MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – In what many are tabbing a Grey Cup preview, the Montreal Alouettes (5-3) will battle the B.C. Lions (6-2) on Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium.
The two top teams in the CFL will see one of their winning streaks end, as the Als come in on a three-game roll and the Lions arrive in Montreal on a four-game hot stretch.
“It’s an exciting opportunity having to play B.C. twice in as many weeks,” explained head coach Marc Trestman of the back-to-back games the teams will play tonight and next Saturday. “Playing arguably the best team in the league will allows us to evaluate our progression since the beginning of the season. We are a very good football team based on the past three weeks, and I think that this is a great matchup for both teams.”
The Als and Lions know there won’t be anything easy about Friday night’s game which features teams with a combined 11-5 record. One constant for Montreal since the early stages of training camp continues to be playing football for a full 60 minutes. Centre Luc Brodeur-Jourdain believes that’s the formula for success moving forward.
“We need all three phases to play a full four quarters and I expect to see that from our team against the Lions,” admitted the Saint Hyacinthe native. “I believe that we’re capable of playing an entire game and not letting up like we have done a few times already this season will be key.”
The game pits strength against strength as the Als and their top- ranked offence which averages an impressive 398.1.yards per game will collide with B.C.’s league-leading defence.
“We’re confident that our offence will be up to the task,” admitted defensive back Jerald Brown, who is tied with Rod Davis for first on the team in interceptions with two. “It’s never about our opponents, it’s about us. We focus on us as a team and on our responsibilities. When we do that and don’t worry about the other team, that’s when we play our best.”
A repeat performance from the past three weeks by Montreal would put the defence in a position to force Lions’ quarterback Travis Lulay into mistakes, a task that Brown and company are looking forward to.
“They have good players on defence. We know that. But our defence will also be out to prove something,” continued Brown. “We’re both playing well right now and we’ll see which team plays the best tonight.”
Anthony Calvillo and his high-octane offence remains the toast of the CFL, as the 40-year-old quarterback continues to impress coaches and players alike on his way to being named the CFL Offensive Player of the Month earlier this week.
“I would say that AC is playing as good as he’s played in the past five seasons,” explained Trestman. “I think that he’s using the field more when throwing the football, connecting on the deep ball – something that he hasn’t done as much in the past. He also continues to make quick decisions, and has shown to be able to run when needed.”
The 19-year veteran could also shatter the CFL single-season record for consecutive 300-yard passing games this week. With Calvillo’s string in that department now at a career-best seven games to tie co-record holder Doug Flutie, he will have the chance to break the record tonight.
Also on the record-watch is reigning Offensive Player of the Week S.J. Green, who tonight could become the first CFL player to notch a third consecutive game with ten or more catches.
