(Edmonton) Saturday’s game could be decisive in the Eastern standings and the Montreal Alouettes prepared accordingly during their short week of training. A defeat by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats the day before, however, put an end to the suspense.
With second place in the East in their pocket, the Montreal team started the game without much intensity, granting the first three touchdowns to the Edmonton Elks. However, she came from behind to win a fourth game in a row, this time by a score of 35-21.
“When you lose by that many points and you come back strong, it’s really great,” said Alouettes head coach Jason Maas. I’m not impartial, but I think we are a very good football team that plays well together. On our side, no one gives up. »
The offense, defense and special teams joined forces to begin a victorious comeback even before the end of the first half.
PHOTO JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Players from the Alouettes’ defensive line sent Elks ball carrier Kevin Brown flying during the first half.
A 23-point surge in the second quarter completely changed the shape of the game. Tyson Philpot was the first to reach the end zone, catching a six-yard pass from Cody Fajardo. This touchdown reduced the gap to 21-10.
Two turnovers, courtesy of the defense and special teams, allowed the Alouettes to add 10 points to the board.
On the first play of the Elks’ next sequence, Tre Ford lost the ball and Mustafa Johnson recovered it. The defensive lineman ran the 38 yards to the goal line.
Deontez Alexander then fumbled the ball while trying to return the Alouettes’ punt, but Jake Harty snatched the ball from him and Brock Gowanlock recovered it. Kicker Jose Maltos made a field goal moments later.
The special teams gave the Alouettes the lead for the first time in the game when James Letcher Jr. returned a failed field goal attempt by Dean Faithfull 125 yards from one end of the field to the other, with 32 seconds remaining. the first half.
“It was like a 200-yard sprint,” Letcher said. This is the longest run I’ve done since I started running track. Once I saw them miss, I was like “okay, I have to go, I have to go”. One of my teammates pointed [une ouverture] and said “hey, go this way, I’m covering my player”. And then all I saw was green. »
The second half was all about Maltos, who scored all nine points on the board. He has his five field goals in this game, the longest being 50 yards.
Fajardo completed 23 of 29 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
However, victory seemed almost out of reach midway through the second quarter thanks to an excellent escape from the blocks by the Elks.
Kyran Moore scored a passing touchdown in the first offensive sequence for the local favorites.
PHOTO JEFF MCINTOSH, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Elks quarterback Tre Ford attempting a pass
This major placed Jason Maas’s troops behind in the score for the first time in four games. They had not trailed in their three consecutive victories against the Calgary Stampeders and the Ottawa Redblacks.
Taylor Cornelius finished the second sequence with a six-yard run into the end zone on a six-yard effort. Moore then scored his second major of the game midway through the second quarter before the Alouettes got going.
“It’s the same thing,” Elks general manager and head coach Chris Jones said. Same song, about eighth verse this year. Where you play good football at times, only to play a quarter and a half or two of bad football that results in a loss.
“So, yeah, I’m pretty frustrated right now. »
The Alouettes had limited their opponents to 15 points or less in their last three outings.
Ford connected with his receivers 21 times in 30 attempts for 216 yards and two majors. He also ran for 47 yards on five carries.
Former Alouettes Eugene Lewis caught seven passes for 61 yards. He notably made a crucial block that led to Moore’s second touchdown.
The Alouettes already had a place in the playoffs before the start of this 19e week of activities in the CFL, with a meeting scheduled in the Eastern semi-final against the Tiger-Cats. However, the location where this meeting will take place remains to be determined.
The Tiger-Cats’ 33-30 defeat at the hands of the British Columbia Lions on Friday night finally handed the Alouettes second place in the East.
The Sparrows will enjoy one last week off before concluding the regular season schedule by hosting the Tiger-Cats, in a duel that will have the flavor of a dress rehearsal before the start of the playoff tournament.