The Alouettes ensured their participation in the CFL playoffs on Saturday, following a dominant outing that allowed them to defeat the Ottawa Rouge et Noir 32-15.
A defensive touchdown from Marc-Antoine Dequoy in the third quarter gave the Montreal team a three-major lead. This is the second longest interception return for a touchdown in team history, at 108 yards.
Despite a late push from their opponents, who scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter – courtesy of Devonte Williams and Tyrrell Pigrome – the Alouettes never looked back.
Jason Maas’ squad has an 8-7 record which ensures it finishes at least third in the East section with a better record than the fourth team in the West.
A dominant first half
With a ticket to the playoffs at stake, the Alouettes were ready for this duel. They forced their opponents to punt after three plays, then running back William Stanback completed his team’s first offensive sequence with a 24-yard run into the end zone.
From the next sequence, the Rouge et Noir threatened by going to the visitors’ line of 10. Reggie Stubblefield, however, made sure to protect his team’s lead with an interception in the end zone. This was his second theft of the season.
Stubblefield also had seven tackles and two sacks in the game.
At the end of the first quarter, the Alouettes used a funny strategy that will certainly attract attention in the CFL. On a second down and 18 yard situation, they made a perfectly executed short punt and recovered by Jeshrun Antwi.
The Red and Black saw nothing but fire and the Sparrows obtained the first try.
David Côté missed two field goals in the first half and another in the second. Brandin Dandridge brought the ball back 69 yards at the first opportunity, but Joseph Zema forced the fumble to allow the Alouettes to regain possession.
These first two missed field goals allowed the Rouge et Noir to believe in it since the gap was only eight points at the end of the half. The club from the Canadian capital, however, completely missed a trick play on third and three, suffering a third turnover in less than 30 minutes.
Unable to take advantage of the first two turnovers, the Alouettes did not let this third opportunity pass them by. Cody Fajardo joined Tyson Philpot for the second major of the match with 44 seconds left in the first half. It was his second major of the campaign.
The Alouettes were without their receiver Austin Mack, injured in the thigh. Before this week’s CFL games, he led the league with 1,057 yards.
Never mind, seven players caught at least one pass from Fajardo, who completed 15 of his 20 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.
Looking to continue the offensive momentum in the fourth quarter, Rouge et Noir quarterback Dustin Crum fumbled the ball midway through the final quarter. Shawn Lemon recovered the ball and added six points to the scoreboard to seal the outcome of the game.
Crum found his receivers 25 times on 34 attempts, for 247 yards and two interceptions.
The two teams will meet again on October 9, this time at Percival-Molson Stadium.