The Montreal Alouettes (8-1) hosted the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-7) from Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in a rematch from Week 9 when they won 33-16 in Hamilton. The game started with a heavy downpour but the rain let up for the rest of the game.
First Quarter:
Hamilton had a disastrous first quarter. They started the game with an offsides penalty. Then, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell completed a pass to James Tuck for four yards. However, Montreal linebacker Darnell Sankey stripped the ball away from him and Avery Ellis recovered it on the Ticats’ 34-yard line.
Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander threw a three-yard pass to Tyson Philpot and on the next play rushed for a gain of 13 yards to the Ticats’ 18-yard line. The drive stalled and kicker Jose Carlos Maltos made a 25-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 12:26 left of the first quarter.
On the next Hamilton drive, Bo Levi Mitchell was penalized for a time count violation and James Butler’s 34-yard run was wiped out by a holding penalty on the Ticats’ offense. On the next play, Bo Levi Mitchell intended to throw the ball to Shemar Bridges but Darnell Sankey leaped up the air to make the interception on their 46-yard line.
Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander threw a four-yard pass to Tyson Philpot. Philpot tried to break a tackle from Richard Leonard but he twisted his knee and was down. Philpot left the game and did not return. Philpot finished the game making two catches for 7 yards.
Montreal’s offense went two-and-out before punting the ball back to Hamilton. The Ticats benched Bo Levi Mitchell for Taylor Powell. Mitchell finished the game completing 3 of 4 passes (75%) for 25 yards, and one interception. The change did not help Hamilton.
On the second play, Hamilton center David Beard over snapped the ball to Taylor Powell. The ball went over Taylor Powell’s helmet well beyond his reach and he ran into the endzone to give up a safety. The Alouettes led 5-0 with 8:18 left of the first quarter.
Montreal returner James Letcher Jr. returned the kickoff for 57 yards to the Ticats’ 22-yard line. Montreal’s offense ran two plays for six yards before kicker Jose Carlos Maltos kicked a 23-yard field goal extending Montreal’s lead 8-0 with 6:36 left of the first quarter.
Hamilton quarterback Taylor Powell threw four passes for 34 yards before the drive stalled. Unfortunately, kicker Marc Liegghio missed a 43-yard field goal wide left with 3:20 left.
On the final play of the first quarter, Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Charleston Rambo making it 15-0. The drive went six plays for 80 yards in a little over three minutes.
Montreal had 96 yards on offense (72 yards passing, 32 yards rushing, 8 yards lost). Quarterback Davis Alexander completed 4 of 7 passes for 72 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for 13 yards. Hamilton had 63 yards (59 yards passing, 4 yards rushing). Quarterback Taylor Powell completed 4 of 5 passes for 34 yards. The Ticats were penalized 6 times for 40 yards.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Montreal’s offense moved the ball to the Ticats’ 49-yard line before the drive stalled. Montreal punter Joseph Zema punted the ball 55 yards into the endzone and out of bounds for a single point. It was now 16-0 with 9:16 left.
Hamilton quarterback Taylor Powell threw eight passes for 70 yards. He was sacked by Montreal linebacker Tyson Beverette and a time count penalty on him ended the drive. Kicker Marc Liegghio made a 22-yard field goal and the Tiger-Cats trailed the Alouettes 16-3 with 3:46 left of the second quarter.
Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander threw three straight passes for 52 yards before running back Walter Fletcher rushed for a gain of three yards and Alexander rushed for a gain of six yards to the Ticats’ 9-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Jose Carlos Maltos made a 22-yard field goal for a 19-6 lead at halftime. The drive went six plays for 54 yards.
First Half Stats:
Montreal had 189 yards on offense (130 yards passing, 69 yards rushing, 10 yards lost). Quarterback Davis Alexander completed 8 of 12 passes (66%) for 130 yards, one touchdown, and three carries for 27 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had four carries for 14 yards and one catch for 14 yards.
Wide receiver Charleston Rambo made two catches for 89 yards, and one touchdown, while James Letcher Jr. made one catch for six yards. Montreal’s defense had one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. They were penalized one time for 15 yards.
Hamilton had 196 yards on offense (169 yards passing, 33 yards rushing, 6 yards lost). Quarterback Taylor Powell completed 13 of 18 passes (72%) for 144 yards, and two carries for 11 yards. Running back James Butler had four carries for 22 yards and two catches for 12 yards.
Wide receiver Shemar Bridges made five catches for 56 yards, while Steven Dunbar Jr. made four catches for 34 yards. Hamilton’s defense made one sack. They were penalized 8 times for 60 yards.
Third Quarter:
In the first five minutes of the third quarter, Hamilton’s offense had one first down. In their second series, the Ticats’ offense went on a 12-play drive for 68 yards taking over seven minutes off the clock before the drive stalled. Kicker Marc Liegghio made a 30-yard field goal and the Ticats trailed the Alouettes 19-9 with 2:23 left.
