Eastern Semi-Final | The Alouettes want to turn the page on the end of the season

(Hamilton) The Montreal Alouettes finished the season with three losses in their last four outings. Still, head coach Khari Jones is confident his club has found its stride on the eve of the Eastern semi-final against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“I believe we have learned from our mistakes. Unfortunately, sometimes you learn by hitting your head. I think we needed these lessons to learn how to be successful. Several teams did so without having had the best season ever. You can be one of those teams. ”

Trevor Harris, Montreal Football Club’s starting quarterback on Sunday at Tim Horton’s Field, agrees.

“Many people say adversity helps build character. It’s a cliché, like saying that victory builds character. It’s a group that has continued to improve and what I like about this team is that they have a dog. She will fight to the last breath. That’s why I think it will be very interesting (Sunday) afternoon. ”

Harris and the Alouettes will have to quickly set their pace against the Tiger-Cats. But the Montreal team will get reinforcement for this playoff game, as receiver Eugene Lewis will be in the game after treating a hip injury that prevented him from taking part in Thursday’s training.

“It’s always important to have him in training,” said Harris. Make no mistake: Dante Absher (his replacement) is a formidable athlete who will be a star receiver when he has the opportunity to be in uniform regularly. But “Geno” is already a star player. He’s the kind of player who lets you miss a shot and still completes the catch.

“With ‘Geno’, Reggie White Jr., Quan Bray, we’ve got a whole bunch of receivers. The presence of ‘Geno’ gives a serious boost to our attack. ”

Lewis has been the Alouettes’ leading wide receiver this season with 62 catches for 964 yards and nine touchdowns.

A first for Dequoy

Quebecer Marc-Antoine Dequoy will experience his first playoff game among the professionals. His name was listed as a substitute for Ty Cranston as Marauder.

“I feel privileged, in my first season, to participate in the playoffs, especially within a team that is able to perform well,” said the former Carabins de l’Université de Montréal. We told ourselves at the start of the season that we had a special group capable of achieving great things. […] I drink from all the experiences of the veterans within this team. ”

The Alouettes also named rookie quarterback Shea Patterson as backup for veteran Harris, ahead of Matthew Shiltz, whose name is on the one-game injured list.

As for the Tiger-Cats, wide receiver Bralon Addison will be retired.

Earlier this week, Addison’s name was taken off the six-game injured list, allowing him to resume training with the team.

The name of Canadian center Darius Ciraco has been inserted among the Tiger-Cats starters, but a final decision on his status will be made before the game.