MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – The foliage surrounding their scenic perch atop Mount Royal may have started turning yellow, but the Alouettes will be seeing all green on Sunday at 1 p.m. when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Percival Molson Stadium (TICKETS | PRINTABLE LINE-UP CARD). The first meeting this season between two teams that became instant rivals after meeting in back to back Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010, the Alouettes (6-4) will be looking to remain perched atop the CFL’s East Division, while the Riders (5-5) will be hoping to extend their three-game win streak to four and distance themselves from the West Division cellar.
“I’m excited to be a part of this game,” admitted hard-hitting safety Kyries Hebert. “I’m well aware of the heated battles and historic moments shared between these two teams. Two back-to-back Grey Cups decided by a combined four points. This match is going to be huge,” added the first-year Alouette who’s made a name for himself recently with his own huge hits on opposing receivers.
Although the Alouettes opened September with a loss after going undefeated in August, if history is any indication of things to come on Sunday, a brand new win-streak may be just around the corner. Since 2008, the Alouettes have gone a perfect 6-0 in regular season games after losing a previous game by 17 points or more.
“That would be great if I can come in and contribute to that streak,” quipped linebacker Marc-Olivier Brouillette, eager to make his return from the fractured radial bone in his forearm he suffered in the Alouettes’ Week 6 win over Winnipeg.
“I’m just excited to get back on the field and to get that first contact out of the way, so that I don’t have to think about it. I’m also hoping that we come out of the gates swinging to set the tone early on,” added the Montreal-native, as four times this season, the Alouettes have driven the ball downfield for the major on their opening possession.
With the second half of the season in full swing, injuries have already begun to take their toll on both sides, as the Alouettes and Roughriders each have a number of players sidelined in the infirmary.
Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant suffered a strained hip flexor early last week and was eventually pulled in the first quarter, while receivers Weston Dressler and Scott McHenry also fell to injury. Backup quarterback Drew Willy, who is in his first CFL season, is expected to fill in for Durant on Sunday, but the Alouettes defence isn’t about to take the rookie QB lightly.
“We know that they have an explosive team and that regardless of who is under centre for them come Sunday, they’ll be bringing their A-game. So we need to be ready for that,” revealed the Eunice, Louisiana native.
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Backup QB Drew Willy is expected to get the start on Sunday for Saskatchewan. |
With a system in place which has the offence learning multiple positions — giving the coaching staff flexibility when plugging holes that open from injury — the Alouettes will have a downright massive one to fill in the absence of hulking right tackle Jeff Perrett.
Out with a knee injury for four to six weeks, the team will welcome an import to their all-Canadian line in rookie Michael Ola, who will be making his first CFL start.
“I’m excited and happy to step in,” said Ola after spending the first half of the season on the team’s practice roster. “I feel ready to go and do my job. Helping this offence stay on point is what I’m focused on.”
Ola recently began honing his skills as a defensive lineman and showed just enough versatility to earn the nod from his coaches.
“He learned a tremendous deal from having switched to the defensive side of the ball,” admitted Trestman. “Michael’s grown from that experience and has had the privilege of seeing how the defensive linemen play off blocks which will benefit him. He’s a very good athlete. If he had to, I think he’d be very serviceable. We have a lot of faith in him and in his ability to play.”
Although Perrett is a huge asset on the line of scrimmage, centre Luc Brodeur-Jourdain doesn’t anticipate the injury to affect the O-line’s cohesion.
“Tackle is an extremely difficult position to play,” explained Brodeur-Jourdain. “There’s a lot of pressure to help hold the protective pocket for the quarterback, but since the beginning of training camp and through each practice, he’s continued to display the skill set required to play the position.”
Notes: Brandon London and defensive back Billy Parker will miss Sunday’s game with injuries … A trio of 2011 Alouettes will be back in Montreal for the first time on Sunday … Non-import kicker Sandro DeAngelis will return to Montreal for the first time since being released by the Alouettes during the 2012 off-season. The Niagara Falls, Ont., native spent the entire 2011 season with the Als, but did not dress for any games … Cornerback Paul Woldu and linebacker Diamond Ferri will also face their former team for the first time. Woldu signed as a free agent with the Riders during the off-season after spending four seasons with Montreal … The Boston College Marching Band will perform during pre-game and halftime … Members of the 2002 Montreal Alouettes Grey Cup championship team will be honoured during pre-game.
