The 2019 season review: September 28, our playoff dreams will have to wait another week
We continue our 2019 season review with the game against the Lions.
Saturday September 28 2019,
Final score : 25-23
Barely having had the time to recover from last week’s roller coaster of emotions, our Alouettes are back in the West on a mission to get a second victory over the B.C. Lions. Our men know it’s not going to be an easy battle since our rivals have been consistently improving since we last saw them. Moreover, we’ll have to play without our quarterback Vernon Adams Jr, forced to sit out due to a one-game suspension for what was deemed a dangerous and reckless act. A lot is riding on this game as a win would clinch our spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2014. It’s a tall order to fill for Matthew Shiltz, taking over for Adams Jr. as starting QB.
Although Shiltz immediately shows he can assume his role as a leader, our offence starts off shaky, seemingly unsettled by the fact that its usual quarterback is not on the field. It’s a slow first half for his men. The defence, on the other hand, clearly has the situation under control. We’ll even witness John Bowman’s first-ever interception! A few lacklustre field goals are exchanged, three for the Lions, one for the Alouettes, and at the break we’re trailing behind by six points.
The second half starts off with a bang for our birds. On the first drive, Shiltz finds Geno Lewis completely uncovered and ensues nothing less than a 97-yard touchdown. 10-9 Alouettes. Another offensive drive, another touchdown as Antonio Pipkin comes in for a short-yardage plunge to give us a 7-point advantage. Just when we thought we had a real shot at getting the win and clinching, the Lions’ offence gets its second win and retaliates with two touchdowns, a convert kick and a field goal. Halfway through the fourth quarter, our opponents are leading 25-17.
Once again, it’s looking like it’s going to be another one of those heart-attack inducing finales. With a little over six minutes remaining to the battle, Matthew Shiltz takes it upon himself to orchestrate a scoring drive with 34 yards of his own, including a 7-yard scoring run. A failed two-point convert leaves our Alouettes trailing behind by two points. The Lions try to give themselves more wiggle room with a field goat attempt, which is blocked by Fabion Foote and scooped up by Patrick Levels. Stanback make his biggest run of the game with a 40-yard rush and get pushed out of bounds a mere few metres away from the goal line. Third and one, Pipkin attempts a sneak, but fumbles the ball, picks it up and drops it again! The clock hits zero and it’s game over for our Als.
It’s a frustrating loss, considering we were literally one yard away from winning and clinching playoffs. We’ll just have to be patient… on to the next battle we go.
