The Montreal Alouettes (7-7) visited McMahon Stadium on Saturday afternoon to kick off a Saturday doubleheader against the Calgary Stampeders (4-10).
This was the second meeting of the season between these teams. They met back in Week 8 where the Alouettes won that game 25-18 in Montreal. Montreal came into this game on a four-game losing streak. They needed this win badly with Hamilton right on their tail for second place. Montreal took advantage of Calgary’s mistakes, leading them to end the losing streak.
In the first quarter, Montreal defensive lineman Shawn Lemon intercepted Calgary quarterback Jake Maier’s pass. The Alouettes would get to the Stampeders’ 47-yard line before punting the ball. Calgary controlled the first quarter but neither team put up points.
Montreal started to get the ball rolling late in the first quarter. Running back William Stanback had two carries for 12 yards. On the last play, Cody Fajardo completed a short pass to William Stanback for a gain of seven yards before he was pushed out of bounds on the Stampeders’ 41-yard line. The game remained scoreless heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, Montreal running back William Stanback had three carries for 18 yards. Next, quarterback Cody Fajardo completed a short pass to Tyler Snead for a gain of four yards before he was tackled on the Stampeders’ three-yard line.
On the next play, backup quarterback Caleb Evans muscled his way into the endzone for a three-yard touchdown. It was 7-0 Montreal with 10:58 left of the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier completed a 24-yard pass to Marken Michel. Two plays later, Maier completed a short pass to Ka’Deem Carey for 12 yards plus a roughing the passer penalty on Montreal placed the ball on the Alouettes’ 30-yard line. Five plays later, Maier threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Begelton which tied the game 7-7 with 2:21 left of the second quarter.
Next, both teams exchanged single points on punts. Montreal punter Joseph Zema punted the ball 67 yards into the endzone and out of bounds. Montreal led 8-7 with 1:52 left. Then, Calgary punter Cody Grace punted the ball 60 yards into the endzone and out of bounds. The game was tied again 8-8 with 1:05 left of the second quarter.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed two passes for 32 yards which set up a David Cote 45-yard field goal. He converted it which put Montreal ahead 11-8 with 27 seconds left. On the last play, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes attempted a 48-yard field goal but missed it. The Alouettes led the Stampeders 11-8 at halftime.
Montreal had 143 yards on offense. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 10 of 15 passes (66%) for 101 yards, running back William Stanback had six carries for 39 yards, and wide receiver Tyson Philpot made three catches for 36 yards. Montreal’s defense had two sacks in the first half.
Calgary had 182 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 17 of 21 passes (81%) for 143 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Ka’Deem Carey had seven carries for 52 yards. Wide receiver Reggie Begelton made seven catches for 56 yards and one touchdown. Calgary’s defense did not sack Fajardo in the first half.
In the third quarter, Calgary defensive back Nick Statz made a nice diving interception when Fajardo tried to complete a pass to Tyler Snead. Calgary made it to the Alouettes’ four-yard line. On the next play, Jake Maier tried to force a throw into coverage at Tre Odoms-Dukes, but Marc-Antoine Dequoy intercepted it in the endzone.
On the fifth play for Montreal, Cody Fajardo threw a deep pass to Tyson Philpot for 51 yards before he was tackled on the Stampeders’ one-yard line. Then, Caleb Evans scored the touchdown with a quarterback sneak for an 18-8 lead with 2:18 left of the third quarter.
Calgary had the ball for the rest of the third quarter. Quarterback Jake Maier completed a 12-yard pass to Colton Hunchak before he was tackled on the Alouettes’ 11-yard line. On the final play, Maier’s pass intended for Tre Odoms-Dukes went incomplete.
In the fourth quarter, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes kicked a 27-yard field goal which made it 18-11 with 13:56 left in the game. Later in the fourth quarter, Montreal kicker David Cote got those three points back with a 35-yard field goal for a 21-11 lead with 8:44 left.
Later in the fourth quarter, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed a short pass to William Stanback for a five-yard touchdown that made it 28-11 with 2:22 left. Montreal’s defense finished off the Stampeders when Shawn Lemon sacked Jake Maier. The Alouettes defeated the Stampeders by the final score of 28-11.
Montreal backup quarterback Caleb Evans while limited in action made the two key plays that helped the Alouettes beat the Stampeders. He had three carries for seven yards and two touchdowns. Montreal had 358 yards on offense. This win helps them stay ahead of Hamilton for second place.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 22 of 29 passes (76%) for 252 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and one carry for 11 yards. Running back William Stanback had 14 carries for 81 yards, four catches for 19 yards, and one touchdown. Wide receiver Tyson Philpot made four catches for 87 yards. Montreal’s defense made 51 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery.
This season can’t end fast enough for Calgary. This team needs a complete makeover from the front office down to the coaches, and players. Calgary should consider trading pieces to start the rebuilding process. In addition, Jake Maier should not be the starting quarterback. He completed 29 of 37 passes (78.3%) for 271 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and two carries for six yards.
Jake Maier has problems seeing the field and the Stampeders should consider starting Tommy Stevens or signing another quarterback via free agency. This team has made the playoffs dating back to 2005 and is on the verge of missing the playoffs. Change is needed in Calgary right now. The Stampeders had 360 yards on offense.
Running back Ka’Deem Carey had ten carries for 70 yards and wide receiver Reggie Begelton made 13 catches for 109 yards and one touchdown. Calgary’s defense made 42 tackles and one interception.
Next Saturday, the Alouettes visit the Ottawa Redblacks at 4 pm on CFL+, while the Stampeders visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at 7 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