Montreal’s offense was back out for the final drive of the third quarter. On the final play, quarterback Davis Alexander threw a pass to Shedler Fervius, who broke a tackle before running for 48 yards to the Ticats’ 8-yard line. The Alouettes led 19-9.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Montreal backup quarterback Dominque Davis scored a 1-yard touchdown with a quarterback sneak to cap off a seven-play drive for 70 yards. The Alouettes extended their lead 26-9 with 13:35 left in the game.
Hamilton’s offense responded when quarterback Taylor Powell threw four passes for 41 yards and James Butler rushed for a gain of 9 yards to the Alouettes’ six-yard line. Hamilton was called for a holding penalty on their next play backing them up 10 yards.
Quarterback Taylor Powell threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Luther Hakunavanhu and the Ticats trailed the Alouettes 26-16 with 9:35 left. After the extra point, Hamilton right tackler Jordan Murray and Montreal linebacker Darnell Sankey were given objectional conduct penalties but Murray was ejected from the game.
Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander and running back Walter Fletcher led the team to the Ticats’ 10-yard line. Then, Alexander threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Charleston Rambo for a 33-16 lead with 3:39 left. The drive went eight plays for 80 yards in five minutes and thirty-one seconds.
Hamilton did not quit. They went on an 11-play drive for 74 yards in a little over two minutes when quarterback Taylor Powell threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Steven Dunbar Jr. The Ticats trailed the Alouettes 33-23 with 1:20 left in the game.
The Ticats tried an onside kick but Montreal recovered the ball. Montreal running back Sean Thomas-Erlington had three carries for 34 yards before quarterback Davis Alexander took a couple of kneel-downs to end the game.
The Alouettes defeated the Tiger-Cats 33-23. They have now won 16 of their last 17 games and go 2-0 against Hamilton this season winning the season series.
Final Stats:
Montreal had 385 yards on offense (247 yards on offense, 151 yards rushing, 13 yards lost). Quarterback Davis Alexander completed 17 of 24 passes (71%) for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and three carries for 27 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had 8 carries for 53 yards and two catches for 22 yards.
Wide receiver Charleston Rambo made 6 catches for 124 yards, and two touchdowns, while Shedler Fervius made one catch for 48 yards. Kicker Jose Carlos Maltos made three field goals with a long of 25 yards. Montreal’s defense made 46 tackles, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three tackles on special teams. They were penalized 5 times for 45 yards.
Hamilton had 410 yards on offense (344 yards passing, 95 yards rushing, 29 yards lost). Quarterback Taylor Powell completed 30 of 38 passes (79%) for 319 yards, two touchdowns, and 5 carries for 52 yards. Running back James Butler had 9 carries for 40 yards and 5 catches for 27 yards.
Wide receiver Shemar Bridges made 8 catches for 103 yards, while Steven Dunbar Jr. made 6 catches for 63 yards and one touchdown. Kicker Marc Liegghio made 3 of 4 field goals with a long of 30 yards. Hamilton’s defense made 36 tackles, one sack, and five tackles on special teams. They were penalized 11 times for 85 yards.
Final Thoughts:
Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander is looking like a starting quarterback. He is growing confidence each week and it shows on the field. He made some good decisions on the field and the offense did whatever they wanted out there.
Even though Cody Fajardo is returning soon, the Alouettes have their future quarterback waiting to take over the job. He is earning it and Montreal should sign him to an extension because other teams will go after him for his services.
For Hamilton, Taylor Powell did not do badly tonight completing 79% of his passes. However, I don’t think he is the answer for the Ticats. Hamilton should bring up Taulia Tagovailoa from the practice squad and see what he can do. He showed his arm strength in college and the Ticats do have some weapons on the field for Tagovailoa to throw to. I think he can become the face of the franchise if he is given an opportunity and now is the time to bring him up.
As for Bo Levi Mitchell, despite leading the league in passing yards, he is done in Hamilton. Hamilton has to move on from Mitchell. Is Mitchell done being a starting quarterback? Maybe. Keep your eye on the Toronto situation regarding quarterback Chad Kelly.
If Kelly is reinstated then Mitchell will stay put but if the CFL decides to kick Kelly out of the league. Call me crazy, but I think the Argonauts would be a place for Mitchell to go to. The majority of the team is made up of ex-Stampeders players and coaches and he knows the system.
I think the Argonauts should attempt to make a phone call to Hamilton and trade for Mitchell because they are still in the Grey Cup hunt. Toronto has Nick Arbuckle, Cameron Dukes, and Bryan Scott. Maybe they could trade one of the quarterbacks, other players, or draft picks. Again, it all depends on what happens to Chad Kelly which could determine Mitchell’s fate in the CFL.
Next week, the Montreal Alouettes visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday at 9 pm on TSN and CBS Sports Network, while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats battle the Edmonton Elks 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.
