By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal – It was the most satisfying refreshment he has ever been soaked in.
As time expired in last week’s season opening victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman was doused in Gatorade by a group of players to celebrate his first win as the leader of a CFL team.
Trestman, however, will be the first to tell anyone that what happened a week ago means nothing now.
This Friday at Percival Molson Stadium, the Alouettes look for their second win of the season as they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
As the Als’ look to get a mark in the win column against Winnipeg for the first time since 2006, the Bombers are looking for their first victory of the season. Last week saw Argonaut rookie running back Jamal Robertson run all over the Winnipeg defence en route to a 23-16 win at Canada Inns Stadium.
While the Bombers had their hands full with Robertson in Manitoba, the Als were looking like a well-oiled machine a few provinces east in Ontario.
Quarterback Anthony Calvillo looked great as he threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns, passing Danny McManus for second on the CFL’s all-time passing yards list, and Avon Cobourne recorded more net yards, with 162, than he had all last season.
While many say that a victory against the Tiger-Cats, a team which has won a combined seven victories in the past two seasons, should be easy anyway, Trestman believes otherwise.
“We played a very good Hamilton football team,” he said. “When (Hamilton quarterback Casey Printers) gets going, it’s very difficult to stop him.”
Trestman expects his team to treat this week’s matchup just like the last.
“We’re playing against a great team, and they’re a divisional opponent,” he said. “They have a great defence and can move the ball very well on the other side of the field.”
While Calvillo had no trouble finding his receivers against Hamilton, he may find it even easier this week, as veteran slotback Ben Cahoon hopes that his nagging hamstring injury feels good enough to play on.
While Cahoon did practice this week, he remains uncertain when he will be returning to the lineup.
“I don’t know yet. It felt good this week, but I’m still not sure,” he said. “There are guys here who have been working hard since day one of camp, I don’t wanna come in here and take a guy’s spot if I’m not 100 per cent.”
The Alouettes host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this Friday night at 7 p.m. at Montreal’s Percival Molson Stadium (RDS, TSN, CKAC SPORTS, CJAD 800 AM, CHOM 97,7 FM).
