Friday’s game between the Montreal Alouettes and the BC Lions had special significance for several reasons.
Running back William Stanback was playing his first game at Percival Molson Stadium since leaving for Vancouver. Quebecer Mathieu Betts was playing in front of family and friends a few days after being cut by the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The Alouettes were playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 23,035. And this duel between the two best teams in the Canadian Football League was like a prelude to the Grey Cup scheduled for November at the Lions’ home.
It was in this unique context that the Alouettes lost by a score of 37 to 23.
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, THE CANADIAN PRESS
William Stanback scores a touchdown.
And the Lions owe part of the victory to their starting running back. Stanback, with a knife between his teeth, threw a cold shower on the nest by scoring a major on a 38-yard run late in the third quarter.
Despite the obstacles and the many broken tackles, the man who wore the tricolor uniform for five seasons scored the touchdown that gave his team a 10-point lead. A gap that the locals were never able to close.
“It confirms what I can do,” he said, unfastening his shoulder pads. “That’s why the team signed me. My goal is to improve 1% every day. And if I get better every day, I feel like I’m doing something good for the organization.”
Everyone was fighting over the 30-year-old running back at the end of the game. His former teammates Jeshrun Antwi, Walter Fletcher and Marc-Antoine Dequoy at the top of the list, the television networks as well as fans eager to have their number 31 Alouettes jerseys signed.
Stanback leads the league with 938 rushing yards. His arrival in British Columbia has given him a boost. And while he can be erratic, as demonstrated by his late second-quarter fumble, the running back seems to have found his groove.
I told you when I left: this was the year of redemption. And I really feel that’s what I’m doing. I want to get back to the player I was. The organization believes in me.
William Stanback
Without having carried his team on his shoulders, Stanback was important in the seventh victory of his team this season. His 20 carries for 128 yards allowed his quarterback Nathan Rourke to breathe. Intercepted three times, the 26-year-old star pivot still finished the game with 304 yards by air and a touchdown on the ground, the last of the game, on 18 yards, on third down and one.
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Nathan Rourke, despite three interceptions, allowed the Lions’ offense to score four touchdowns.
As in 2023
The pace of this game was strangely reminiscent of some of last season’s clashes. In 2023, the Alouettes’ defense was causing turnovers by the ton, the offensive line was getting hammered and the ineffectiveness of the ground game was destroying the quality of the offensive drives.
The past finally caught up with Jason Maas’ team at 12e game of the season. The Alouettes forced three interceptions, a first since August 24, 2023 in Winnipeg, thanks to Bryce Cosby, Marc-Antoine Dequoy and Dionte Ruffin. Montreal also had three quarterback sacks, the work of Tyrice Beverette and Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund twice. Rourke, who tried his luck in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, never seemed shaken, however. He completed 22 of his 28 passes to win his third straight game since returning from the South.
On the other hand, the Alouettes also shot themselves in the foot by being unable to take advantage of their luck and their defensive work, as Jason Maas indicated.
We just have to make the plays. That’s all. We made a few tonight, but not enough.
Jason Maas, Alouettes head coach
The head coach was referring in particular to the two sneaks by the Lions quarterback which turned into majors.
While Stanback was effective on the ground, the same cannot be said for Walter Fletcher, who was more involved in passing than running, with eight catches against six carries.
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Ciante Evans tackles Walter Fletcher.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo led the team in receiving with 34 yards, even though he suffered four sacks.
“They played zone coverage the whole game,” Fajardo said. “So sometimes you have to hold the ball a little longer and that puts pressure on our offensive line. They signed Betts for a reason and they were very good.”
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Cody Fajardo (7)
The wounded hurt
As much as Maas hates it when people try to blame the loss on the absence of starters on the roster, the loss to the Lions showed how injuries to four of his top receivers are making Fajardo’s job increasingly difficult.
With Tyler Snead, Kaion Julien-Grant, Tyson Philpot and Austin Mack still on the six-week injured list, the Alouettes quarterback is trying to perform miracles. And because miracles don’t happen on every play, he’s had to rely on his backup, Fletcher, on many occasions. No one has caught more passes than the running back. None of the other five receivers Fajardo targets have reached 50 yards in the air.
We just didn’t play well enough. If the players were in the stadium tonight, it’s because they belong there and we think we can win with them in uniform.
Jason Maas, Alouettes head coach
The Sparrows’ loss comes after a five-game winning streak and confirmation that the team will officially make the playoffs in the fall.
Disappointed, Pier-Olivier Lestage explained that this poor performance probably came at the best possible time.
“We’ve been struggling in the first half for a few games now and we weren’t able to get out of the hole today. It’s going to do us good to lose a game like that, because we’ve lost too many by the skin of our teeth. We have to get to the first half and score points.”
And that’s what the best team in the Canadian Football League will try to build on.