On Saturday afternoon at BMO Field, the Montreal Alouettes closed out the regular season against the Toronto Argonauts looking for their first win against Toronto this season.
Many starters on both teams did not play in this game. Instead, it was the backups who had the opportunity to show what they can do as Chad Kelly made his first career start as the Argonauts quarterback, while Dominique Davis started for Montreal.
In the first quarter, Montreal struck first when quarterback Dominque Davis threw a 53-yard touchdown to Cole Spieker for a 7-0 lead with 12:49 left. Davis did a great job faking the handoff before scrambling out of the pocket to find Spieker for the touchdown.
Later in the first quarter, Montreal quarterback Dominique Davis scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, extending their lead 14-0 with 7:46 left.
On Toronto’s second possession, the offense started to move the ball. Quarterback Chad Kelly threw a couple of passes for 21 yards. Four plays later, Kelly threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Dejon Brissett over a Montreal defender for the catch, cutting Montreal’s lead 14-7 with 4:03 left.
Late in the first quarter, Montreal quarterback Dominque Davis threw four consecutive passes for 22 yards before throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kaion Julien-Grant. Grant did a terrific job staying with the ball as he was fighting off a Toronto defender before making the catch. The score was 21-7 Montreal with 58-seconds left.
Toronto had the ball and reached their 50-yard line as the first quarter ended down 21-7. In the second quarter, Montreal linebacker Chris Ackie intercepted Chad Kelly’s pass. However, Toronto would get the ball back four plays later when Shaq Richardson intercepted Dominique Davis’s pass.
Toronto capitalized on the turnover led by quarterback Chad Kelly throwing three passes for 28 yards, and a couple of runs by Daniel Adeboboye for 13 yards. Afterward, quarterback Chad Kelly threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Brescacin. However, kicker Boris Bede missed the extra point, and it was 21-13 Montreal with 8:50 left.
On Montreal’s next possession, they took their time making small gains while eating up a lot of time, reaching Toronto’s one-yard line as David Alexander scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, making it 28-13 Montreal with 2:21 left.
Late in the second quarter, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak. After this, they went for a two-point conversion and got it, making it a one-score game, 28-21 with 21-seconds left. Montreal took a couple of knees to end the first half.
Montreal quarterback Dominique Davis was 13/14 for 166 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, while wide receiver Cole Spieker had four catches for 77 yards, and one touchdown as part of Montreal’s 221 yards on offense. Meanwhile, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly was 13/17 for 150 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, three carries for ten yards, and one touchdown as part of Toronto’s 200 yards on offense.
At the start of the third quarter, Toronto kick returner Jeremiah Haydel broke a couple of tackles, speeding his way to an 87-yard kick return touchdown, tying the game 28-28 with 14:46 left. Then, Montreal made a quarterback change with Davis Alexanders replacing Dominique Davis. He threw a pass for 11 yards, but Montreal punted the ball.
Montreal pinned Toronto on their 14-yard line. They were unable to move the ball. Then, Montreal defensive lineman Jabari Ellis blocked John Haggerty’s punt and recovered it in the endzone for the touchdown. Montreal led 35-28 with 10:54 left.
On the second play for Toronto, quarterback Chad Kelly threw a 46-yard pass to Javon Leake. However, they were unable to move the ball any further, and kicker Boris Bede made a 19-yard field, cutting Montreal’s lead 35-31 with 8:02 left.
Late in the third quarter, Montreal got those points back on a 41-yard field goal by David Cote for a 38-31 lead with 2:27 left. Toronto had the ball for the rest of the third quarter and reached the Alouettes’ 16-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.
However, Toronto went for it on third down and did not get it, turning the ball over to Montreal. Next, Toronto’s defense put the pressure on Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander as he threw the ball in the endzone with no receiver near the ball, resulting in a safety for Toronto, and it was 38-33 with 13:11 left.
Late in the fourth quarter, Montreal running back Jeshrun Antwi fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Toronto. Toronto’s offense reached their 31-yard line facing third down, but Chad Kelly’s initial pass to Cam Phillips was incomplete, and Montreal ran out the clock to win the game 38-33. Montreal ends the season at 9-9, while Toronto is 11-7.
Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander was 8/13 for 89 yards, one interception, five carries for 22 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Jeshrun Antwi had 11 carries for 59 yards, while wide receiver Cole Spieker had six catches for 105 yards, and one touchdown.
Montreal’s defense allowed 346 yards, with 44 tackles, four pass breakups, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Montreal plays the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Sunday in the Eastern Semi-Final at 1 pm on ESPN2.
Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly was 23/35 for 264 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, six carries for 35 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Daniel Adeboboye had eight carries for 40 yards, while wide receiver Dejon Brissett had six catches for 69 yards, and one touchdown.
Toronto’s defense allowed 383 yards, with 44 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. Toronto will either host the Montreal Alouettes or the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Eastern Final on November 13th.
