The Alouettes have taken management of a playoff berth within the East Division. But when they consider they made progress as a crew on this night time, they’re sadly mistaken. Or delusional.
Montreal was tooth-and-nail to beat a Toronto crew that was diminished to enjoying its third-string quarterback, Jarret Doege, however held on for a 21-19 victory Friday night time at BMO Discipline earlier than an introduced crowd of 13,848.
Doege was changing an injured Nick Arbuckle and was making solely the second CFL begin of his profession. That’s a authentic excuse. And he was nearly pretty much as good as Montreal quarterback
McLeod Bethel-Thompson
, now in his seventh season within the league.
The 37-year-old veteran might need gained his third sport since changing the injured
Davis Alexander
, however hardly regarded spectacular within the course of.
Bethel-Thompson, who spent 5 seasons with the Argonauts and was their starter once they gained the Gray Cup in 2022, was a shadow of the participant who
handed for a season-high 379 yards and three touchdowns
final Saturday throughout Montreal’s beautiful upset at Saskatchewan.
He was intercepted 3 times within the first half towards Toronto, the primary time that has occurred since November 2021. His first try of the sport was deflected by Anthony Lanier II and intercepted by middle-linebacker Wynton McManis. On the opening play of the second quarter, a cross supposed for Tyson Philpot was pilfered by the harmful Tarvarus McFadden.
However Bethel-Thompson saved his most-glaring error for the penultimate play of the primary half. With the Alouettes nursing a 7-6 lead, and as a substitute of enjoying cautiously, he tried passing to Tyler Snead over the center. Bethel-Thompson was below stress, threw into protection and the cross was below thrown.
A participant together with his expertise must handle the sport and Bethel-Thompson failed miserably. The ball was intercepted by security Derek Slywka, whose return arrange a 37-year discipline purpose by Lirim Hajrullahu — one among 4 he kicked within the sport.
Following half-hour, Bethel-Thompson had handed for 110 yards and one landing, an 18-yard pass-and-run play to Charleston Rambo, who scored for the primary time this season. Montreal generated 123 yards’ internet offence and solely eight first downs within the half.
To his credit score, Bethel-Thompson improved following the intermission. He didn’t flip the ball over and accomplished a six-play, 89-yard drive with a five-yard landing cross to Snead.
Bethel-Thompson accomplished 18 of 30 passes for 228 yardsand whereas he was operating for his life a lot of the night time, he stays gradual and motionless. He was sacked 4 instances and, whereas it might be straightforward in charge the offensive line, Bethel-Thompson didn’t assist his trigger. There have been some dropped passes by Montreal receivers, however Bethel-Thompson additionally failed to attach with an open Rambo within the first half — the ball crusing out of bounds.
“Clearly, the primary half was fairly brutal with these three picks and giving them factors,” Bethel-Thompson advised the media in Toronto. “You actually can’t do this because the quarterback. It was a variety of me. I say that usually, however my footwork wasn’t good within the first half. The ball was just a little too cheesy. I used to be pulling issues out of bounds. I missed Rambo on a ball that might have been a landing. I below threw Snead. Huge misses there. I simply wasn’t actually targeted and dialled-in.
“I modified my sneakers and did one thing with my arm at halftime and it appeared to work.”
The Alouettes exploded for a season-high 48 factors and 5 touchdowns towards the Roughriders. However towards Toronto, they couldn’t convert from the two-yard line within the third quarter, settling for a Jose Maltos 12-yard discipline purpose.
As soon as once more, the play choice by head coach
Jason Maas
should be questioned. He inserted third-string quarterback Shea Patterson into the sport at that juncture, and whereas Patterson’s eight-yard run put Montreal in scoring place, he failed to attach with tailback
Stevie Scott III
on first down earlier than Scott misplaced two yards on second down.
Scott gained 125 yards on 19 carries towards Saskatchewan, however was under-utilized towards the Argos — particularly on an evening when it was arduous to believe in Bethel-Thompson. Scott gained 54 yards on 13 carries.
Whereas it was an unpleasant win, Maas wasn’t complaining.
“It doesn’t matter presently of 12 months,” Maas advised the media in Toronto. “The truth is, all 12 months it doesn’t matter the way you win. You’ve simply received to win. We misplaced a few ugly video games early within the season and so they’re nonetheless losses. It doesn’t matter what, a win is a win presently of 12 months. All that issues is you win.”
Whereas the Als surrendered just one landing, they had been enjoying an inexperienced quarterback. And Toronto was in Montreal territory late, making an attempt to get into discipline purpose place, when Doege was intercepted by Wesley Sutton.
The Alouettes (7-7) gained their second consecutive sport and swept the three-game season collection towards Toronto for the primary time since 2011. They’re now 4 factors in entrance of the Argos (5-8) with 4 video games remaining.
Montreal ought to make the playoffs and can host the division semifinal, barring a late-season collapse. However it’s arduous to check this crew making a championship run with out Alexander, who seems near getting back from his hamstring damage.
