cats tied the game 11-11 before the end of the first half. Small made a 13-yard field goal with 20 seconds left.

A 54-yard play from Harris to Julien-Grant put the Alouettes back in front, but their indiscipline allowed the Tiger-Cats to turn things around before the end of the third quarter.

Newman scored a touchdown on a sneak after penalties for roughing the kicker and obstruction by the Alouettes during the streak.

Then, Shiltz escaped the pressure and joined White. The latter had mocked the cover of Darius Williams, then he then avoided the tackle of Tyrice Beverette to slip into the end zone for a major of 64 yards. The Tiger-Cats therefore led 25-18 after three quarters of play.

Limited to a single lean until then in the fourth quarter, Harris pulled a rabbit out of his hat with a 45-yard bomb to Reggie White Jr. with 2:18 left on the clock. Côté’s conversion gave the Alouettes a 26-25 lead.

A penalty for grabbing the quarterback by the collar gave the Tiger-Cats one last chance to steal the win. Small followed up a few plays later with a 51-yard field goal with 37 seconds left.

However, the Alouettes managed the impossible by replying before the end.