By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
At some point throughout their month-long training camp, Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman stopped and smiled upon the realization of just how talented and deep his football club was.
So deep and talented was it, that while household names like Anthony Calvillo, Ben Cahoon, Anwar Stewart, Bryan Chiu and Kerry Watkins remained in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the remaining hopefuls for the 2009 team still put on a show in Toronto.
Montreal took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, eventually putting up a 37-24 win over the Argonauts at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. Running back Chris Jennings was strong, totalling 122 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Special teams were also on point for the Als with John Morhing and Dorrell Jalloh each blocking a punt in the win, and Damon Duval was two-for-two on field goals. On offence, Frantz Hardy was the team leader with eight receptions for 67 yards and a score. Game one was a success and the mood inside the walls of Campus du Fort St-Jean was reflective of the team’s performance in Toronto.
After a week of up-beat, high-octane practicing the Als returned to the playing field, this time equipped with their full arsenal as they were set to take on the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Percival Molson Stadium.
While it was Duval who first put the Als on the board with a 43-yard field goal at 4:15 of the first quarter, it was linebacker Diamond Ferri who really got things started for the home team. The third-year CFL vet leapt up for the Als’ second interception of the pre-season and returned it 80 yards for the score to give his team a 10-0 lead just under halfway into the second quarter.
With the win, the Als capped of their pre-season without a loss for the first time since 2006.
The focus was now all on Trestman and his staff as the entire province was fixated on their upcoming Grey Cup rematch with the Calgary Stampeders the following week in Alberta.
