Alouettes clinch playoff date with 24-12 win over Redblacks Achi-News

OTTAWA – The Montreal Alouettes want to give themselves every advantage going down the stretch and Saturday’s 24-12 win over the Ottawa Redblacks was a big step forward.

With the win, the Alouettes (11-2-1) remain unbeaten on the road (6-0-1) and clinched a playoff game at home. They were also the first team to beat Ottawa (8-5-1) at TD Place, snapping their unbeaten home streak (6-1-1).

“A win is a win, but sometimes when you say it’s a big game all week, I mean, they feel a little different,” Alouettes head coach Jason Maas said. “As the season goes on there are things these games mean to us and, obviously, this one meant a lot to where we are in the standings.”

Maas highlighted the importance of being seven points ahead of second place Ottawa and wanting the opportunity to play in front of their home fans in the post season.

“We love being able to do that, so it’s an admirable goal.”

Ottawa was looking to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2018 but now faces its first two-game losing streak this season. Things could get even more difficult.

Already playing without several key starters, the Redblacks also lost starting quarterback Dru Brown, who aggravated an ankle injury late in the second quarter. They also lost wide receiver Eli Stove (knee), OL Drake Centers (shoulder), DB Ty Cranston (stinger in arm), Brandin Dandridge (knee) and Alonzo Addae (knee).

Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce did not use injuries as an excuse to admit that his team made too many mistakes and took too many penalties – 11 for 137 yards.

“They certainly took advantage of our mistakes and didn’t make big enough ones at their end to cost them the game,” said Dyce. “So, I’m not going to take any credit from Montreal. They are a very good team, a very well trained team, but on the other side of that, if we play clean football, we talk about playing, I believe the outcome would have been different.”

Brown was 8-for-16 for 69 yards with two interceptions before Jeremiah Masoli finished the game going 17-for-26 while passing for 218 yards and one touchdown.

Ottawa’s Lewis Ward kicked field goals of 18 and 46 yards.

Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 16 of 27 pass attempts for 226 yards and scored a rushing touchdown.

“This felt like a playoff game,” Fajardo said. “Our defense played amazing, our special teams played great and our offense did enough to win the football game. We have to clean some things up and I think we are on our way.”

Fajardo added that at a similar time last year the team started to heat up and drive it into the playoffs and it is time for a repeat performance.

Alouettes kicker Jose Maltos made field goals of 17, 13 and 30 yards. Maltos’ 30-yarder midway through the fourth quarter extended Montreal’s lead to a dozen points.

Ottawa finally found the red zone when Masoli connected with Justin Hardy on a 25-yard touchdown pass, but missed the two-point conversion to start the second half. It was Hardy’s fourth TD of the season for a career high.

“It’s frustrating,” Masoli admitted. “We put in a hard week of work and then come out and not play to our standard. It’s definitely frustrating because you see the guys put in the effort and the desire every day. We didn’t really show up for four quarters today. You know, we dug ourselves a hole early on. “

The Redblacks trailed 20-6 at halftime.

Brown’s two early interceptions set the tone, with Montreal’s Dionte Ruffin returning one for a 79-yard touchdown. Brown was picked off again on his next drive.

Ottawa finally got down the field, but settled for an 18-yard field goal to trail 7-3 after the first quarter.

Montreal then scored a punt single and Fajardo followed it up with a one-yard run for a score, followed by a 17-yard field goal by Maltos.

Ward kicked a 46-yard field goal for Ottawa and Maltos countered from 13 yards in the second quarter.

UP NEXT

Redblacks: Visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-7-1) next Saturday.

Alouettes: Visit the Toronto Argonauts (7-7) next Saturday.

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 21, 2024.