ALS CLINCH
Following a 17-14 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday, the Montreal Alouettes have clinched a playoff spot for a 19th straight season. On November 7, the Als will head to Hamilton where they will battle the Tiger-Cats with first place in the East Division on the line.
In the event of an Alouettes win, or if Montreal loses by seven points or less, the Alouettes will host the East Final at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on Sunday, November 23 at 1:00 p.m.
If the Tiger-Cats win next week’s game by more than seven points, the Alouettes will host the East Division Semi-Final on Sunday, November 16 at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
Tickets are already on sale and can be purchased online at MontrealAlouettes.com or by calling 1-855-790-1245.
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MONTREAL – Duran Carter caught a 23-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as the Montreal Alouettes clinched a CFL playoff spot with a 17-14 victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday afternoon.
Tyrell Sutton also scored a TD for Montreal (9-8), which has won six games in a row. Sean Whyte had a field goal. The Alouettes defence held an opponent to 17 points or fewer for a sixth straight game, while the team went to 7-1 with Jonathan Crompton at quarterback.
The result drove Toronto (7-10) to the brink of elimination, but they can still reach the post-season if they beat Ottawa and Montreal wins at Hamilton to end the regular season next week.
Argonauts third string quarterback Mitchell Gale threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Mike Bradwell at the end of the first half for his first CFL TD pass. The Alouettes played for the run, but Gale opted to pass and found Mitchell alone behind the defence.
Swayze Waters added two field goals.
Wind was a factor and Toronto got the only points of a flag-free first quarter on Waters’s 21-yard kick.
The Alouettes used the wind on a six-play 69 yard drive capped by Sutton’s 17 yard TD run up the middle 4:02 into the second.
A punt single off Carter’s fumble and a 56 yard drive into the wind led to Bradwell’s one-yard TD catch at the end of the second quarter gave the Argonauts an 11-7 half time lead.
Waters added a 25 yard boot 12:09 into the third after the Alouettes lost a gamble on third and 3 when ball carrier J.C. Beaulieu came up a yard short.
Montreal got three back to open the fourth, and then Crompton led a four-play drive topped by a toss over the middle to Carter.
The son of former NFL star Cris Carter had career highs in catches with 11 and receiving yards with 181. Sutton carried 123 times for 135 yards.
The Argos lost quarterback Ricky Ray to an injury after a sack by John Bowman at 12:31 of the fourth. Toronto got a last chance with the ball when Waters got to his own punt for an extra set of downs, but backup QB Trevor Harris was unable to move the ball.
The Alouettes looked sure to score on a trick play in the second quarter, but receiver S.J. Green’s bomb fell out of the hands of the wide open Carter.
Montreal defensive back Geoff Tisdale left late in the first half with a concussion after a kick in the head while defending a pass. The Argos lost defensive tackle Marcus Thomas (foot) and defensive back Vincent Agnew (left leg) to injuries. In the fourth, linebacker Matt Ware was helped off.
(Canadian Press)
There are three CFL coaches in line for coach of the year – Jones, Huff, and Higgins. I think it seems very likely Higgens is the front runner. At the start, I was sure Higgens would be gone and Lapolice would be in by year end. Boy, was I wrong.
I was thinking the same thing earlier this week regarding Higgins. It looked terrible early in Mtl with the firing of the O coordinator in training camp, the terrible start and Troy Smith at QB and them placing him on injured reserve for 6 games. But they have come full circle and have made the playoffs, will be at least .500 for the season if not better, and could host the East Final. Hard not to find that impressive. It likely will be Chris Jones, but Higgins should garner some votes now. And the Riders should take note, as the… Read more »
I am impressed by the rise of Crompton. Last year, he was in Edmonton as the 3rd stringer. They were going to place him as 4th this year, until he asked to be released. Montreal picked him up, and look at what a so-called 4th stringer can do! I was most impressed when I heard him telling a hurt O lineman to get up as "I really need you". What leadership!