On Thursday night from Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers took on the Montreal Alouettes looking to keep their undefeated season alive. Meanwhile, the Alouettes were looking to take second place in the East Division.
The Blue Bombers got the ball to start the game. On 2nd and 9, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros’s pass was intercepted by Wes Sutton. The Alouettes’ offense reached the Blue Bombers’ 16-yard line before kicker David Cote made a 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. Those were the only points scored in the first quarter, and Montreal had the ball to begin the second quarter, facing a 2nd and 4.
Montreal’s offense had gotten to the Blue Bombers’ six-yard line facing third down. However, quarterback Trevor Harris’s intended pass to Eugene Lewis was incomplete, and Winnipeg took over. After a 13-yard run by running back Brady Oliveira, quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 35-yard pass to Brady Oliveira, reaching their own 54-yard line.
On 2nd and 8, Collaros’s pass to Rasheed Bailey was incomplete, but a defensive pass interference penalty on Montreal moved the ball to Montreal’s nine-yard. Then, Zach Collaros threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schoen, giving Winnipeg a 7-3 lead with 7:43 left.
Neither offense did much for the rest of the second quarter, and the Blue Bombers led 7-3 at halftime, and Montreal got the ball to start the third quarter.
The Alouettes’ offense reached the Blue Bombers’ 41-yard line before David Cote made his second field goal for 49 yards, which made it a one-point game, 7-6, with 12 minutes left. Being up by one point, Winnipeg needed to respond. Winnipeg’s offense marched down the field and had a penalty called against Montreal to reach the Alouettes’ 12-yard line.
Kicker Marc Liegghio made a 19-yard field goal, but a penalty called on Montreal made it an automatic first down. Then, on 2nd and 5, Zach Collaros scrambled out of the pocket before throwing the ball to Rasheed Bailey for a five-yard touchdown, extending their lead 14-6 with 5:01 left in the third quarter.
Montreal kicker returner Tyson Philpot returned the kickoff for 60-yards. Three plays later, Philpot caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Harris. They went for a two-point conversion on their second try after a penalty was called against Winnipeg and got it, tying the game 14-14 with 4:16 left.
On Winnipeg’s next drive, Montreal defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy intercepted Zach Collaros’s pass. It was Collaros’s third interception of the game. Montreal had the ball for the rest of the third quarter and faced a 2nd and 16 to start the fourth quarter.
The Alouettes made it to the Blue Bombers’ 41-yard line, but David Cote missed a 50-yard field goal, and Winnipeg took over. Zach Collaros and Brady Oliveira led the offense down to Montreal’s one-yard line, where Dakota Prukop went with a quarterback sneak to score the touchdown, putting Winnipeg back on top 21-14 with 8:16 left.
After Montreal’s offense went three-and-out, Blue Bombers’ punt returner Janarion Grant returned a 57-yard punt for a touchdown, and it was 28-14 with 6:03 left. On Montreal’s next possession, Trevor Harris’s pass was intercepted by Winston Rose. However, Winnipeg could not capitalize on the turnover.
When Montreal got the ball back, Trevor Harris threw another interception to Adam Bighill, and he was tackled at Montreal’s 17-yard line. Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira carried the ball twice for 17 yards and scored a touchdown for a 35-14 lead with 2:08 left.
Montreal changed quarterbacks with Dominique Davis in for Trevor Harris. He threw a 37-yard pass to Eugene Lewis and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Reggie White Jr. Montreal went for a two-point conversion, and there were penalties on both sides. In the end, Montreal could not get the two points and trailed 35-20 with 43-seconds left.
Montreal tried an onsides kick, but the ball went out of bounds, and Winnipeg ran out the clock to end the game. Winnipeg defeated Montreal 35-20 and kept their undefeated season alive at 9-0, while the Alouettes fall to 2-6.
Both teams made many mistakes in this game, including missing tackles and not going after the football to complete a catch. Both teams also lacked discipline. Winnipeg was penalized nine times, six on defense for 51 yards, while the Alouettes had seven penalties for 77 yards.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros was 15/26 for 210 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions while running back Brady Oliveira had 17 carries for 92 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky led the receivers with five catches for 90 yards, and the Blue Bombers’ defense allowed 279 yards, 47 tackles, three sacks, four pass breakups, and two interceptions.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris went 16/26 for 127 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while backup Dominique Davis was 4/5 for 76 yards and one touchdown. Running back, Jeshrun Antwi had ten carries for 45 yards, and wide receiver Eugene Lewis had nine catches for 123 yards.
The Alouettes’ defense allowed 362 yards, 44 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, three interceptions, and one fumble recovery. These two teams will go at it again next Thursday at 8:30 pm on ESPN+.
