The Montreal Alouettes (2-0) visited Commonwealth Stadium on Friday night against the Edmonton Elks (0-2). Heading into this game, Montreal had a nine-game winning streak dating back to last season while Edmonton had a five-game losing streak also dating back to last season. This game started ok but as it went along, it became a seesaw battle and the plays were too predictable.
First Quarter:
In the first quarter, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed four passes for 72 yards including a long 53-yard pass to Kaion Julien Grant leading the Alouettes to the Edmonton five-yard line. On the next play, Fajardo nearly overthrew wide receiver Cole Spieker but Spieker tipped the ball to himself making the catch for a five-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 6:38 left.
On Edmonton’s second possession of the game, quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed three passes for 55 yards while backup quarterback Dakota Prukop and running back Kevin Brown combined with three carries for 14 yards to Montreal’s one-yard line. Prukop scored a one-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak and the game was tied 7-7 with 2:01 left of the first quarter.
On the last play of the first quarter, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw an incomplete pass intended for Cole Spieker. Before the incompletion, Fajardo completed seven straight passes. The game remained tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter. Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 7 of 8 passes for 107 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for 10 yards while Edmonton quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 4 of 6 passes for 63 yards. Montreal’s offense had 120 yards and Edmonton’s offense had 78 yards in the first quarter.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Montreal kicker David Cote made a 53-yard field goal putting Montreal back on top 10-7 with 14:42 left. Later in the second quarter, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo put wide receiver Cole Spieker in a bad spot.
Fajardo threw the ball to him only for Edmonton defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy leveling him on his shoulder and Spieker was injured. Spieker was out of action before returning later in the game. Montreal ended up punting the ball to Edmonton with 5:19 left before halftime.
Later in the second quarter, Edmonton quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw four passes for 51 yards to Montreal’s 50-yard line. Edmonton could not move the ball any further before kicker Boris Bede made a 48-yard field goal and the game was tied 10-10 with 1:42 left.
With 33 seconds left, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a low pass to running back Walter Fletcher, who made the catch before taking off for a 46-yard touchdown. Fletcher got some great blocks in front of him leading to the touchdown and a 17-10 lead with 24 seconds left.
Edmonton kick returner Javon Leake returned a kickoff for 56 yards before he was pushed out of bounds on the Montreal’s 48-yard line. On the last play of the second quarter, Edmonton kicker Boris Bede made a 48-yard field goal and the score was 17-13 Montreal at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Montreal had 245 yards on offense (201 yards passing, 45 yards rushing). Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 12 of 17 passes (71%) for 201 yards, two touchdowns, and two carries for 15 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had five carries for 23 yards, made two catches for 55 yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Kaion Julien-Grant made four catches for 75 yards and Cole Spieker made three catches for 35 yards and one touchdown. Montreal was penalized four times for 39 yards and the defense made two sacks.
Edmonton had 167 yards on offense (150 yards passing, 29 yards rushing). Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 12 of 17 passes (71%) for 150 yards. Running back Kevin Brown had six carries for 25 yards and made one catch for seven yards.
Wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens made five catches for 83 yards and Hergy Mayala made three catches for 33 yards. Edmonton’s defense made one sack but had problems stopping Montreal’s offense giving up big plays.
Third Quarter:
The second half was lackluster. In the third quarter, there was not a lot of action except for the punters and no points were scored. Defense was the star of the third quarter. Edmonton’s defensive linemen Noah Curtis and Robert Nkemdiche sacked Cody Fajardo while Montreal defensive back Nafees Lyon intercepted McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
On the last play of the third quarter, Edmonton running back Kevin Brown rushed for a two-yard gain before getting tackled on their 30-yard line. Montreal led 17-13 at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Edmonton quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a nice pass right on the hands of wide receiver Dillon Mitchell but he dropped it or else it was a touchdown. With 11:10 left, Edmonton faced third down. They went for it with a quarterback sneak but Dakota Prukop did not get the first down and Montreal took over. Montreal had a chance to extend their lead with 8:52 left but kicker David Cote missed a 46-yard field goal.
