The Alouettes win the Gray Cup

For the first time in 13 years, the Montreal Alouettes won the Gray Cup with a 28-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Winnipeg set the tone at the start of the match by keeping the ball for almost 6:30 and their strategy was the same as all season: make Brady Oliveira run as often as possible. The best ball carrier in the Canadian Football League also scored the first touchdown of the game on a five-yard run.

But just before the end of the quarter, the Alouettes imitated their rivals by playing on the ground to score. William Stanback found a gap on the left to score the Alouettes’ first touchdown with five seconds left in the first quarter. It was then 10 to 7 for the Blue Bombers.

The defense and special teams did the job on both sides in the first half, causing three turnovers. Two for Winnipeg and the other in favor of Montreal.

Quarterback Dakota Prukop completed a one-yard quarterback sneak to extend the Bombers’ lead to 10 points. Moments later, Caleb Evans was unable to imitate his opponent by crossing the yard which separated him from the end zone. And twice. Jason Maas’s men retired to the locker room with a 17-7 deficit.

However, the Alouettes struck immediately after the halftime show, given by the group Green Day. Cole Spieker caught a 23-yard pass from Cody Fajardo in the end zone.

And the defense also had its say. Kabion Ento, who had the best game of his career, intercepted Zach Collaros’ throw right in the end zone.

The defenses continued to assert themselves in the fourth quarter, but Austin Mack and Fajardo managed to find each other for a 13-yard touchdown. The Alouettes took the lead for the first time in the match at 21-17.

But Prukop, with his second major of the match, was quick to respond with another short run.

The Alouettes came back at the very end of the game with 19 seconds left thanks to a 19-yard touchdown from Tyson Philpot.

In the victory, Fajardo was chosen player of the match. He finished his dream evening with 21 successful passes in 26 attempts, 290 yards, 3 touchdown passes and an interception. He also allowed himself 18 yards on two runs, including a particularly important one of 13 yards towards the end of the game.