Alouettes rally to beat Stampeders 30-26 to remain undefeated

MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes scored 15 unanswered points in the final quarter to beat the Calgary Stampeders 30-26 and keep their five-game unbeaten start alive at Percival Molson Stadium on Saturday night.

Montreal’s Cody Fajardo had another strong outing, completing 35 of 42 pass attempts for 374 yards and two touchdowns. The 32-year-old also racked up 35 rushing yards on four carries.

Calgary starter Jake Maier completed 18 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

The Stampeders were especially effective in their running game, totaling 148 yards on the ground, led by Peyton Logan (65 yards) and backup QB Tommy Stevens (49 yards).

Alouettes running back Walter Fletcher was a threat in the passing game, tallying 104 yards through the air on nine receptions. Fletcher became the fourth different Alouettes receiver to record a 100-yard game this season.

Tyson Philpot reached the mark for the third time this campaign, catching 12 passes for 134 yards.

The Alouettes were sloppy on possessions on the night, notably giving up an interception and a fumble on back-to-back drives early in the second quarter.

Als defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy left the game injured in the second quarter and did not return to the game.

An interception by Dionté Ruffin with 32 seconds left in the game sealed the win for Montreal.

The Alouettes took a 30-26 lead after Fletcher’s 31-yard field goal with 1:03 left in the game. The two-point conversation in Montreal was intercepted.

A Montreal field goal made it 26-24 at 5:07 of the fourth quarter, setting up an exciting finish.

Cole Spieker caught a 15-yard touchdown pass to cut the Alouettes’ deficit to 26-21 with 11:36 left in the contest. The subsequent two-point conversation in Montreal was unsuccessful.

Jose Carlos Maltos converted on a 22-yard field goal to make it 26-15 heading into the final frame.

Rene Paredes’ 31-yard field goal with 6:23 left in the third quarter completed Calgary’s lead at 26-12.

Maltos’ goal cut the deficit to 23-12 as the teams headed into halftime.

The Stampeders extended their lead to 23-9 when Maier hit Reggie Begelton on a six-yard pass for a touchdown at the 1:36 mark of the second frame.

Calgary’s extra point attempt was blocked by Mustafa Johnson and returned the length of the field by Kabion Ento to make it 16-9 at 2:36 of the second quarter.

An interception by Bentley Sanders helped set up the Stampeders’ next score, capped by a one-yard run into the end zone by Stevens to make it 16-7 with 2:39 left in the first half.

Paredes put Calgary ahead 10-7 at 10:02 of the second frame with a 22-yard field goal.

The Stampeders tied the game at 7-7 with 1:31 left in the first quarter when Stevens ran the ball into the end zone from the one-yard line after his 39-yard rush put the team in scoring position.

Kaion Julien-Grant opened the scoring at 6:47 of the first quarter on a five-yard pass from Fajardo to make it 7-0 after the Alouettes drove 45 yards in seven plays.

IT FOLLOWS

Stampeders: Visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-4) on Friday.

Alouettes: Host the Toronto Argonauts (2-2) on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 6, 2024.

Olivier Neven, Canadian Press