Alouettes rally to roll frustrated Redblacks 25-24

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OTTAWA – The Montreal Alouettes rode a wild finish and late heroics from quarterback Caleb Evans to defeat the Ottawa Redblacks 25-24 on Saturday night.

The Redblacks had led the entire game, but failed to shut Montreal down on a third down attempt with a minute left in regulation that led to the winning touchdown.

With the win Montreal (6-3) extended its CFL winning streak to four games, while Ottawa dropped to 3-7 and are mired in a four-game losing streak.


Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes’ Chandler Worthy (30) runs the ball past Ottawa Redblacks’ Chizi Umunakwe (30) during first half CFL football action in Ottawa on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Ottawa has yet to beat a division rival this season and now has a 15-game home losing streak against East Division teams.

Evans, a former Redblack, was 24 for 36 for 333 yards, two TDs and two interceptions — and the winning rushing TD.

Ottawa’s Dustin Crum finished the game 14 for 17 for 130 yards and rushed for 42 yards and one TD.

Trailing 24-13, the Alouettes made things interesting after Evans was able to connect with Tyler Snead for a 20-yard TD, but fell short on the two-point convert to trail 24-19 with 2:33 remaining.

Ottawa was its own worst enemy in the third taking a number of penalties, but extended its lead five minutes into the fourth quarter.

After a solid drive to lead his team to the 13-yard line Crum, seeing no great passing lane, opted to run in the TD and with a Lewis Ward convert took a 24-10 lead in front of 19, 475.

Montreal’s David Cote connected on a 50-yard field goal with just over five minutes remaining to make it 24-13.

Trailing 17-3 Montreal was able to make things interesting after Evans connected withSnead for a seven-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to make it a one-score game.

A solid first half allowed the Redblacks to jump out to a 17-3 lead.

Leading 7-3 Ottawa’s Cleyon Laing, who had three sacks on the night, recovered a fumble at Montreal’s 25-yard line midway through the second quarter. After Nate Behar had a nine-yard gain, Tyrrell Pigrome came in for a short yardage play and ended up running in a 16-yard TD, his second of the game making it 14-3.

Ward connected on a 39-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining in the second quarter to put Ottawa up 17-3.

Pigrome was instrumental earlier in the game as well.

Late in the first quarter Evans threw an interception and Ottawa’s Damon Webb returned it for 67 yards to Montreal’s 34-yard line. Six plays later Pigrome picked up his first CFL touchdown on a one yard rush.

Cote had a 10-yard field goal for its only scoring of the opening half.

UP NEXT

Ottawa is back in action next Sunday in Edmonton (1-9), while Montreal will travel to Winnipeg (8-2) on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2023.