On Saturday afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium, the Edmonton Elks took on the Montreal Alouettes for the second time of the season. In their last meeting back in Week 6, the Elks beat the Alouettes 32-31. Edmonton was also looking to snap a 14-game home losing streak.
In the first quarter, Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris threw a 23-yard pass to Eugene Lewis. Then, Montreal running back Walter Fletcher’s seven-yard run got them to the Elks’ 37-yard line. Montreal tried a field goal, but kicker David Cote missed from 50 yards, and Christian Saulsberry returned it out of the endzone to prevent the single point.
Edmonton got off to a good start on their first series. On the fifth play, quarterback Taylor Cornelius scrambled out of the pocket to his right side and threw a 34-yard pass to Vincent Forbes-Mombleau before being tackled on Montreal’s 19-yard line. Two plays later, Edmonton kicker Sergio Castillo made a 26-yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead with 7:40 left.
On the next Montreal drive, running backs Walter Fletcher and Jeshrun Antwi combined for three carries for 13 yards, while Trevor Harris threw a couple of passes for 35 yards. Montreal appeared to have scored a touchdown when Walter Fletcher ran for 11 yards into the endzone. However, he fumbled the ball at the one-yard line. Nevertheless, Montreal backup quarter Dominique Davis scored the touchdown with a quarterback sneak, putting Montreal up 7-3 with 2:49 left.
Late in the first quarter, Edmonton punter Jon Ryan punted the ball for 55 yards that went into the endzone for a single point as time expired. The score was 7-4 Montreal, with the Alouettes getting the ball to start the second quarter.
In the second quarter, Montreal wide receiver Tyson Philpot had a 16-yard run and drew a late hit penalty on Edmonton, while quarterback Trevor Harris threw a couple of passes for 24 yards to reach the Elks’ eight-yard line. Then, Trevor Harris threw the ball in the direction of Eugene Lewis. Lewis made a one-handed catch with a defender on him for the touchdown, extending Montreal’s lead 14-4 with 12:24 left. Lewis’s catch should be nominated for top ten plays of the year once the season ends.
The next two scoring plays came from Edmonton kicker Sergio Castillo. He made a 32-yard field goal and a 38-yard field to trim Montreal’s lead 14-10 with 1:13 left. Edmonton’s defense came up big when Jake Ceresna knocked the ball out of Trevor Harris’s hand for the fumble, and Edmonton recovered.
Five plays later, quarterback Taylor Cornelius scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, putting Edmonton up 17-14 with 38-seconds left. On the kickoff, Edmonton kicker Sergio Castillo’s kick went into the endzone, and the Elks got a single point, 18-14. However, just before halftime, Montreal kicker David Cote made it a one-point game when he made a 52-yard field goal, and Edmonton led 18-17 at halftime.
Montreal had 220 yards on offense, and quarterback Trevor Harris was 10/12 for 118 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Edmonton had 204 yards on offense, and Taylor Cornelius was 9/14 for 131 yards, four carries for 18 yards, and one touchdown. The big takeaway in the first half was Edmonton losing wide receiver Kenny Lawler, who injured his shoulder in the second quarter, and did not return to the game.
In the third quarter, Montreal tried to take the lead, but kicker David Cote missed his second field goal for 56 yards, and Christian Saulsberry returned it out of the endzone, preventing the single point. After that, both offenses were able to move the ball, but no one came away with any points, and the score remained 18-17 heading into the fourth quarter.
The turning point of the game came with 9:30 left when Edmonton was at the Alouettes’ four-yard line, and Adarius Pickett batted quarterback Taylor Cornelius’s pass before being intercepted by Tyrice Beverette for a pick-six 100-yard touchdown. Then, Montreal went for a two-point conversion and got it for a 25-18 lead with 8:57 left.
On Edmonton’s next drive, the Elks had a couple of penalties against Montreal to set them up on the Alouettes’ three-yard line. However, on third down, they were unable to get into the endzone, turning the ball over to Montreal.
Edmonton had one more opportunity to get the lead back, but quarterback Taylor Cornelius’s pass was deflected off wide receiver Daniel Vandervoort’s hands and into the hands of Montreal linebacker Micah Awe for the game-ending interception. Montreal won the game 25-18 to improve to 7-7, while the Elks dropped to 4-11.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris won his third career game against Edmonton. He finished 14/17 for 180 yards, one touchdown, and two carries for seven yards, while running back Walter Fletcher had 12 carries for 67 yards, and wide receiver Eugene Lewis had three catches for 52 yards and one touchdown.
Montreal’s defense allowed 375 yards, 45 tackles, four sacks, three pass breakups, and two interceptions. Montreal battles Ottawa next Monday in Canada’s Thanksgiving Day game at 1 pm on ESPN2.
For Edmonton, it was their 15th consecutive loss at home, which sets a CFL record. Quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 16/28 for 273 yards, two interceptions, five carries for 23 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Kevin Brown had 14 carries for 75 yards, while wide receiver Dillon Mitchell had six catches for 98 yards.
Edmonton’s defense allowed 295 yards, 40 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, one pass breakup, and two fumble recoveries. Edmonton visits Winnipeg next Saturday at 7 pm on ESPN+.
