The Alouettes’ offense takes the honors after this 38-12 victory over the Tiger-Cats on Friday night in Hamilton. However, we must also pay tribute to the defense of the Montreal club which, after two games, has not yet allowed a single touchdown to the opponent.
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When the enemy approaches the end zone, it must, most of the time, settle for a placement. This was the case four times against the Ottawa Redblacks, on June 10 in Montreal, then four other times against the Ti-Cats.
“We may not concede touchdowns, but we concede a lot of placements, it’s something we can live with, reacted with humor the general manager, Danny Maciocia, when crossed near the visitors’ locker room, after Friday’s game in Hamilton. With this defensive unit, you always seem to find a way to defend very important points when you have your back against the wall. And in football, it’s the opponent’s touchdowns that hurt.”
“Guys take their game up a notch when the game is in the red zone, commented Noel Thorpe, defensive coordinator and coach responsible for defensive backs. Their attitude and mentality impress me. They tell themselves that they will not let anyone cross the goal line and they manage to resist.
Ruffin’s cover
Trailing, the Ti-Cats also had to force the note by trying to go for the major on a third down and four yards to go, in the fourth quarter, but the Alouettes’ defense was a new times imposed.
“Dionte Ruffin did a great job in coverage against the target receiver on this play,” Thorpe said.
“Hamilton had an 80% hit ratio approaching the end zone this season before our game. We had discussed all that in our meetings last week and it was an impressive performance by our defensive unit, and I am proud of them, congratulated head coach Jason Maas in turn. Wesley [Sutton] obviously scored by returning an interception for the touchdown, but it often starts by winning the battles on the line of scrimmage and we hit their quarterback all night long.
Dominic Chan / QMI Agency
“A great team effort”
Among the other players, defensive back Kabion Ento had a particularly successful night with eight solo tackles.
“The result of this game is the result of a great team effort,” concluded Thorpe, speaking of the three facets of the game, namely attack, defense and special teams.
Maas and Maciocia abounded in the same direction.
The Alouettes’ next game is now scheduled for Montreal, the 1er July, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their quarterback Zach Collaros will be the visitors. It will be a big test for all three sides, but especially for the defensive unit.