The Montreal Alouettes (1-0) visited Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday to start the 2024 season in a 110th Grey Cup rematch against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-1). A lot of fans had this game marked down on their calendars and anticipated another classic.
However, this game did not live up to last year’s Grey Cup. Instead, fans in Winnipeg witnessed a spanking and it was not their team doing it.
First Quarter:
Early in the first quarter, Winnipeg defensive back Brian Cole hustled on special teams to tackle returner James Letcher Jr. as Montreal was penalized for an illegal block on Cre’Von Leblanc. Later in the first quarter, Brian Cole intercepted Cody Fajardo’s pass intended for Kaion Julien-Grant and ran for 41 yards before getting tackled on Montreal’s 20-yard line.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros struggled in his first series of the game. He overthrew wide receivers Dalton Schoen and Kenny Lawler both of which should have been touchdowns and instead settled for a Sergio Castillo 17-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 6:25 left. Throughout the first quarter, Zach Collaros completed 1 of 6 passes (17%) for eight yards.
Montreal moved the ball for 21 yards before Winnipeg forced a two-and-out. Montreal punter Joseph Zema punted the ball for 35 yards toward Myron Mitchell. Montreal’s special teams did the job when Tyrice Beverette stripped the ball out of Michell’s arm and was recovered by Bryce Cosby on the Winnipeg’s 14-yard line.
Montreal made them pay when Winnipeg’s secondary left Tyson Philpot wide open in a blown coverage and Philpot scored a 14-yard touchdown for a 7-3 lead with 3:57 left. With 2:25 left of the first quarter, Montreal’s offense made it to their own 45-yard line before punting the ball to Myron Mitchell at the Winnipeg’s 16-yard line to begin the second quarter up 7-3.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Winnipeg’s offense was shut out. The receivers could not create separation and Montreal’s defense put the pressure on Collaros forcing him to make quick decisions with very little progress.
Beginning with 13:07 left, Montreal’s offense started at the Winnipeg’s 38-yard line and put together a nine-play drive for 38 yards ending with backup quarterback Caleb Evans scoring a one-yard touchdown for a 14-3 lead with 8:41 left before halftime. The two teams combined for 10 points off of turnovers in the first half.
Late in the second quarter, Winnipeg’s offense started to get rolling a bit but they could not find the endzone. However, the first drive ended with Collaros’s throw intercepted by Marc-Antoine Dequoy in the endzone. The second drive ended with Dionte Ruffin batting the ball down preventing Dalton Schoen from catching a touchdown.
Winnipeg got a break with 15 seconds left when kicker Sergio Castillo missed a 38-yard field goal when Montreal returner James Letcher Jr. chased the bouncing ball before getting tackled by Mike Benson. After further review, Letcher Jr. had gotten the ball out of the endzone before getting tackled back into the endzone for a safety. Montreal led Winnipeg 14-5 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 5 of 11 passes (45%) for 48 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and three carries for 13 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had five carries for 12 yards, and one catch for nine yards, while wide receiver Tyler Sneed made one catch for 15 yards. Sneed missed the rest of the game with an injury. Montreal had 84 yards on offense, two for two in the red zone, and the defense made two sacks including one by Shawn Lemon. Monreal was penalized twice for 15 yards.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed 9 of 17 passes (53%) for 84 yards, and one interception. Running back Brady Oliveira had nine carries for 35 yards, and one catch for eight yards, while wide receiver Dalton Schoen made two catches for 28 yards, and Kenny Lawler made three catches for 26 yards. Lawler suffered an upper-body injury and missed the rest of the game. Winnipeg had 113 yards on offense, penalized three times for 40 yards, and the defense made one sack.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed a pass to Nic Demski before Montreal linebacker Darnell Sankey punched the ball out and it was recovered by Dionte Ruffin on Montreal’s 46-yard line with 12:46 left. The Alouettes turned the turnover into more points when kicker David Cote made a 19-yard field goal for a 17-5 lead with 10:14 left.
Then, with 6:34 left, Montreal punter Joseph Zema punted the ball for 55 yards that bounced into the endzone and out of bounds for a single point. It was now 18-5 Montreal. Later in the third quarter, Montreal lost defensive back Reggie Stubblefield to a non-contact injury and had to leave on the cart.
Late in the third quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw three passes for 37 yards getting Winnipeg down to the Montreal five-yard line as the third quarter ended. Montreal still led Winnipeg 18-5.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo missed a 40-yard field goal wide left but did get a single point out of it and the score was now 18-6 Montreal with 14:43 left.
Penalties killed Winnipeg’s defense. On 2nd and 17, Winnipeg’s defense came at Fajardo with a blitz. Fajardo scrambled for a seven-yard gain but got his face masked pulled by Brandon Alexander resulting in an automatic first down for Montreal at the Winnipeg’s 45-yard line. Five plays later, Montreal kicker David Cote made a 22-yard field goal for a 21-6 lead with 9:55 left in the game.
After Montreal’s defense forced a two-and-out, the offense put the game away on the first play when Cody Fajardo pitched the ball to Walter Fletcher in a flea flicker play. Then, Fajardo threw a deep pass to Tyson Philpot for a 76-yard touchdown making it 27-6 with 8:42 left in the game.
Late in the game, Montreal did not pressure Zach Collaros as much with 2:28 left. The Blue Bombers marched down to Montreal’s one-yard line where running back Johnny Augustine scored the touchdown. Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo missed the extra point and the score was now 27-12 Montreal with 1:08 left in the game.
Montreal’s offense could not run out the clock and punter Joseph Zema punted the ball for 33 yards to Evan Holmes, who was tackled by Bryce Cosby to end the game. Montreal defeated Winnipeg 27-12.
Final Stats:
Montreal had 324 yards on offense. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 20 of 28 passes (71%) for 254 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and seven carries for 23 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had 12 carries for 36 yards and made three catches for five yards.
Wide receiver Tyson Philpot had a big game making 10 catches on 11 targets for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Kicker David Cote made two field goals with a long of 22 yards. Montreal’s defense made 43 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 10 tackles on special teams.
Winnipeg had 284 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 20 of 33 passes (61%) for 209 yards, and one interception. Running back Brady Oliveira had 11 carries for 38 yards and made three catches for 17 yards.
Wide receiver Dalton Schoen led the receivers making five catches for 62 yards. The receivers finished the night making 33 catches for 209 yards. Kicker Sergio Castillo had a rough night making one of three field goals with a long of 17 yards. Winnipeg’s defense made 42 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, and eight tackles on special teams.
Final Thoughts:
In the preseason, Montreal had their starters play at least one game while Winnipeg did not play their starters and it showed resulting in Montreal spanking them. I get that most teams don’t want to play their starters but this is the result you are going to get every time. Preseason games are supposed to be used to get everyone in sync with each other and work out the rust.
Yes, it is a long season, but should Winnipeg struggle later this season, it’s games like these that the owner, coaches, and fans are going to look back on and wish the head coach would’ve played their starters at least one preseason game.
For Montreal, they made an early statement as to why they should be the favorites to win the Grey Cup again. They came prepared and ready to battle. Tyson Philpot is going to be a problem all season long for opposing teams and they need to study every piece of film on him.
Meanwhile, the defense did a nice job stopping Winnipeg’s offense. The secondary did not allow Winnipeg to get separation until Montreal had the game won with time left and took their foot off the gas. If Montreal as a whole can keep putting on shows like tonight. I don’t see why they can’t repeat as Grey Cup champions.
Next Thursday night, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit the Ottawa Redblacks at 7:30 pm on CFL+, while the Montreal Alouettes visit the Edmonton Elks next Friday at 9 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
