By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Call it what you will – poetic justice or sweet revenge, but what the Alouettes’ 40-27 win over the defending champion Calgary Stampeders was, was really the start of something big.
After being attacked by the unpredictable Calgary offence led by Henry Burris at Olympic Stadium the past November, the Als flew into McMahon Stadium on July 1 – Canada’s 142nd birthday – and took their first step towards their sixth Grey Cup in fine fashion.
Quarterback Anthony Calvillo picked up where he left off in 2008 as the soon-to-be 37-year-old hooked up with receiver Kerry Watkins for a 37-yard highlight-reel catch to give the Als a 7-0 lead just 2:21 into the season.
Calvillo finished the night with 255 yards and a touchdown, completing 75 per cent of his passes. Following Calvillo’s first TD pass of the year, running back Avon Cobourne capped off an impressive first-quarter drive with his first rushing touchdown of the campaign, a 10-yard carry to put the Als up by 14.
Perhaps the most impressive Alouette on the warm July night, however, was kicker Damon Duval, as the five-year veteran contributed 20 of his team’s 33 points – 18 of which were three-pointers.
In the waning minutes of the fourth quarter, linebacker Chip Cox returned a Burris fumble 80 yards to finally restore a double-digit lead for the Als and lock in the win for Montreal. With the win, the Als are now 12-2-0 in season openers since re-joining the CFL in 1996.
