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Hamilton Spectator
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Saskatchewan Roughriders visit Montreal Alouettes in clash of CFL heavyweights
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. '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. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saskatchewan Roughriders visit Montreal Alouettes in clash of CFL heavyweights
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. '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. Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Saskatchewan Roughriders visit Montreal Alouettes in clash of CFL heavyweights
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. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. '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.
CTV News
25-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Maltos' late go-ahead field goal lifts Alouettes to 23-21 win over Stampeders
Montreal Alouettes' Jose Maltos, right, kicks a field goal during second half CFL football action against the Calgary Stampeders in Calgary, Thursday, July 24, CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY — Jose Maltos received a hero's welcome from his teammates after kicking the longest field goal of his CFL career. Maltos booted the go-ahead 58-yard field goal with 1:10 remaining as the Montreal Alouettes (5-2) earned a 23-21 win over the Calgary Stampeders (5-2) in front of 19,863 fans at McMahon Stadium on Thursday. When the Mexican-born kicker returned to his team's locker room, he was mauled by his teammates who congratulated him while chanting: 'Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé.' 'It feels good – important game, important kick,' said Maltos, whose previous longest kick was from 53 yards out. 'My teammates are great. I love them and I'm grateful to have them on my side. 'We're happy because we need these kind of wins. Every kick is important to me, so that was pretty good.' Following his heroics – which included four other field goals, a convert and a single – Maltos received praise from Montreal head coach Jason Maas. 'He's made some clutch kicks for us since he's taken over and he's got an outstanding percentage career-wise already,' Maas said. 'He just has a good knack for those types of moments and that's what he's shown us. That was a tremendous (game-winning) kick. It was one of the best kicks I've seen.' Montreal quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 30-of-40 passes for 280 yards to go with one touchdown to Chris Spieker and one interception. 'Man, we needed that one,' Bethel-Thompson said. 'It feels great to finally play my role for this team. It's a special locker room. What coach Maas has built is a special place and I'm just so grateful to have done my job. That was an unbelievable kick at the end by Jose.' Dedrick Mills had a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Stampeders (5-2), who had won their previous three games. 'We ran the ball well for three quarters, but not the fourth quarter,' said Calgary coach Dave Dickenson. 'And that's when you need to run the ball … and we just didn't do it.' Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a touchdown pass to Dominique Rhymes and also completed a short pass to Erik Brooks in the end zone for a two-point convert after Mills' second rushing score. Near the end of the third quarter, Adams scrambled out of the pocket and ran for a seven-yard gain before he was hit hard by Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette. Although he got to his feet and walked to the sidelines, he was assessed for a head injury and didn't return to the game. 'I'm expecting it was on the one hit.' Dickenson said. 'I'm not really going to speculate on what happened, but I know that he went in the tent and didn't come back, so that was obviously something that we know can happen. 'A lot of teams are playing with their backup QB, including Montreal, so we have to be able to function and get points and get first downs, and we weren't able to do it.' Defensive back Adrian Green picked off an errant pass by Bethel-Thompson for his league-leading fourth interception of the season and ran it back to Montreal's 44-yard line to help set up Calgary's first touchdown. Four plays later, Mills ran for a seven-yard touchdown with 1:53 remaining in the first quarter, which gave Calgary a 6-0 lead after a missed convert by Rene Paredes. After Tyler Snead's 42-yard diving catch put Montreal at Calgary's nine-yard line, the Stampeders held the Alouettes to a 10-yard Maltos field goal. Adams then engineered a five-play, 77-yard drive that he finished off by tossing a 33-yard TD pass to Rhymes at 5:10 of the second quarter to put the Stamps up 13-3. The Als responded at 9:18 when Spieker caught a seven-yard TD pass from Bethel-Thompson to cap off a quick eight-play, 77-yard drive. On the ensuing kickoff, Maltos booted an 88-yard single to pull the Als within two points of the Stamps. Maltos finished off the first half by making a 36-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to put Montreal ahead 14-13. The Stamps drove the ball 65 yards down the field before Mills ran in for a nine-yard score on the sixth play of the drive at 3:43 of the third quarter. A successful two-point convert gave the Stamps a 21-14 edge. Thanks to a pair of field goals by Maltos in the fourth quarter – a 28-yard kick at 6:22 and another from 20 yards out at 12:17 – Montreal cut Calgary's lead to just 21-20. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press
National Post
17-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Davis Alexander returns, Chad Kelly remains out as Alouettes host Argos
MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes want to bring their two-game skid to a halt. Article content Welcoming back a quarterback who does nothing but win should only help. Article content Article content Davis Alexander returns from a hamstring injury with a chance to improve his CFL record to 8-0 on Thursday against the Toronto Argonauts. Article content 'He gives everybody juice,' head coach Jason Maas said Wednesday at Olympic Stadium. 'He's led our football team from the moment we assigned him as the starter. Article content 'He's a tremendous leader, tremendous player. We're excited to have him back.' Article content Maas also emphasized he doesn't expect the 26-year-old to be a saviour. Article content 'It's more than a one-man show,' he said. 'Davis is a piece of our football team, he's an important piece of the football team, but he's also a one piece, so everybody collectively around him needs to play well.' Article content The Alouettes (3-2) opened the season on a 3-0 run with Alexander behind centre, only to falter with back-to-back defeats against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and B.C. Lions with backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson leading the offence. Article content The Ticats ran over Montreal 35-17 in Hamilton before the Lions sunk the Alouettes with a last-second field goal to win 21-20 at Molson Stadium in Week 5. Article content Now the Alouettes — tied with Hamilton atop the East — will try to get back on track against a team they've already beaten handily this season. Article content Montreal defeated Toronto 28-10 to open the 2025 campaign. The Alouettes and Argos (1-4), both coming off bye weeks, play once more at BMO Field on Sept. 19, meaning Montreal would secure the season series with a win Thursday. Article content Article content 'We try and treat every game the same (but) I'd be lying if I said this one isn't a little different because it is Toronto. It's a divisional rival,' Alexander said. 'They don't like us. We don't like them.' Article content The five-foot-11, 210-pound Alexander surged from third-string QB to face of the franchise after leading Montreal to four wins as a starter — and another comeback off the bench — while '23 Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo missed time last season. Article content So far this year, Alexander has thrown for 803 passing yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 75.6 per cent of his attempts. Alexander was 20-for-24 for 254 yards and three TDs in a stellar first half before exiting Week 3's win over Edmonton. Article content He'll try to match CFL great Danny McManus with a record eight straight victories to begin his Canadian career on Thursday. Article content 'It's a very cool thing,' Alexander said. 'I would love to have the record, but to me, it is most important to get back on track, 1-0.'
