Saskatchewan Roughriders visit Montreal Alouettes in clash of CFL heavyweights

Winnipeg Free Press

5 days ago

MONTREAL – The top two teams in the CFL standings don't have a lot in common — except for the fact they just keep finding ways to win.
The 6-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders will visit the 5-2 Montreal Alouettes on Saturday in a clash between two teams riding win streaks and finding success in very different ways.
As such, it should come as no surprise that there was plenty of high praise to go around from either side leading up to the matchup.
'They're physical up front, for sure,' said Alouettes head coach Jason Maas. 'I think they tackle extremely well in the secondary as well. I think they are a physical group, and they play with a lot of confidence. They fly around. You've got to really protect the ball against them, but I think it starts up front for them.'
'They're well-coached, obviously,' countered Roughriders head coach Corey Mace. 'They try to take away things that teams are really good at. They're fast as ever, they're relentless to the football.
'They do a good job causing turnovers and causing confusion. They've got enough guys in the back end that can cover a lot of ground as well. They do a good job.'
Both teams come in on two-game winning streaks. Montreal pulled off comeback wins over Toronto and Calgary, despite holding the lead for just 6:38 across both games combined.
Saskatchewan, meanwhile, bounced back from its only loss of the season — a 33-31 setback against Calgary on July 12 — with narrow wins over B.C. and Edmonton. Five of the Riders' six victories have come by seven points or fewer.
Saskatchewan will be without standout receiver Samuel Emilus on Saturday. The Montreal native was placed on the six-game injured list after suffering a knee injury late in last week's win over the Elks.
He will be replaced by 26-year-old Canadian slotback Tommy Nield, who is making his first start of the season after missing the first six games with an ankle injury.
Montreal will once again turn to veteran quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson on Saturday in the absence of starting pivot Davis Alexander. The 37-year-old picked up his first win in three starts with Montreal last week, completing 30 of 40 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown in his team's 23-21 win over the Stampeders.
'My confidence gets better with each rep,' said Bethel-Thompson. 'It's just about doing the little things right. With each rep, I feel more comfortable, and hopefully that shows Saturday night.'
Meanwhile, the Alouettes' defence, which has surrendered the fewest yards per game (321.4) and second-fewest points (158) across the league this season, will welcome back a familiar face in defensive end Shawn Lemon on Saturday.
Lemon played parts of the last two seasons with Montreal, helping the team to a Grey Cup championship in 2023.
The 36-year-old was suspended indefinitely in April 2024 for gambling on league games while with Calgary in 2021, including one game in which he played. Lemon also served a two-game suspension after testing positive for the banned stimulant phentermine, an appetite suppressant.
After being reinstated last month, the veteran signed a contract with the Alouettes through the remainder of the 2025 season.
Maas praised Lemon's fitness level, vowing to use him in 'his fair share of plays' throughout Saturday's contest.
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'It's good to have him back,' added Alouettes defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, who played with Lemon in both Calgary and Montreal. 'It's always next man up here, so just to get another veteran presence is awesome. You know what he can do on the field, and it's just going to help us tenfold.'
Montreal will be without wide receivers Austin Mack and Tyson Philpot, who are out with ankle and knee injuries, respectively.
The Alouettes have won their last three games against Saskatchewan and four straight at home against the Roughriders dating back to 2021.
'I wish I knew,' Mace said when asked about the challenge of playing in Montreal. 'They've got a really good atmosphere. Their fanbase comes out. They're a good team no matter where you play — but there, it's always a tough battle.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025.