The Montreal Alouettes (11-2-1) visited TD Place Stadium on Saturday afternoon against the Ottawa Redblacks (8-5-1) in their second meeting of the season. Ottawa was looking to avenge their Week 3 loss to Montreal and clinch a playoff spot in front of the home crowd. However, Montreal had other plans.
First Quarter:
Ottawa got the ball to start the game from their 35-yard line. Running back Khalan Laborn started the game with two carries for 17 yards to reach their 52-yard line. Quarterback Dru Brown completed a four-yard pass to Khalan Laborn before the drive stalled. Montreal started their first possession from their 10-yard line with 12:17 left. Montreal went two-and-out and the Redblacks started their next drive from the Alouettes’ 41-yard line.
Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown started the drive by completing a five-yard pass to Justin Hardy. On the next play, Brown went to complete a pass to Andre Miller but Miller tripped on his own two feet and Montreal defensive back Dionte Ruffin was there for the interception taking it back for a pick-six 79-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 9:49 left of the first quarter.
Ottawa running back Khalan Laborn started the next series with a four-yard run plus an objectionable conduct penalty on Montreal placed the ball on their 52-yard line. Next, quarterback Dru Brown threw two passes for 23 yards.
After running back Khalan Laborn rushed for a one-yard gain, quarterback Dru Brown attempted to complete a pass to Dominique Rhymes but it was intercepted by Geoffrey Cantin-Arku for an 8-yard return to reach their 25-yard line with 7:12 left of the first quarter. Montreal’s offense gained nine yards and punted the ball back to Ottawa to their 51-yard line.
Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown and running Khalan Laborn led the offense to an eight-play drive for 48 yards before kicker Lewis Ward made an 18-yard field goal and the Redblacks trailed the Alouettes 7-3 with 1:36 left of the first quarter.
Montreal running back Sean Thomas-Erlington and quarterback Cody Fajardo combined with two carries logging 12 yards to reach their 52-yard line. On first down, Ottawa defensive lineman Michael Wakefield sacked Cody Fajardo for a nine-yard loss. On the last play of the first quarter, Fajardo threw a 10-yard pass to Sean Thomas-Erlington short of the first down. Montreal led Ottawa 7-3.
Montreal had 20 yards on offense (17 yards passing, 12 yards rushing, 9 yards lost), one first downs, no red zone opportunities, and the team did not get any penalties. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 2 of 3 passes for 17 yards, and two carries for 11 yards.
Ottawa had 102 yards on offense (63 yards passing, 39 yards rushing), five first downs, 0 for 1 in the red zone, and the team had no penalties. Quarterback Dru Brown completed 7 of 12 passes for 63 yards and two interceptions.
Second Quarter:
Montreal punter Joseph Zema started the second quarter with a 58-yard punt that went into the end zone and out of bounds for a single point. It was now 8-3 Montreal with 14:20 left.
For the next three series, both teams went two-and-out. Montreal had the ball on their 26-yard line with 10:44 left. During the drive, Ottawa’s defense gave up 27 yards on penalties. Quarterback Cody Fajardo led the offense down to the Redblacks’ one-yard line. On the next play, Fajardo scored a one-yard touchdown. Kicker Jose Carlos Maltos missed the extra point and the Alouettes led 14-3 with 7:22 left of the second quarter capping off a seven-play drive for 84 yards in over three minutes.
Montreal’s defense forced another two-and-out and the offense started on their 48-yard line. Quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a 53-yard pass to Charleston Rambo to reach the Redblacks’ 9-yard line. The drive stalled and kicker Jose Carlos Maltos made a 17-yard field goal for a 17-3 lead with 4:07 left before halftime.
On Ottawa’s next drive, Jeremiah Masoli was the new quarterback as Dru Brown was in the locker room getting his ankle checked out. Ottawa’s offense moved the ball well but two penalties for 15 yards hurt their drive. Kicker Lewis Ward made a 44-yard field goal and the Redblacks trailed the Alouettes 17-6 with 2:11 left before halftime.
Both Montreal and Ottawa went two-and-out on their next drives. Montreal had the ball on the Redblacks’ 54-yard line with 44 seconds left. Quarterback Cody Fajardo threw three passes for 51 yards to reach the Redblacks’ three-yard line. With six seconds left, Fajardo tried a quarterback draw play but he was sacked by Tyron Vrede. Kicker Jose Carlos Maltos came in and made a 13-yard field goal and the Alouettes led the Redblacks 20-6 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Montreal had 172 yards on offense (152 yards passing, 36 yards rushing, 16 yards lost), 10 first downs, 1 for 3 in the red zone, and the team was penalized three times for 31 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 8 of 13 passes (61.5%) for 152 yards, four carries for 20 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Walter Fletcher had four carries for 13 yards.
