By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal – Stage two, regroup.
After coming out on the short end of one of the greatest games the CFL has ever seen, the Alouettes (0-1-0) continue along their three-game season-opening road swing and look to notch their first win of the 2010 season in Edmonton (0-1-0) as they take on the ever-dangerous Ricky Ray and the Eskimos.
How they fared…
The CFL season premiere between the Alouettes and Riders was held in such high revere among football fans that the highlights extended beyond the normal boundaries on both RDS and TSN. Thanks to ESPN, football fans south of the border were able to see SJ Green’s spectacular one-handed diving catch in the first overtime and Tim Maypray’s record-setting missed field-goal touchdown return the following morning – surely bringing some more attention to their friends of the north.
At the end of the day the Riders received some measure of revenge, beating the Alouettes 54-51. The monumental back-and-forth Grey Cup re-match certainly featured its fair share of highlight-reel plays, including Saskatchewan receiver Weston Dressler’s consecutive diving catches, the second of which gave the Riders the knockout punch thanks to a one-yard toss from quarterback Darian Durant.
Durant’s heroics overshadowed a strong performance by Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo who finished the game with 28 completions on 42 attempts for 368 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Calvillo spread the ball out nicely, completing five passes each to SJ Green, Ben Cahoon, Jamel Richardson, Brian Bratton and Kerry Watkins.
Watkins had the most prolific outing of the night among Alouette receivers, amassing 106 yards and two touchdowns. Green – along with his highlight-reel catch – also managed to bring in two scores. On the defensive side of the ball, the Alouettes received a solid effort from linebacker Chip Cox, who opened his season in fine fashion, recording a sack and a forced fumble.
Sunday night football in Edmonton saw the Eskimos fall victim to a revamped BC offence, featuring new running back Jamal Robertson and of course, quarterback Casey Printers. Robertson seemed to run all over the Edmonton defence, finishing his outing with 168 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries.
For Edmonton, sophomore running back Arkee Whitlock also had an impressive season debut, eclipsing the century-mark with 116 yards and a touchdown of his own.
Renewing hostilities
Last season saw the Als and Esks teams split the season series, with the Eskimos handing the Alouettes one of their three losses all season in a 33-19 win at Commonwealth Stadium. The first matchup of the 2009 season between the two clubs, however, saw the Alouettes cruise to a 50-16 win in Montreal.
The Alouettes will travel to Edmonton to face the Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium this Sunday, July 11 at 7 p.m. (Eastern) – RDSHD, TSNHD, NRJ, CJAD, CHOM.
