The Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to battle it out on the gridiron for the 112th Grey Cup.
The game will go down in history regardless of the outcome, as it is the last game before new rules and field changes come to the CFL.
It’s the first time the teams have met in the Grey Cup since 2010 in Edmonton, where the Alouettes won their second straight title against the Roughriders.
In the two meetings this season, the Riders won the first game in Week 9 in Montreal, 34-6. In Week 15, the Alouettes won the second meeting 48-31 in Saskatchewan.
Pregame, every cheer and drum team from across the league did a joint performance, which marked the first time it had been done. Following this, Our Lady Peace took to the stage to set the tone for the game to come.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Alouettes then choose to receive the opening kickoff.
On the fourth play of the game, Montreal’s quarterback Davis Alexander looked deep downfield for Tyson Philpot, but his pass was intercepted by Roughriders’ Marcus Sayles.
On the Riders’ fourth play of their opening drive, following the interception, Trevor Harris nearly threw an interception, but Alouettes’ Kabion Ento couldn’t hang on to the ball, and the pass fell incomplete. On the next play, the Riders opened the scoring on a 69-yard punt rouge.
Following a punt for each team, Alexander tried the deep shot downfield once again; this time, Philpot was open for the 37-yard reception, getting the ball to the Riders’ 16-yard line. Three plays later, the Als’ backup quarterback, Shea Patterson, would keep the ball and take it one yard into the endzone for the game’s first major. A successful convert made the score 7-1 for Montreal.
On the final play of the first quarter, Roughriders’ quarterback Trevor Harris would connect with Dohnte Meyers for a 29-yard passing play.
Montreal did have a slight edge in stats after the first quarter. They lead the Riders 60-45 on passing yards, 21-20 on rushing yards, and 81-65 on total yards. However, the Riders did win the turnover battle in the first quarter.
Five plays into the second quarter, the Riders went for the endzone on a third and two at the Alouettes’ four-yard line, but the pass was knocked down on the goalline by Ento. However, during a commercial break, the Riders challenged the play for pass interference and won the challenge. Following the penalty that was awarded on the challenge, Tommy Stevens would take the ball one yard into the endzone. With a successful convert, the Riders jumped back in front, leading 8-7.
On the Riders’ next drive, A.J. Outlette would cap an eleven-play, 92-yard drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown, taking a 15-7 lead.
On the last play of the half, Alexandre threw a Hail Mary towards the Riders’ endzone, but his pass was intercepted by Rolan Milligan Jr. At the end of the half, the Riders were up up 15-7, leading in passing yards 155-96, rushing yards 63-44, total yards 218-141, and the turnover battle 2-0.
Following a halftime show performance by MGK, the game got back underway with the Riders looking to add to their lead, as they received the opening kickoff of the half, and started with decent field position as Mario Alford got a 38-yard return. Three plays later, Harris found Tommy Nield for a 34-yard passing play, getting the ball to the Montreal one. One play later, Stevens would score another one-yard rushing touchdown to increase the Riders’ lead to 22-7.
On Montreal’s second drive of the second half, Alexander found Charleston for a 30-yard passing play. On the next play, Alexander tried a deep pass, but it was knocked down by CJ Reavis. Following this, Alexander tried another passing play, but it was intercepted by Riders’ Tevaughn Campbell. Following the INT, the Riders would extend their lead with a 48-yard field goal from Brett Lauther, making it 25-7.
On the ensuing drive, the Alouettes would march the field, and Stevie Scott III would cap the eight-play, 75-yard drive with an 11-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the Alouettes back within two scores to end the third quarter.
After three quarters, the Alouettes lead in rushing yards 78-77, while the Riders lead in passing yards 214-156, total yards 318-234, and the turnover battle 3-1.
On the Alouettes’ first drive of the fourth quarter, they would cut the Riders’ lead once more with a 23-yard field goal from Jose Carlos Maltos. This came after lineman Donald Ventrelli caught a pass from Alexandre that deflected off one of his teammates’ helmets.
On their next drive, Alexandre would connect with Tyler Snead for a 51-yard passing play. Three plays later, Patterson coughed up the football, fumbling it at the Riders’ two-yard line. The ball would be recovered by Rider’s Sayles for the fourth turnover of the game.
Late in the fourth as the Alouettes were looking to try and level the game, Alexandre ran the ball towards the sideline. In doing so, he aggravated his hamstring, which he’s been having issues with all season. Determined to help his team, despite being in discomfort, he finished out the drive, which ended as the game came to a close following an incomplete pass in the endzone.