Wide receiver Charleston Rambo made three catches for 75 yards, and Tyler Snead made two catches for 31 yards. Montreal’s defense made two interceptions.
Ottawa had 180 yards on offense (125 yards passing, 55 yards rushing), 8 first downs, 0 for 1 in the red zone, and the team was penalized eight times for 107 yards.
Quarterback Dru Brown completed 8 of 16 passes (50%) for 69 yards, and two interceptions, while Jeremiah Masoli completed 5 of 6 passes (83%) for 56 yards. Running back Khalan Laborn had nine carries for 47 yards and two catches for 11 yards.
Wider receiver Justin Hardy made four catches for 52 yards, and Jaelon Acklin made three catches for 27 yards. Ottawa’s defense made three sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble.
Third Quarter:
Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown was ruled out of the game with an ankle injury before the third quarter started. Montreal got the ball to start the third quarter on their 39-yard line. Montreal gained six yards before their drive stalled, and Ottawa gained 12 yards before their drive stalled.
Montreal’s offense started their next drive on their 43-yard line. They gained 20 yards to reach the Redblacks’ 47-yard line before the drive stalled. Montreal punter Joseph Zema punted the ball 38 yards into the end zone where Ottawa returner Eli Stove conceded the single point. It was now 21-6 Montreal with 8:51 left.
Ottawa running back Khalan Laborn started the next series with a 12-yard run to their 52-yard line. Next, quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed two passes for 33 yards to reach the Alouettes’ 25-yard line. On the next play, Masoli threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Justin Hardy. They attempted a two-point conversion but missed it. The Redblacks trailed the Alouettes 21-12 with 6:27 left of the third quarterback capping off a four-play drive for 70 yards in two minutes.
After Montreal’s defense went two-and-out, Ottawa’s offense was back on the field from their 41-yard line. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli threw three passes for four yards and was also sacked by Mustafa Johnson forcing the Redblacks to punt the ball.
Montreal had the ball for the final 2:34 of the third quarter. On the last play, Montreal running back Jeshrun Antwi ran for five yards to reach the Redblacks’ 51-yard line. The Alouettes led the Redblacks 21-12.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Montreal punter Joseph Zema punted the ball 37 yards that went out of bounds. On Ottawa’s next drive, quarterback Jeremiah Masoli threw a 31-yard pass to Justin Hardy but they went backward when Masoli was sacked by Tyson Beverette and Khalan Laborn lost a yard on a running play.
Montreal had the ball on the Redblacks’ 28-yard line. Running back Walter Fletcher had one carry for 8 yards, and Cody Fajardo had a carry for 7 yards but a holding penalty backed them up 10 yards to the Redblacks’ 23-yard line. Kicker Jose Carlos Maltos made a 30-yard field goal for a 24-12 lead with 9:17 left of the game.
Ottawa quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed two passes for 40 yards to reach the Alouettes’ 30-yard line. Running back Khalan Laborn rushed for a gain of five yards to reach the Alouettes’ 25-yard line facing third down. On third down, Masoli’s pass went off the hands of Laborn and Montreal took over on downs.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 4 of 5 passes for 40 yards before the drive stalled. Ottawa took over on their 22-yard line but they went two-and-out. For the rest of the game, both teams would pick up yards before their drives stalled. Montreal gained five yards and Ottawa gained 16 yards. Montreal took two kneel downs with 39 seconds left and they defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 24-12.
Final Stats:
Montreal had 285 yards on offense (226 yards passing, 79 yards rushing, 20 yards lost), 15 first downs, 1 for 3 in the red zone, and the team was penalized six times for 55 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 16 of 27 passes (59.3%) for 226 yards, seven carries for 29 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Walter Fletcher had eight carries for 36 yards and three catches for 39 yards.
Wide receiver Charleston Rambo made four catches for 77 yards, and Tyler Snead made three catches for 40 yards. Kicker Jose Carlos Maltos made 3 of 3 field goals with a long of 30 yards. Montreal’s defense made 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, and 11 tackles on special teams.
Ottawa had 360 yards on offense (287 yards passing, 86 yards rushing, 13 yards lost), 18 first downs, 0 for 1 in the red zone, and the team was penalized 11 times for 137 yards. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 17 of 26 passes (65.4%) for 218 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for seven yards. Running back Khalan Laborn had 13 carries for 71 yards and two catches for 11 yards.
Wide receiver Justin Hardy made 9 catches for 117 yards, and one touchdown, while Dominique Rhymes made four catches for 59 yards. Kicker Lewis Ward made 2 of 2 field goals with a long of 44 yards. Ottawa’s defense made 38 tackles, one tackle for loss, three sacks, one fumble recovery, and nine tackles on special teams.
Next week, the Ottawa Redblacks visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday at 3 pm on CTV and CFL+, and the Montreal Alouettes visit the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday at 7 pm on TSN and CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
