The Montreal Alouettes caused possibly the biggest upset of the Canadian Football League (CFL) season by beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 20-17 in overtime on Thursday at Investors Group Field.
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It’s the first loss this year for the two-time defending Gray Cup champions, who are now 9-1. The “Als” (3-6), meanwhile, overtook the Hamilton Tiger Cats for second place in the East Division.
Starting the extra period in possession of the ball, the Sparrows had to be satisfied with a placement from David Côté after being unable to get a first game.
The Bombers, however, had to respond by adding at least three points to the table in turn, but Marc Liegghio saddened more than one fan at home for the Hamilton team by missing his kick.
It was an error by Liegghio that forced overtime, he who missed a field goal attempt from 32 yards when there was no time left in the fourth quarter.
A second fruitful opportunity
There was a certain sense of deja vu at the end of the third quarter of the day’s duel, as a stalemate reigned by virtue of a score of 10-10.
A week ago, when the Sparrows lost to those same Bombers, the two teams were tied 14-14 after 45 minutes. However, the Manitoba team had dominated the last period to win 35 to 20.
The “Als” had the opportunity to change this unfortunate scenario Thursday against the best team in the CFL.
Hosts quarterback Zack Collaros set the table for the first major of the fourth quarter with back-to-back 25-yard and 12-yard runs. Brady Oliveira finished the job with a 19-yard run, and the Bombers thought they had victory within reach.
Collaros fumbled the ball moments later, however, and Jake Wieneke grabbed two long passes from Trevor Harris to bring his side closer to the end zone.
After scoring the Montrealers’ first touchdown in the first quarter, thanks to a quarterback sneak, Dominique Davis was entitled to four attempts to score a second. He did not miss the fourth opportunity and the “Als” tied the game.
As a starting quarterback, Harris had an honest night’s work, nothing more. He had no touchdown passes and completed 18 of 27 stints for 213 yards.
The Alouettes will be entitled to nine days off before crossing swords with the “Ti-Cats” at Percival-Molson Stadium.