The Montreal Alouettes are looking to pick up some pace ahead of the Canadian Football League playoffs. For their final game of the season, they will face a tough opponent in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Bombers (10-7) will be playing big on Saturday at Percival-Molson Stadium, since a victory (or a tie) would give them first place in the West and a bye in the first round, like the Alouettes (12-4-1), who will not play again until the Eastern final, on November 9, after this final duel.
“I’m never shy about saying when it’s a big game and I’m sure this is a huge one for them,” Alouettes head coach Jason Maas said after Thursday’s practice. “I’m sure [Bombers head coach Mike] O’Shea would tell you the same thing.
“Is it more important for them than for us? If you look at the standings, absolutely. We know that and we’re not going to change the way we play. The effort, the intensity and the robustness with which we play, we’re going to bring it to this game.”
Especially since the Alouettes, 2-3-1 since the start of September, will want to end the season on a good note.
“You don’t want to end up losing or playing poorly,” Maas said. “We had great practices at the end of the season. We know we didn’t play perfect football, but our practices were very good. We want to learn every day. This test against Winnipeg will also help us improve. We want to win and play really good football, work hard next week and be ready for Nov. 9.”
“I think it’s very important. You saw the last game. I don’t think it represents who we are,” said receiver Austin Mack, who will be reinstated after being a scratch in Vancouver last Saturday. “We have to have a good game and remind the league that we’re the best team in 2024. The defense has to be up there and on offense, we have to be explosive.”
While the bye week in the first round of the playoffs can be beneficial, it can also play tricks. That’s why safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy is giving so much importance to the performance his team will deliver on Saturday.
“It’s always important. Every game is important. But one thing is for sure, it takes our rhythm. A win, especially with a week off afterwards, propels you forward. It’s also a standard of play that we want to establish.”
“As much as they need this game, we need it. Not in terms of the standings, but in terms of execution. We want our three phases of play to be up to par at this stage.”
In addition to Mack, running back Walter Fletcher will return to his position. Defensive end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund and kick returner James Letcher Jr. will take “precautionary leave” this week. They will be replaced by Tyhon Lindsey and Brock Gowenlock, respectively.
Offensive lineman Jamar McGloster, who was injured during Thursday’s practice, is listed in the club’s starting lineup, but he is a question mark and a decision on his participation will be made a few minutes before the game.
3000 yards
Fajardo could reach the 3,000-yard passing mark for the fourth time in his career during this matchup. The Alouettes’ No. 7 needs just 66 yards to reach that mark. The quarterback leads the Ambrosie league this season with a 73.3% completion rate, which is an Alouettes record and the sixth-best success rate in CFL history.
Other players are within striking distance of a good plateau in this game. That’s the case for linebacker Tyrice Beverette, who is just two tackles shy of reaching 100 in 2024. He leads the CFL with 132 defensive plays. As for running back Walter Fletcher, if he gets 53 receiving yards, he would become the first player in seven years in the league to amass 700 yards rushing and passing in the same season, a feat that has only been accomplished 19 times in CFL history, and never by a Birds player.
On the Bombers side, a few players also have personal goals within reach. Rookie receiver Ontaria Wilson is 57 yards away from 1,000 receiving yards, while Nic Demski could reach that milestone for a second straight year with 60 passing yards. With two touchdown passes, quarterback Zach Collaros would become the 13th CFL quarterback to reach the 200-yard mark in his career. On defense, defensive end Willie Jefferson needs a sack to bring his total to 75. He would become the 19th player in history to achieve the feat.
Finally, referee Rob Hill will officiate his 300th game in the Ambrosie circuit.
Match in pink
In conjunction with the Breast Cancer Foundation, the Alouettes will compete this Saturday in the second edition of the “Match en rose” to support the fight against the disease.
Players will wear a pink ribbon sticker, symbolizing the fight against breast cancer, on their helmets for this game and a portion of the proceeds from some $20 and $60 tickets will be donated to the foundation.
After a pre-match performance by DJ Abeille, the national anthem and half-time show will be performed by Lulu Hughes, herself in remission from breast cancer.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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