Latest news with #Bethel-Thompson
Ottawa Citizen
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Alouettes aren't the same team without injured QB Davis Alexander
The Alouettes better hope Davis Alexander, their 26-year-old starting quarterback, is a quick healer. They're simply not the same team without him. Article content And unless Alexander recovers quickly from the hamstring injury he suffered June 19 at Edmonton, this team is in serious trouble. Article content Through one game, at least, McLeod Bethel-Thompson isn't the answer, despite everything he has accomplished in his career. As good and as accurate as the 36-year-old was in practice during the week, he was unable to duplicate any of that against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' swarming defence on Friday night. Article content Article content The Alouettes suffered their first loss of the season and were badly outplayed in this ugly 35-17 setback before 20,911 Hamilton Stadium spectators. Article content Article content Perhaps it was the effects of three successive road games catching up to Montreal? But, more than likely, it was the absence of Alexander that derailed a team that started the season with a 3-0 record. The Ticats, coming off a bye in the schedule, won for the first time in three games — and exposed the visitors in the process. Article content The Als, who entered this contest having scored a CFL-leading 105 points, failed to penetrate Hamilton's end zone for more than 55 minutes until completing an eight-play, 64-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker. Article content Until that point, Montreal's scoring consisted of three Jose Maltos field goals and a Joseph Zema punt single. Bethel-Thompson and the Alouettes couldn't score a touchdown despite scrimmaging from the Hamilton 4 in the third quarter. Article content Article content There was no chemistry between Bethel-Thompson and his receivers. Tyson Philpot, who should have been counted on heavily because of the absence of injured Austin Mack, didn't make his first catch until just before halftime. Indeed, that was the first time Bethel-Thompson attempted a pass to him. Article content Spieker was Montreal's leading receiver, with six receptions for 57 yards. Tyler Snead also had six catches, producing 55 yards. Charleston Rambo, arguably the Als' most-dangerous deep threat, had five receptions for 49 yards, while Philpot had four catches for 41 yards. Article content Montreal's longest passing play was 17 yards — a feat accomplished three times, by Spieker, Snead and Philpot. Article content When the Alouettes decided Alexander was their quarterback of the future, they traded Cody Fajardo to Edmonton last winter for Bethel-Thompson, a two-time Grey Cup champion who has passed for more than 17,000 yards and 94 touchdowns in his career.
Montreal Gazette
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Alouettes aren't the same team without injured QB Davis Alexander
The Alouettes better hope Davis Alexander, their 26-year-old starting quarterback, is a quick healer. They're simply not the same team without him. And unless Alexander recovers quickly from the hamstring injury he suffered June 19 at Edmonton, this team is in serious trouble. Through one game, at least, McLeod Bethel-Thompson isn't the answer, despite everything he has accomplished in his career. As good and as accurate as the 36-year-old was in practice during the week, he was unable to duplicate any of that against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' swarming defence on Friday night. The Alouettes suffered their first loss of the season and were badly outplayed in this ugly 35-17 setback before 20,911 Hamilton Stadium spectators. Perhaps it was the effects of three successive road games catching up to Montreal? But, more than likely, it was the absence of Alexander that derailed a team that started the season with a 3-0 record. The Ticats, coming off a bye in the schedule, won for the first time in three games — and exposed the visitors in the process. The Als, who entered this contest having scored a CFL-leading 105 points, failed to penetrate Hamilton's end zone for more than 55 minutes until completing an eight-play, 64-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker. Until that point, Montreal's scoring consisted of three Jose Maltos field goals and a Joseph Zema punt single. Bethel-Thompson and the Alouettes couldn't score a touchdown despite scrimmaging from the Hamilton 4 in the third quarter. There was no chemistry between Bethel-Thompson and his receivers. Tyson Philpot, who should have been counted on heavily because of the absence of injured Austin Mack, didn't make his first catch until just before halftime. Indeed, that was the first time Bethel-Thompson attempted a pass to him. Spieker was Montreal's leading receiver, with six receptions for 57 yards. Tyler Snead also had six catches, producing 55 yards. Charleston Rambo, arguably the Als' most-dangerous deep threat, had five receptions for 49 yards, while Philpot had four catches for 41 yards. Montreal's longest passing play was 17 yards — a feat accomplished three times, by Spieker, Snead and Philpot. When the Alouettes decided Alexander was their quarterback of the future, they traded Cody Fajardo to Edmonton last winter for Bethel-Thompson, a two-time Grey Cup champion who has passed for more than 17,000 yards and 94 touchdowns in his career. Bethel-Thompson, making his first start for Montreal, completed 24 of 41 passes for 203 yards, but also proved to be his own worst enemy and was intercepted twice. Granted, he could be excused for one of the turnovers. A third quarter attempt deflected off rookie tailback Travis Theis and into the hands of rookie Canadian middle-linebacker Devin Veresuk. Veresuk, selected second overall in this year's Canadian college draft, returned the ball 36 yards for a touchdown. Incredibly, the Alouettes trailed only by eight points following Spieker's touchdown and a defensive stop. But with 2:27 remaining in the fourth quarter and Montreal scrimmaging from inside its 10, Bethel-Thompson fumbled Justin Lawrence's snap — one that was slightly off centre, but one he, nonetheless, got his hands on. The ball was recovered in the end zone by Hamilton's Julian Howsare, which put the game out of reach. For the first time this season, the play selection of head coach Jason Maas was bizarre to say the least. Although the Ticats had allowed a league-high average of 145.5 yards rushing, Maas called only 10 running plays — three each by Bethel-Thompson and short-yardage quarterback Caleb Evans. Sean Thomas-Erlington had two carries. Theis and Stevie Scott III each had one. Theis's one carry in the third quarter produced an 11-yard gain, yet he never was utilized again. It made no sense. 