After holding the Montreal Alouettes to just three points in the first half, the Saskatchewan Roughriders defense could not find a way to stop Davis Alexander. The unheralded quarterback entered the game in the third quarter in relief of Caleb Evanns.
The third-year pivot out of Portland State finished 15-of-18 passing for 178 yards and those two scores — his first in the CFL — to help Montreal improve to a league-best 6-1 on the season.
Saskatchewan starter Shea Patterson was 21-of-33 passing for 222 yards. Frankie Hickson rushed 16 times for 117 yards and a TD. The Alouettes, meanwhile, could not get their running game going, totalling only 33 yards.
With veteran starter Cody Fajardo on the six-game injured list and backup Caleb Evans struggling with just 91 yards on 9-of-17 passing through 30 minutes, Alexander took over at halftime with Montreal trailing 16-3.
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The Alouettes offence quickly came to life, cutting the deficit to six when Davis found Reggie White Jr. in the end zone at the 10:31 of the third quarter.
Montreal went ahead for the first time at 17-16 when Davis found White Jr. for the pair’s second TD connection of the night with 1:19 remaining in the third.
Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther hit the upright on a 53-yard field goal attempt that would have given Saskatchewan the lead with 11:44 left in the fourth.
Jose Maltos converted a field goal from 21 yards out to push the Alouettes’ lead to 20-16 with 4:21 left to play before Montreal’s defence held firm late.
The Roughriders got the scoring started with a 22-yard field goal from Lauther to take a 3-0 lead at 9:04 in the opening quarter.
The Alouettes roared down the field on their first possession, but would have to settle for a field goal by Jose Maltos at the 5:34 mark to tie the score at 3-3.
A sack and fumble recovery by the Roughriders’ defence put them in excellent scoring position just before the end of the first quarter. Hickson’s 20-yard run into the end zone gave Saskatchewan a 10-3 lead after 15 minutes.
Lauther added to Saskatchewan’s lead with a 43-yard field goal with 5:33 left in the second.
The Alouettes’ special teams unit came up big with a fumble recovery at the 1:35 mark of the second, but after going three-and-out their 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Anthony Lanier II.
The Roughriders went into halftime with a 16-3 lead after Lauther made a 22-yard field goal with time winding down in the second quarter.
Alouettes 20, Roughriders 16
CFL Thursday night:
First Quarter
Sask _ FG Lauther 22 5:56
Mtl _ FG Maltos 16 9:26
Sask _ TD Hickson 20 run (Lauther convert) 15:00
Second Quarter
Sask _ FG Lauther 43 9:27
Sask _ FG Lauther 22 15:00
Third Quarter
Mtl _ TD White Jr. 5 pass from Alexander (Maltos convert) 9:29
Mtl _ TD White Jr. 31 pass from Alexander (Maltos convert) 13:27
Fourth Quarter
Mtl _ FG Maltos 21 10:39
Saskatchewan | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | _ | 16 |
Montreal | 3 | 0 | 14 | 3 | _ | 20 |
Attendance N.A. at Montreal.
East Division | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | Pts | PF | PA | |
Montreal | 6 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 195 | 152 |
Ottawa | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 141 | 161 |
Toronto | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 178 | 168 |
Hamilton | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 151 | 193 |
West Division | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | Pts | PF | PA | |
Saskatchewan | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 183 | 158 |
BC | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 206 | 170 |
Calgary | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 159 | 164 |
Winnipeg | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 149 | 170 |
Edmonton | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 146 | 172 |
Week 7 |
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Friday, July 19 |
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Ottawa 20, Edmonton 14
Saskatchewan 19, Winnipeg 9
Saturday, July 20 |
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Hamilton 27, Toronto 24
Sunday, July 21 |
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Calgary 25, BC 24
Week 8 |
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Thursday, July 25 |
---|
Montreal 20, Saskatchewan 16
Friday, July 26 |
---|
Calgary at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 27 |
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Winnipeg at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 28 |
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Hamilton at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Week 9 |
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Thursday, Aug. 1 |
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BC at Winnipeg, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 2 |
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Montreal at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3 |
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Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 4 |
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Toronto at Calgary, 7 p.m.
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