Recap: Alouettes – Stamps tie in Calgary
Well, no matter how you feel about the tie at McMahon Stadium on Saturday, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: That was one of the weirdest football games we got to witness in a long time.
From the Alouettes not getting the proper cue to out of the locker room for the national anthem, to being down double digits very early on, to having a blocked punt overturned, this game had it all and then some.
Let’s look at how we ended up with a 19-19 draw…
The star of the show: Jose Maltos
Maltos has been incredibly solid since taking over from an injured David Cote. On Saturday, the Global kicker went four-for-four, and all four kicks were made under pressure-packed situations.
His first field goal was a 53-yarder, his second kick came with no time left on the clock and the Alouettes were trailing by three points. His two final kicks came in overtime to ensure his team came away with one point.
“My mindset is always staying strong mentally,” Maltos said after the game. “I always think to myself that I wanted this opportunity. I waited a long time to get this opportunity…It’s all about how bad I want it. That’s my mindset every time. The result is (what you saw tonight).”
The 33-year-old is a great story. After being cut by the New Orleans Saints, the Mexican kicker waited by the phone for three years. He didn’t get any calls or opportunities to continue playing, but his break finally came in the CFL.
After stints with the BC Lions and Ottawa Redblacks, Maltos joined the Alouettes before the 2023 season. He waited patiently for his opportunity, and that patience has paid off. Maltos hasn’t missed a kick in six games (he’s 17-for-17 during that stretch) and he’s made 18 consecutive field goals dating back to the July 25th game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
A slow start:
The Als got behind the eight ball early, as they trailed 10-0 before Cody Fajardo threw his first pass of the game. The Stampeders got 10 points off turnovers thanks to a pair of fumbles (one on offence, one on special teams).
In fact, the Alouettes didn’t have the lead until after their first possession of overtime when Maltos made it 16-13.
Over the last two games, Jason Maas’ squad has been outscored 20-0 in the first quarter. That’s something that they’ll need to correct heading into next week’s game in Ottawa and before the start of the postseason.
“Obviously, no one wants a tie, but nobody wants a loss either,” middle linebacker Darnell Sankey said. “Anything other than a win is unacceptable.
“We shouldn’t have been down anyway. We start off too slow. Once playoff football comes around, that can’t happen. We definitely need to get in the film room and figure it out.”
An improved running game:
One of the positives that came out of Saturday’s game was the improved running game. Walter Fletcher had a 55-yard carry, and he finished with 90 yards on just seven carries. The Als running game has been inconsistent this season, but they’ve had some critical runs in key moments. On Saturday night, it just felt like they were gaining positive yards on every carry, even if you exclude the one long run.
Some key stats:
After missing the last six games with a shoulder injury, Kaion Julien-Grant returned against Calgary. He led the team in targets (11), catches (eight) and receiving yards (71).
Tyler Snead also returned to the lineup for the first time since Week 1 and he caught all four of his targets for 38 yards.
Avery Ellis had a key fumble recovery when the Stamps got down to the Montreal two-yard line in the first half. That was a key moment in the game because Calgary was already up 10-7 at that point.
Wesley Sutton’s strip-sack of Jake Maier didn’t result in any points because defensive tackle Mustafa Johnson was tripped up inside the 10-yard line with no time remaining in the second half. That was a tough break, but a great play by two veterans.
What’s next?
The Alouettes will play the second game of their three-game road trip in Ottawa next weekend. The Als are now four points ahead of Ottawa for first place in the East. A win next week would go a long way in potentially securing top spot in the Eastern Division.
