Montreal will try to get to 14 wins
Roster: Interactive/Text/PDF
Media notes
By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal – Winners of three of there last four, the Blue Bombers (6-9-0) will look to provide the visiting Alouettes (13-2-0) with all they can handle when the two East Division clubs meet this Saturday afternoon at Winnipeg’s Canad Inns Stadium.
Led by quarterback Michael Bishop and running back Fred Reid, the Bombers have mounted quite the resurgence since starting the season out with just three wins in their first 11 games. Needless to say, expect the unexpected when the two teams clash this weekend.
In two meetings this season, the Als have outscored the Bombers 72-26 and have been exceptionally stingy on the defensive side of the ball, having allowed just 432 total yards with five interceptions.
But as remarkable as the defence has been this season – allowing a league-low 253 points so far – some may feel that defensive coordinator Tim Burke’s crew has finally landed on the same planet as the rest of the league.
Last week, the Als’ defence faced its biggest challenge yet and allowed Kevin Glenn to pass for 506 yards in a 41-38 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Those 38 points were the most an opponent has scored against the Alouettes since they allowed 44 points to Ticats in Hamilton in October of 2008.
Not quite the same old tune
Offensively, the song remained the same for the Alouettes as they scored over 40 points for the sixth time this season en route to their league-best 13th win, but there was a little twist as quarterback Anthony Calvillo left the game in the third quarter to nurse a minor injury.
Backup Adrian McPherson relieved Calvillo, who had tossed for 232 yards and a pair of majors, and looked just fine in the process, completing 10 of 11 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns of his own.
Kerry Watkins, Ben Cahoon, Jamel Richardson and Michael Giffin all caught touchdowns for the Alouettes, with Watkins racking up 102 yards, allowing him to eclipse the 1,000 yards mark for the fifth consecutive season.
In Winnipeg, the Bombers dropped a 24-21 decision to the BC Lions, with Bishop throwing three interceptions and running back Fred Reid garnering 72 yards, but failing to reach the end zone.
The matchup is the first stage of a home-and-home series between these teams, with Game 2 coming next week in Montreal.
The Als travel to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m., Eastern (RDS HD, TSN HD, CKAC SPORTS, CJAD 800 AM).
