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“I do not assume anybody will relaxation on our laurels,” head coach Jason Maas says, as Montreal takes four-game profitable streak into Sunday’s recreation in opposition to Elks.
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As their journey continues towards what seems to be a date with future and a return journey to the Gray Cup recreation, the Alouettes vow they received’t lose sight of their weekly mandate.
And if anybody is aware of head coach Jason Maas and what makes him tick, he received’t permit complacency to set in.
“It’s nonetheless early within the season. For us, I don’t see a distinction,” security Marc-Antoine Dequoy stated. “There’s all the time going to be one thing with Maas. That’s the distinction, how skilled we’re. It begins with the teaching. They set a tone. He units the tone, the way it’s going to be coming to work. You understand him. It’s not going to be relaxed. It begins with him.”
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The Alouettes, on a four-game profitable streak, are getting ready to host the Edmonton Elks on Sunday night time at Molson Stadium (7 p.m., TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM). It’s Montreal’s closing recreation earlier than its second bye week of the schedule and whereas the Elks (3-7) are final within the West Division, the staff is on a three-game profitable streak.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo returns because the Als’ starter after lacking 4 video games with a hamstring harm. Montreal additionally welcomes again Austin Mack, its main receiver final season, following his latest launch from the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
The Alouettes (9-1) are first within the East Division. A victory in opposition to Edmonton would put them getting ready to qualifying for the playoffs, in line with the CFL. Whereas it seems Montreal has secured at the least third place in its division, the ultimate hurdle is eliminating the distant risk of a West Division crossover staff qualifying, that means solely two groups from the East would make the playoffs.
Montreal, after all, is after larger recreation, hoping to complete first of their division and securing an opening-round bye earlier than internet hosting the division closing with a visit to Vancouver’s Gray Cup match on the road. However even that situation doesn’t include any assure. Toronto (16-2) completed first final season earlier than getting thumped by the visiting Alouettes 38-17.
Street to the Cup
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“There was numerous nice groups which have completed some wonderful issues however, on the finish, they’ve not acquired it completed,” centre Justin Lawrence stated. “For us, our greatest focus isn’t worrying about what’s forward. We’re worrying about Sunday.
“I’m not too nervous about anybody, particularly myself, dropping focus,” Lawrence added. “On the finish of the day, that is our job. We receives a commission to play soccer. If we don’t present up daily and do what we’re alleged to do, we’ve got the potential for dropping our job. Now we have to return in each single day desirous to get higher. Come playoff time, everybody’s on one other stage. Now we have to verify we’re up to the mark.”
Not solely have the Alouettes misplaced solely as soon as this season — and may need remained undefeated had Fajardo not been injured — they ended 2023 with a eight-game profitable streak, together with post-season, after halting a four-game dropping skid in mid-September. This run has been unbelievable.
“It’s onerous to maintain the identical momentum, particularly with the low season and new gamers,” Dequoy stated. “We don’t really feel like we’ve missed a beat. Kudos to the coaches, the employees and the gamers.
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“As loopy as it’s being on the run, this 12 months in comparison with final 12 months, we’re extra onerous on ourselves. It’s fairly loopy the scenario we’re in, however we’re not shocked, should you see how onerous we work, how passionate we’re and the hassle we put in.”
Montreal hasn’t completed first in its division since 2012 and might hardly take its foot off the fuel with Ottawa (6-2-1) nonetheless inside hanging distance heading into Saturday night time’s residence recreation in opposition to B.C. The Alouettes and Redblacks meet twice extra this season. Even Toronto (6-4) might nonetheless make a run now that suspended quarterback Chad Kelly has returned. Montreal and the Argonauts meet as soon as extra in late September at Toronto.
“I don’t assume anybody will relaxation on our laurels,” Maas stated. “Everyone understands how onerous it’s to win on this league. It takes an incredible quantity of labor. We’ll put the work in. We received’t lose focus.
“You see the blokes’ effort, the way in which we anticipate (to win). You see the competitors (in apply), see the blokes not take without any consideration what we’re. The rationale we imagine is due to these. So long as these are current, I’ll all the time imagine in us.”
The group will honour members of the 1974 Gray Cup championship staff at halftime on Sunday.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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