Air show might take centre stage in Alouettes-Ticats Eastern final

Now we have waited greater than a decade for this. Hopefully will probably be value it.

Whereas the Alouettes have reached the East Division last for a fourth consecutive season, they’re assembly the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the primary time since 2014 to determine which group advances to the Gray Cup.

That shall be selected Saturday at 3 p.m. at Hamilton Stadium, and historical past isn’t on Montreal’s facet. Because the division switched to a single-game format from a two-game, total-point sequence in 1973, the Ticats haven’t misplaced to the Als within the Cup qualifying recreation.

Will issues change this time? Listed below are some questions and ideas to ponder:

Will it’s a baker’s dozen for Davis Alexander?

The Als’ beginning quarterback is 12-0 to start out his profession, together with 8-0 in 2025. Among the many many obstacles he has overcome, Alexander

received his first profession playoff recreation final Saturday

, passing for 384 yards and a landing in opposition to Winnipeg, though he was intercepted twice.

Alexander is going through Hamilton for the primary time this season, however he did beat the Ticats twice inside eight days in 2024 within the second and third begins of his profession. He handed for a mixed 509 yards whereas finishing 36 of 51 makes an attempt, together with three touchdowns. He additionally gained 43 yards on 5 carries. However the Ticats have been a last-place group on the time.

Yeah, however the different man isn’t dangerous, both:

Bo Levi Mitchell, 35, has aged effectively. Hamilton’s pivot handed for over 5,000 yards for a second consecutive season and is the division nominee for essentially the most excellent participant award. He additionally threw a CFL-leading 36 touchdowns, a profession excessive.

Is the Als’ secondary up for the problem?

Hamilton has a murderers’ row of gifted receivers, led by Kenny Lawler, who had 1,443 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns. The Ticats have two different 1,000-yard receivers — Kiondre Smith (1,126) and Tim White (1,016). This received’t be something just like the division semifinal in opposition to Winnipeg. The Blue Bombers have been lacking Nic Demski, their only one,000-yard receiver.

Can the Als cease the run?

The Als jumped to a 17-0 first-quarter lead in opposition to Winnipeg, successfully eliminating Bombers tailback Brady Oliveira from the sport and forcing Zach Collaros to cross extensively. Montreal won’t be capable to match that for a second straight week. Once they confronted the Ticats at Molson Stadium in September, the Als had no reply for

Greg Bell,

who rushed for 156 yards on 20 carries. It was one in all solely two video games by which Bell surpassed 100 yards this season.

Can the Als set up the run once more?

Montreal is a pass-first offence and doesn’t run the ball practically sufficient, particularly when the climate turns chilly and nasty. That modified in opposition to Winnipeg, when Stevie Scott III gained 133 yards on 18 carries (7.4-yard common) whereas scoring two touchdowns. Maybe extra impressively, the 6-foot-1, 218-pound punishing runner pressured the Bombers into 9 missed tackles.

Can the child be exploited?

The center linebacker’s main accountability is to cease the run, and Hamilton is beginning rookie Devin Veresuk there. Chosen second total in final 12 months’s Canadian faculty draft, Scott and the Als undoubtedly will attempt to benefit from his lack of expertise. Veresuk is the division nominee as excellent rookie.

Will inactivity work in opposition to Hamilton?

Whereas the perk of ending first within the division is an opening-round bye, it could possibly additionally result in some rust. The Als found this final season in opposition to Toronto. With a late-season bye, the Ticats have performed solely as soon as within the final three weeks. That recreation was in opposition to Ottawa and was the equal of taking part in a highschool varsity squad.

Is that this a superb omen?

Tyler Snead was the Als’ only one,000-yard receiver this season, however he was held to solely a 15-yard reception in opposition to Winnipeg. As an alternative, it was

Tyson Philpot

Austin Mack

and Charleston Rambo who carried Montreal’s aerial assault. Philpot caught 10 passes for 135 yards, scoring as soon as. 5 of these receptions resulted in first downs. Mack caught three for 98, whereas Rambo — the Als’ quickest receiver, however a participant who was usually missed this season — had 5 catches for 91 yards.

What occurs if the sport comes all the way down to particular groups?
Jose Maltos

established a franchise document this season with 58 subject targets as a result of the Als wanted a map at occasions to seek out the tip zone. However right here’s one thing to think about: Isaiah Picket averaged a CFL-high 15 yards on punt returns and had an 84-yard landing return for the Ticats. Winnipeg’s Trey Vaval gained a modest 50 yards on 4 returns final week, however he made an influence on kickoff returns, with seven for 164 yards.

Might this be the X-factor?

The Ticats solely went 5-4 at dwelling this season, whereas the Als have been 6-3 on the street and would seem to have momentum going into this recreation. Hamilton was 7-1 in divisional video games, whereas Montreal was 6-2. In different phrases, each took benefit of Ottawa and the Toronto Argonauts.

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com