The first Noel

MontrealAlouettes.com

MONTREAL – Hype can be a dangerous thing, unless your name is Noel Devine. The highly-touted return man came as advertised providing a few flashes of what he hopes to bring to the Alouettes this season.

Amid the buzz of his explosive speed, the former standout at West Virginia displayed his wheels in the early going reeling off an impressive 27-yard gain in the second quarter, his longest of the night. While Devine’s first audition may have only lasted one half of Thursday’s 22-10 loss to the Blue Bombers, he still racked up some impressive numbers. He ended his night’s work with 5 rushes for 32 yards and added another 64 yards on two punt and one kickoff return for average of just over 21 yards.

Not to be outdone, newcomers Trent Guy and Victor Anderson also provided offensive sparks under the clear blue skies in downtown Montreal with a few electrifying plays of their own. Anderson led the team in rushing yards with 39 on just four carries maintaining an impressive 9.8 yards per carry. Guy’s efforts were shown on special teams and in the receiving game combining for 64 yards.

After seeing Adrian McPherson get the start, Josh Neiswander stepped in, completing 12 of his 24 pass attempts for 121 yards and one TD toss to Travon Patterson. The recent release of veteran pivot Ricky Santos was a show of confidence in the 25-year-old Neiswander who rewarded head coach Marc Trestman with a solid performance. Neiswander moved the ball well connecting with receiver Felton Huggins and Bo Bowling to put the Als in scoring position on his opening drive. Travon Patterson capped off the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass from the third-string QB.

Much of Winnipeg’s points on the night came off the foot of their kickers. The Blue Bombers opened the scoring in the first quarter after kicker Justin Parlardy connected on a 23-yard field goal. Eric Wilburg of the Bombers added the team’s second field goal in the second quarter from 47 yards out to give Winnipeg a 6-0 lead. Parlardy added three more late in the second quarter on a 40-yard field goal.

The Bombers were perfect in the field goal department connecting on all five. Winnipeg’s ground game erupted in the third quarter as running back Bloi-Dei Dorzon busted a 38-yard touchdown run. Kicker Sean Whyte tried to keep the game within reach for Montreal with a 27-yard field goal of his own.

The Alouettes’ defensive unit set the tone early by applying pressure on Winnipeg’s quarterbacks, Alex Brink and Joey Elliot. Defensive Tackle J.P. Bekasiak and linebackers Rod Davis and Kenny Ingram each picked up sacks while Marques Murrell caused a forced fumble.

Other notables for the Alouettes included Rookie QB Kyle Graves who is about as determined as one can get to crack the Als roster. The young pivot who signed with the team in May handled some of the punting duties with Sean Whyte in the third quarter. Graves who was both the QB and punter with Acadia in the CIS rankings, averaged 32.8 yards on his five punts on the evening.

The Alouettes will travel to Toronto to take on the Argonauts on Tuesday, June 19 in their second and final game of the preseason. The Als will then do it for real on July 1 in Calgary when they kick off the regular season against the Stampeders.

NOTES: After giving everyone in attendance a good scare by remaining motionless on the field after falling awkwardly on his head and neck, WR Brandon London left the field under his own power and was later announced to have only suffered a concussion … The Alouettes organization honoured members of the 1981 Montreal Expos at half-time. Players on that team who won the Expos’ first and only NL East Division title in 1981 and are scheduled to be in attendance include: Warren Cromartie, Tim Raines, Wallace Johnson, Larry Parish, Bryn Smith, Stan Bahnsen, Bill Gullickson, Rodney Scott, Rowland Office, Bill Lee and Hall-of-Famer Andre Dawson. The loudest ovation was nonetheless reserved for the late Gary Garter, who was posthumously honoured with the crowd erupting once his trademark smile was flashed on the video board at Percival Molson Stadium … Fans of the Expos weren’t limited to the stands as proud Expos cap owners CB Dwight Anderson and RB Brandon Whitaker made it a point to get their ‘Spos lids autographed by the Expos heroes in attendance … While QB Anthony Calvillo may not have been on the field on Thursday night, but his daughters were. Athena and Olivia were on the turf at Percival Molson Stadium as part of the Alouettes Mini Cheerleaders half-time show which saw young girls aged 5-to-17 who attended the Mini Cheerleaders camp this year.