The Montreal Alouettes (11-7) visited BMO Field on Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Argonauts (16-2) for the second straight season in the Eastern Final.
The Argonauts came into this game as a heavy favorite after sweeping the Alouettes in the regular season. However, on this day, Montreal shocked the CFL world thanks to their defense.
In the first quarter, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly tried to complete a pass to Tommy Neild but Montreal defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy intercepted it for a 101-yard touchdown. It was 7-0 Montreal with 11:35 left.
For the rest of the first quarter, Montreal’s defense made quick work on Toronto’s offense with several two-and-outs. Montreal’s offense was able to move the ball down the field but was unable to add any points. The Alouettes led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the two teams traded field goals. First, Toronto kicker Boris Bede kicked a 45-yard field goal which made it 7-3 Montreal with 8:34 left. Then, Montreal kicker David Cote converted a 46-yard field goal making it 10-3 with 5:52 left.
Montreal’s defense made three turnovers in the second quarter, including two third-down stops, a forced fumble by Shawn Lemon, and a fumble recovery by Darnell Sankey. The Alouettes led the Argonauts 10-3 at halftime.
Montreal had 78 yards on offense. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 11 of 15 passes (73%) for 98 yards, one interception, and one carry for six yards. Running back William Stanback had four carries for four yards, and two catches for 30 yards, and wide receiver Tyler Snead made two catches for 23 yards. Montreal’s defense had four turnovers in the first half.
Toronto had 174 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 9 of 13 passes (69.2%) for 111 yards, one interception, and three carries for five yards. Running back A.J. Ouellette had 10 carries for 54 yards, and wide receiver David Ungerer III made three catches for 30 yards. Toronto’s defense made five sacks in the first half.
In the third quarter, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly’s pass was intercepted by Reggie Stubblefield on the Argo’s 29-yard line. The turnover would lead to Cody Fajardo throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Snead for a 17-3 lead with 9:27 left of the third quarter.
On the next Toronto drive, quarterback Chad Kelly’s pass was intercepted by Darnell Sankey at the Argo’s 27-yard line. It was the sixth turnover by the Argonauts in this game. However, Montreal could not take advantage of the turnover when kicker David Cote missed a 48-yard field goal with 6:38 left of the third quarter.
Montreal’s defense continued their dominance on the next Toronto drive. Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly’s pass was intercepted by Kabion Ento for a 22-yard pick-six touchdown. It was now 24-3 Montreal with 5:33 left of the third quarter. Montreal led Toronto 24-3 with the Argonauts having the ball on their 42-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Toronto finally got into the endzone on a one-yard touchdown by backup quarterback Cameron Dukes. It was now 24-10 with 9:59 left in the game. On the kickoff, Montreal returner James Letcher Jr. got some break blocks in front of him to score a 104-yard touchdown. It was now 31-10 Montreal with 9:26 left. The crowd at BMO Field was stunned.
Later in the fourth quarter, Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open DaVaris Daniels which made it 31-17 with 7:58 left. Late in the fourth quarter, Montreal put the game away when running back Jeshrun Antwi ran for a 12-yard touchdown for a 38-17 lead with 1:45. After Montreal’s defense forced their ninth turnover of the game, the Alouettes went into victory formation.
The Montreal Alouettes defeated the Toronto Argonauts by the final score of 38-17. It’s the Alouettes’ first Grey Cup appearance in 13 years. They will be going for their eighth Grey Cup championship in franchise history next Sunday.
Montreal had 197 yards on offense. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 18 of 25 passes (72%) for 175 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and five carries for 38 yards.
Running back William Stanback had nine carries for 15 yards, and wide receiver Tyson Philpot made five catches for 52 yards. Montreal’s defense made 43 tackles, and nine turnovers including four interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two touchdowns.
For Toronto, this season will go down as a disappointment. The last team to finish the regular season 16-2 and lose the Final was the Edmonton Eskimos in 1989 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders 32-21. The Roughriders went on to win the Grey Cup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-40.
Toronto did not prepare for this game at all. They played like they were going to walk all over Montreal and got punched in the mouth. The play calling, execution, and all-around a poor performance by the Argonauts.
Toronto had 385 yards on offense. Quarterback Chad Kelly completed 21 of 36 passes (58.3%) for 246 yards, one touchdown, four interceptions, and eight carries for 62 yards.
Running back A.J. Ouellette had 14 carries for 71 yards, and wide receiver DaVaris Daniels made four catches for 77 yards and one touchdown. Toronto’s defense made 41 tackles, seven sacks, and one interception.
The Montreal Alouettes will play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in next Sunday’s 110th Grey Cup game from Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario, at 6 pm on CFL+.
