By Canadian Press

Alouettes save best for last in 27-26 pre-season win over Redblacks

Jun 3, 2022 | 8:17 PM

MONTREAL — Quarterback Davis Alexander engineered the Montreal Alouettes’ game-winning drive on Friday that capped off a 27-26 comeback win over the visiting Ottawa Redblacks in CFL pre-season action.

Down 26-20, Montreal had 71 seconds to do something with the ball. Alexander threw a 53-yard pass to Fabian Guerra, getting the Als in the red zone. Rhythm-Jean Giraud eventually made a two-yard rush to score the game-winning touchdown.

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. made a return to the gridiron after suffering a shoulder injury on Oct. 11, 2021. Adams threw for 69 yards, scored one touchdown and was replaced in the second quarter.

The Alouettes used all four quarterbacks at their disposal and neither of them threw a touchdown pass. Trevor Harris threw for 61 yards, one interception and exited the game in the third quarter. Dominique Davis threw for 39 yards and left in the fourth quarter. Alexander ended the game with the winning drive, throwing for 137 yards.

Quarterback Tyrie Adams made a 36-yard rush for Ottawa’s only touchdown, threw for 67 yards, one interception and exited in the fourth quarter.

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Caleb Evans had the start at quarterback for the Redblacks. Evans threw for 65 yards and an interception in two quarters. David Moore finished the game, throwing for 64 yards.

Redblacks global kicker Jose Maltos kept his team in the game with six field goals.

Adams scored on his first drive. The quarterback, who switched his number from eight to three this season, made a one-yard rush for the first touchdown of the game..

Kicker David Cote connected on a 45-yard field goal to give Montreal a 10-0 lead.

The Redblacks intercepted Adams three times but Montreal’s defence stood tall, limiting Ottawa to four consecutive field goals.

Trevor Harris entered the game in the second quarter and was immediately intercepted by Hakeem Bailey.

Maltos got Ottawa on the scoreboard. The native of Mexico kicked four consecutive field goals to bring the score to 12-10 for Ottawa in the second quarter.

Alouettes kicker Matt Mengel ended the half a field goal giving Montreal a 13-12 lead at halftime.

Montreal’s first overall pick Tyrell Richards entered the game at middle linebacker in the third quarter and served a crushing sack to Ottawa quarterback Tyrie Adams.

Davis suffered a two-and-out following the play and Mengel completed a 42-yard field goal bringing the score to 16-12.

Maltos added his fifth field goal of the night, a 13-yard attempt, cutting Montreal’s lead to one point.

Ottawa conceded a single following a punt, giving the Alouettes a 17-15 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Redblacks scored their first touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter when Adams rushed 36 yards to the end zone to put Ottawa up 22-17. Maltos added a sixth field goal bumping Ottawa’s lead to 26-17.

Dante Brown’s field goal got the Alouettes to within six points. Montreal completed the comeback with a late drive, culminating with a two-year rush by Giraud.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2022

Tristan D’Amours, The Canadian Press