Later in the fourth quarter, Montreal had the ball at the Edmonton 39-yard line when quarterback Cody Fajardo handed the ball off to running back Walter Fletcher, who turned on the jets for a 39-yard touchdown. Fletcher got a great block from right tackler Joshua Donovan, who knocked Noah Curtis on his butt. Montreal kicker David Cote missed the extra point and the score was 23-13 with 2:17 left in the game.
With 35 seconds left, Edmonton failed two quarterback sneaks before backup quarterback Dakota Prukop scored a one-yard touchdown on third down. Montreal led 23-20 with 33 seconds left. Edmonton attempted an onside kick but Montreal recovered it and the game was over. The Montreal Alouettes beat the Edmonton Elks 23-20. They have now won 10 straight games while Edmonton has lost six straight games.
Final Stats:
Montreal had 371 yards on offense (269 yards passing, 116 yards rushing). Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 20 of 30 passes (67%) for 269 yards, two touchdowns, and four carries for 27 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had 12 carries for 82 yards, and one touchdown, made three catches for 61 yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Kaion Julien-Grant made six catches for 89 yards, and Cole Spieker made four catches for 42 yards and one touchdown. Kicker David Cote made one of two field goals for 53 yards. Montreal’s defense made 50 tackles, nine tackles on special teams, two tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. The downfall for Montreal was they had nine penalties for 75 yards.
Edmonton had 357 yards on offense (300 yards passing, 72 yards rushing). Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 28 of 42 passes (67%) for 300 yards, two interceptions, and one carry for eight yards. Running back Kevin Brown had 11 carries for 50 yards and made three catches for 15 yards, and backup quarterback Dakota Prukop had seven carries for eight yards, and two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. made seven catches for 93 yards while Dillon Mitchell made five catches for 61 yards, and Hergy Mayala made six catches for 58 yards. Kicker Boris Bede made two field goals with a long of 48 yards. Edmonton’s defense made 39 tackles, seven tackles on special teams, and three sacks. Edmonton was penalized four times for 37 yards.
Final Thoughts:
Montreal is playing like the defending Grey Cup champions. Quarterback Cody Fajardo played a good game. However, his recklessness in throwing the ball to Cole Spieker was uncalled for and luckily for Fajardo, Cole Spieker returned to finish the game after getting popped by Loucheiz Purifoy. Fajardo can’t continue to put his receivers in a position where they can get injured this early in the season. He needs to be smart with the football and make better decisions.
Walter Fletcher is quickly emerging as the new lead running back for Montreal. I love his speed and he can seriously be a contender for the Most Outstanding Player of the Year Award. One last note on Montreal, I have to give a shoutout to right tackler Joshua Donovan for knocking down Noah Curtis allowing Fletcher to score a touchdown. Offensive linemen don’t get the credit they deserve and Donovan deserves one tonight for that block.
Edmonton has problems. With all due respect to McLeod Bethel-Thompson, this team needs to get younger, not older. Tre Ford should be a factor in this game. After all, he ended the longest home-losing streak in sports history and is just sitting on the bench.
Edmonton needs to make a decision on Ford. Is he or isn’t he part of their future? If they are not going to use him, then trade him to a team that will use him like Hamilton or maybe Saskatchewan. The kid can run and pass which Edmonton desperately needs on the field and the coaching staff does not see it.
When it comes to second and short, teams love to use the quarterback sneak. Every defense knows it’s coming and yet the offenses refuse to change it up or get tricky. Edmonton burned a lot of time off the clock for failing to convert second and short twice before scoring late in the fourth quarter.
If teams are going to continue using that play second and short, get an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman to get you that yard. Some of the players that are used do not have the strength to push defenders back. One last note on Edmonton, their secondary gave up a lot of big plays to Montreal and could not stop them.
Opposing teams are having their way them and Edmonton’s secondary can’t be playing 10 yards deep. Edmonton has a lot of work to do and I don’t think the losing streak is ending anytime soon.
Next Thursday, the Montreal Alouettes host the Ottawa Redblacks at 7:30 pm on TSN and CFL+ while the Edmonton Elks visit the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday at 7 pm on TSN and CBS Sports Network. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
