The Alouettes kicked too many subject objectives this season and didn’t rating sufficient touchdowns.
However regardless of their incapacity to search out the tip zone at instances, the one factor they by no means did was flip the ball over once they had been within the pink zone — till fewer than three minutes remained within the fourth quarter of
Sunday’s Gray Cup sport in opposition to Saskatchewan
with Montreal trailing by eight factors.
Confronted with second and two on the Roughriders’ three-yard line, head coach Jason Maas inserted short-yardage quarterback Shea Patterson into the sport. The usually dependable Patterson, who scored on a one-yard run within the first quarter,
fumbled after being hit by Tevaughn Campbell
. The ball was recovered ultimately zone by Marcus Sayles.
That was as shut because the Als would come to probably tying the sport in a 25-17 loss at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium. Montreal was denied its second Gray Cup in three seasons and the ninth in franchise historical past.
“It’s the primary time our offence has turned over the ball within the pink zone all yr,” Maas informed the media in Winnipeg Sunday night time. “That’s 23 video games (together with exhibitions) we’ve by no means turned the ball over … and we do it on second-and-two from the three-yard line. I by no means noticed that coming. The expectation was to get the primary down and rating, go for the two-point (convert) and tie it up. That was the entire expectation.
“What do you inform (Patterson)? We’re not afraid to say it — we have to win the turnover margin each week. We all know once we do this, we win. The final two playoff video games we’ve misplaced, I believe we’re minus-nine within the turnover margin. But each these video games got here all the way down to final performs. I do know that’s how sturdy our crew is however … you possibly can’t flip over the ball. I do know (Patterson) will really feel unhealthy about it. I informed him, ‘preserve your head up’ as a result of there was nonetheless sport left. Despite the fact that that occurred, we may have gotten a cease, went down there and scored and tied it again up. You’ve obtained to maintain enjoying. I do know it’ll be robust on him. You’ve obtained six months to consider it. It occurred.”
The Als dedicated six turnovers — together with a failed two-point convert that was intercepted — throughout their 2024 East Division last loss at dwelling in opposition to Toronto. Maas implored his gamers to ‘chin-it’ this season in order that wouldn’t occur once more. Patterson, who signed with Montreal on Aug. 19 after accidents to
Davis Alexander
, McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Caleb Evans, clearly didn’t get the memo.
So many issues may have gone the Als’ means throughout the sport, however didn’t.
Cornerback Kabion Ento dropped an early interception that may have been returned for a landing. Montreal needed to accept a 23-yard Jose Maltos subject objective halfway by the fourth quarter when it failed to attain a landing from the Saskatchewan 10.
However the greatest issue working in opposition to the Als was Alexander’s well being. He misplaced for the primary time in 14 begins. And Montreal may have received had his left hamstring been 100 per cent.
“He battled. I’ll inform you that a lot,” Maas stated. “He gave all the pieces he had till the very finish. That’s what I’m happy with. I do know it was a tricky week to arrange to even play. He put all of it on the road. He’ll get higher from this sport; there’s little question in my thoughts. I can’t think about the quantity of labor he’ll put on this low season to be at his finest for coaching camp subsequent yr.
“That is simply a kind of video games. It’s not going to outline him. It’s going to make him higher.”
Whereas Alexander accomplished 22 of 34 passes for 284 yards, he was
intercepted thrice for the primary time in his profession
. He clearly wasn’t at his finest — underthrowing open receivers — and was reluctant to run till late within the first half, when he had a 10-yard rush. He didn’t run once more till the Als’ last possession within the final minute of regulation time. After his four-yard achieve, he grabbed the again of his left leg.
“I didn’t play nicely sufficient to win this sport,” Alexander stated in Winnipeg. “I did a few issues I didn’t do throughout the yr. I turned the ball over thrice. While you get outplayed on the quarterback place, you place your crew in a deficit straight away. Our guys battled on the market. Our guys battled for me. They saved me in it. They gave us an opportunity.
“Finally, I’ve to do higher for this group within the greatest second of my life. Within the greatest sport of my life.”
Whereas the Als turned the ball over 4 instances, they wanted an enormous play from their defence to vary the tide, however didn’t get it. Quarterback Trevor Harris, the sport’s most useful participant, handed for 302 yards and wasn’t sacked. Receiver Sam Emilus, a Montreal native, caught 10 passes for 108 yards and was named the excellent Canadian. Tailback A.J. Ouellette gained 83 yards on 17 carries — 54 alone within the first half. The Riders scored 24 unanswered factors by the second and third quarters.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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