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Davis Alexander, the third-string quarterback lower than a month in the past, has displayed exceptional composure that belies his lack of expertise.
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We’ll exit on a limb and recommend Davis Alexander can’t stroll on water. Neither can he journey quicker than the velocity of sunshine. However that’s about it.
The Alouettes’ 25-year-old quarterback continues to defy the percentages and win video games. Montreal’s third-string pivot lower than a month in the past, Alexander has displayed exceptional composure that belies his lack of expertise. No impediment or hurdle seems too onerous for him to beat.
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With just one follow this week after he returned to Arizona to be by the bedside of his ailing father, Matt, who’s battling stage 4 lung most cancers, Alexander propelled the Alouettes to an electrifying and heart-stopping comeback 27-24 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday evening earlier than 28,123 hostile Mosaic Stadium spectators.
The sport, pitting the respective division leaders, may need been probably the most thrilling performed this season within the CFL.
With 2:26 remaining in regulation time and Montreal trailing 24-21, Alexander directed a exceptional nine-play, 91-yard drive that had a little bit of every part, together with a 34-yard cross to Cole Spieker, a cross interference name towards Riders cornerback Marcus Sayles and what was initially dominated a Saskatchewan interception by C.J. Reavis that was overturned by the league’s Toronto-based command centre, which decided the cross to Charleston Rambo was incomplete.
One play later, Alexander eluded the push and scored on a 15-yard run at 14:30, not solely straddling the fitting sideline, however making three potential tacklers miss, together with Riders linebacker Adam Auclair, who ought to have made the play had he attacked at a greater angle.
Street to the Cup
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“I knew I used to be proper close to the sideline,” Alexander mentioned in a post-game, on-field tv interview from Regina. “All I used to be pondering was keep robust and don’t let the friggin’ foot contact. I didn’t even see the ruling on the sphere. I sort of began celebrating. I sort of didn’t. But when felt good to quiet this place down a little bit.
“Typically individuals overlook that I can transfer a little bit bit,” Alexander advised the media within the dressing room. “By the grace of God and by some gentle cleats, we have been capable of get into the tip zone.”
Alexander is simply too laborious on himself. He accomplished 22 of 33 passes for 285 yards, together with a five-yard landing cross to tailback Walter Fletcher within the second quarter that capped a five-play, 70-yard drive. Alexander additionally had 4 carries for 33 yards, however the Alouettes solely produced two offensive touchdowns towards a stout Saskatchewan defence. He additionally was below frequent strain behind an offensive line that should do higher, and was sacked 4 instances.
Following the Alexander rating, Jose Maltos hit the upright along with his convert try, which means the Riders solely required a area objective to ship the sport to extra time.
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Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris moved his staff from its personal 35 to the Montreal 39, aided by a facemask penalty towards cornerback Nafees Lyon. However on the ultimate play of regulation time, Brett Lauther was huge left on his 48-yard area objective try.
Whereas Lauther kicked three area targets, he extremely missed 4 makes an attempt, together with two from contained in the 40. A 38-yard attempt early within the fourth quarter was returned 128 yards for a landing by James Letcher Jr., offering Montreal with a 20-17 lead. The 4 failed makes an attempt, mixed with the Letcher landing, resulted in a possible 19-point swing.
“I’m confused as you may see,” Letcher mentioned after the sport. “I simply have numerous belief in my teammates and I do know they’ve numerous belief in me. It’s been a very long time coming. I’ve been tremendous shut all season to getting a landing, however I’ve been getting tackled by the final man. I simply stayed steadfast and ran to the tip zone.”
Letcher’s return was one-yard shy of the staff document set by Trent Man towards Toronto in September 2012.
Harris, the previous Alouettes starter, was making his return after lacking six video games with a sprained left medial collateral ligament. And he did his greatest to rally his staff, finishing 31 of 39 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns. However the 36-year-old veteran has been affected by accidents since signing with Saskatchewan as a free agent final season, restricted to 5 video games in 2023.
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The Alouettes received their eighth consecutive recreation on the highway, courting again to final season, eclipsing a staff document that had stood since 2002-03. Montreal improved to a CFL-leading 9-1 and has misplaced solely as soon as in its final 18 video games, together with playoffs and the Gray Cup. The Als’ greatest begin to a season was in 2004, once they went 12-1. Montreal additionally swept the two-game season sequence towards Saskatchewan for the primary time since 2016.
After beginning the season 4-0, the Riders now are 5-4-1, together with 0-3-1 of their final 4. With 22 first downs, 433 yards’ web offence and after operating 58 performs, Saskatchewan deserved a greater destiny. And its offence was on the sphere for greater than 34 minutes.
Whereas Montreal veteran quarterback Cody Fajardo has recovered from his hamstring damage and dressed for the primary time since July 11, he by no means received on the sphere. Head coach Jason Maas has made it clear Fajardo received’t lose his job to damage. However, given Alexander’s success and moxie, when will Maas be prepared to make that swap? Alexander is 3-0 as Montreal’s starter and 4-0 general.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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