The Alouettes win their sixth championship
By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Calgary, AB – Whatever trials or tribulations Alouettes’ kicker Damon Duval has gone through to this point in his life… right now, it’s all worth it.
After receiving a second lease on life thanks to a very costly Roughrider penalty for having too many men on the field, Duval became an instant Montreal sports legend as he nailed a 33-yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock to seal the Als’ sixth championship with a 28-27 win.
In a matchup that will be talked about for years to come, Als fans will agree that while the historic comeback was made complete by Duval’s foot, it all began with quarterback Anthony Calvillo’s mind, passion and of course, his right hand.
After becoming the CFL’s all-time Grey Cup touchdowns leader with two TD passes, Calvillo put together a last-minute, pressure-filled drive that was capped off with Duval’s kick that won the day for the Alouettes.
A moral and statement victory as much as it is a literal victory for the Alouettes, whatever career choice the 37-year old future hall-of-famer makes this off-season, rest assured that he’ll do it with plenty of peace of mind.
Now with two Grey Cup rings each, Calvillo and teammates Ben Cahoon, Bryan Chiu and Anwar Stewart will forever be remembered by fans in the same capacity as the Sam Etcheverrys, Peter Dalla Rivas, and Junior Ah Yous that have made the franchise great.
And let’s not forget putting coach Marc Trestman on the same pedestal as legendary bench boss Marv Levy. It was, after all, Trestman’s influence and coaching that kept the Alouettes level-headed and ready to play all season.
The tale of the tape
With five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown, Cahoon was recognized by the CFL as the game’s Most Outstanding Canadian, while running back Avon Cobourne was named the Grey Cup MVP.
Thanks to his 85 rushing yards and touchdown, in addition to 64 receiving yards, Cobourne reminded the CFL why he is widely considered as the league’s premier tailback. Simply put, he was the difference maker he always promises to be.
As was slotback Jamel Richardson, who like during last season’s Grey Cup showed up when it mattered most. Registering eight catches for 113 yards and a touchdown, Richardson’s most noteworthy play may have arrived late into the fourth quarter as the second-year Alouette came up with a clutch grab to keep the Als’ hopes for a sixth championship alive.
On defence, the Als received major contributions from Jerald Brown and Billy Parker, who both came up with timely interceptions to give Montreal’s offence the ball as well as some momentum.
Parade
Next up for the Als, the team will arrive back in Montreal with the Grey Cup this Monday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. Then the championship celebrations will be on in full force this Wednesday, Dec. 2 as the team parades the cup down Ste-Catherine Street from Crescent to la Place des Festivals starting at 11:40 a.m.