'We, as a team, didn't perform well enough to win a game in all three phases,' Maas said in Hamilton. 'It's not a one-person game. But I'm sure there's things (Bethel-Thompson) would like to execute better.' It was a contest that screamed for the Als' defence to make a play. And while they tried valiantly, they couldn't produce a game-defining moment. They did create a turnover on downs on Hamilton's opening possession. And the Ticats required three plays from the Montreal 1 before Kenny Lawler scored on a pass from Bo Levi Mitchell before halftime. Safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy had Montreal's only sack, while linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku forced and recovered a Jevoni Robinson fumble in the first quarter. But more was required. 'We gave up the two turnovers for touchdowns, which didn't help us on the scoreboard,' Maas said in Hamilton. 'Our defence wasn't on the field for those. We need to do a better job protecting the ball and not giving up those plays, allow our defence to play the way they're accustomed to playing.' The Alouettes were threatening to run away with the East Division, but now could be pressured for first place should the Redblacks win at home against Toronto on Sunday night, putting Ottawa only two points behind Montreal. This story was originally published June 28, 2025 at 12:14 AM.
Montreal Gazette
2 days ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Alouettes linebacker Tyrice Beverette using awards snub as motivation this season
Montreal Alouettes This isn't Tyrice Beverette 's first trip back to Hamilton. But the Alouettes linebacker admits some wounds take longer to heal. 'We definitely have some history,' Beverette told The Gazette. 'Had some good experiences and had some negative ones. At the end of the day, it was part of the journey. I definitely mark the game on my calendar. I said that when I first left and I say it now. It gives me more to look forward to.' While the Tiger-Cats' management has changed over the years, it was Hamilton where Beverette launched his CFL career in 2019. And it was management that decided Beverette was best suited to playing special teams, almost exclusively, for two seasons before he signed with Montreal as a free agent. Now a standout on the boundary side of the field, the 30-year-old veteran was the East Division nominee last season as most outstanding defensive player — an award he lost to Saskatchewan's Rolan Milligan Jr. If Montreal's loss to Toronto in last November's division final is motivating Beverette this season, so too was having been deprived of an award he felt was justifiably his. 'I'd be lying if I didn't say that motivated me a lot,' Beverette said. 'Going in, I thought I had a great chance of winning. Any player, that's their dream to win it. You go and play your heart out. You hear from other players who think you deserve it. I've used it as motivation. Since college I've been getting the short end of the stick when it came to awards. I told myself this year not to make it any question. Do everything possible to get that award. But the team goal obviously is to win a Grey Cup.' Heading into Friday night's game at Tim Hortons Field (7:30 p.m., TSN1, TSN4, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM), Beverette's off to an excellent start. Through three games, the 6-foot-1, 205 pounder has 14 tackles, a sack, forced fumble and interception. The Als (3-0) also are off to their usual quick start, having outscored opponents 105-56. But as expected, the Als will be without starting quarterback Davis Alexander, who suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter last week at Edmonton. He'll be replaced by veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson, making his first career start for Montreal. Also missing are injured receiver Austin Mack and defensive-tackle Dylan Wynn. The Ticats (0-2) are coming off a bye week in the schedule — as were the Elks last Thursday. Bethel-Thompson completed six of eight passes for 77 yards against Edmonton after replacing Alexander in the third quarter. He passed 37 yards to Tyson Philpot on his first play. 'We talked this week about how we're going to play for (Bethel-Thompson), get him comfortable,' Philpot said. 'We know the calibre of quarterback he is. There's also a little bit of excitement with a new, fresh guy out there. A new dynamic that we're excited to play with. It was a seamless transition. I'm excited to see him get his first start. 'His experience and the way he commands the offence. The way he coaches us up on little stuff. He has seen it. He has been in those big games. He can tell us exactly where (the ball's) going at times. That leadership and experience he has. It's just a little bit different.' Hamstring injuries can be tricky. Former Als starting quarterback Cody Fajardo suffered one last July 11 against Toronto and didn't play again until Aug. 25. That opened the door for Alexander to seize the position, and Fajardo eventually was traded last winter to Edmonton for Bethel-Thompson. After three straight road games, Montreal will host B.C. on July 5. Although Alexander didn't practise all week and has been dealing with his left hamstring issue since training camp, Als head coach Jason Maas refused to admit the obvious; it made no sense to play Alexander this early in the season. 'If he can manage it — and he has been managing it — I don't think it's much different than what he has been playing on, honestly,' Maas said on Wednesday. 'He has been doing that in training camp as well. He knows how to manage it. It's just a matter of whether it'll get back to the point of where it was before that (Edmonton) game?' This marks the second consecutive season in which Montreal has played three straight road games. Last September, against Calgary, Ottawa and Toronto, the Als went 1-1-1.
