The Montreal Alouettes improved their record to 7-1 on the season with Friday’s 33-16 win over the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton. They also extended their winning streak against the Ticats to eight games (including the postseason).
How did the Als get it done tonight? Let’s take a look!
GIVE LOVE TO THE DEFENCE:
This defence is recognized as the best unit in the CFL, but they still don’t get enough credit for the way they perform every week. The Ticats managed to score a touchdown in garbage time, but the defence didn’t allow a point for most of the game.
Noel Thorpe’s guys held veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell to 240 passing yards, one touchdown and they forced two interceptions. Bryce Cosby collected his first career pick while Kabion Ento, who also had an interception at Tim Hortons Field during last November’s Grey Cup, came up with the second Montreal interception.
“Our secondary has great communication,” Ento said. “From the boundary to the field, we communicate well. We have vets like Najee Murray, Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Wes Sutton and Dionte Ruffin…We’ve learned the system, we’ve learned each other. We pride ourselves on being the best secondary in the league. We want to make sure we put that on film every week.”
Veteran defensive back Najee Murray was rock-solid, too. He didn’t force a turnover, but he did an excellent in coverage. He’s quietly had a very nice year.
RAMBO II:
We’re making that classic movie reference because Charleston Rambo had two spectacular grabs on Friday night. The Alouettes offence got off to a slow start in the first quarter and a bit, but they managed to figure things out over the final three frames of this game.
The first one came in the second quarter when he capped off an 80-yard drive with a touchdown, which tied the game, 7-7. The second happened in the second half, when he fought through contact to make a great grab at the Hamilton one-yard line.
Rambo finished the game with four receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
“We continued to be us,” Rambo said of the offence turning it around in the second quarter. Mistakes happen. That’s football. We continue to be us and be great for (Davis Alexander) and (Caleb Evans)…We want to be great for those guys at all times. Shoutout to our offensive line because they blocked real heavy and real hard tonight.”
DALLAIRE TO THE HOUSE!
You have to feel good for Quebec-born fullback David Dallaire. The second-year Alouette managed to get into the end zone for the first time in his career in the fourth quarter on Friday night.
Quarterback Davis Alexander was forced to leave Friday’s game momentarily after taking a shot from Hamilton’s Casey Sayles. On the very next play, Caleb Evans entered the game at quarterback, and he hit Dallaire with a perfect throw.
“I saw the same thing I saw in practice this week,” Dallaire said of his major. “Nobody covers the fullback because nobody thinks we get the ball (laughs). I saw everyone run towards Caleb. I was alone so I knew he was going to throw me the ball. I have no words to describe that moment.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Alouettes and Tiger-Cats will square off again next week, but this team they’ll be playing at Percival Molson Stadium on Saturday Aug. 10. If you don’t have your tickets, you can pick some up by visiting GoAlsGo.com. All tickets for children are just $5.
