MontrealAlouettes.com
EDMONTON – The Alouettes returned to the scene of last year’s Grey Cup triumph tonight, and after 30 minutes of football, they lead the Eskimos 18-11.
Despite featuring two of the league’s most electrifying receivers, Montreal’s Jamel Richardson (1st) and Edmonton’s Fred Stamps (6th), it was the defence that shone in the first quarter, as the two teams combined for an anaemic 5 points.
Former Alouette Damon Duval opened the scoring for the home side with a 58-yard punt single on the game’s opening drive.
The Alouettes replied soon thereafter with a Sean Whyte single on the game’s next possession, knotting the game at one apiece.
Marc Trestman’s men then took the lead on a safety after pinning the Eskimos at their own one-yard line, linebacker Ramon Guzman sacking quarterback Ricky Ray in the end zone.
If the Alouettes defence stole the show in the first however, it was their offence that owned the second.
Quarterback Anthony Calvillo connected with running back Brandon Whitaker on back-to-back 23-yard touchdown strikes to open the second frame, putting the visitors ahead 18-1.
The veteran QB has bounced back nicely from last week’s ordinary performance, going 15 for 19 and passing for 199 yards and two touchdowns so far tonight.
The Eskimos rounded out the half’s scoring with a 41-yard Derek Schiavone field goal, followed by a 72-yard Jason Armstead punt return touchdown.
AC closing in on Brett Favre
Heading into tonight’s contest, Calvillo needed just 320 passing yards to surpass recently retired quarterback Brett Favre, who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, and move into second place for all-time professional football passing yards. Calvillo could surpass Favre in the second half, now only 121 yards away from accomplishing the feat.
AC is expected to surpass former Argonauts QB Damon Allen for first all-time later this season.
More details to follow…
