WINNIPEG — The Montreal Alouettes defeated the Blue Bombers on Thursday night, handing Winnipeg their first loss of the season.
It took overtime to do it, but the Alouettes snapped the Bombers winning streak with a 20-17 victory at IG Field.
After Montreal kicker David Cote made his 43-yard field goal attempt in their first possession to start overtime, Bombers kicker Marc Liegghio’s 37-yard field goal try was unsuccessful, as he hit the upright, and the Als were victorious.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris completed 18 of 27 of his passes for 213 yards while Bombers pivot Zach Collaros was good on 21 of 27 for 251 and a touchdown.
Backup quarterback Dominique Davis scored twice for the Als on the ground while Cote was good on two of his three field goal attempts. Defensive lineman Mike Moore had two sacks and five tackles, leading the way for the Alouettes defence that had a total of five sacks on the night.
The Bombers had scores from receiver Dalton Schoen and running back Brady Oliveira in the losing effort.
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It was both teams’ defences that stole the show to start Thursday night’s contest as neither club was able to get on the scoreboard in the opening 15 minutes. Both the Als and Bombers were putting pressure on the opposing quarterbacks with Willie Jefferson taking down Trevor Harris and Michael Wakefield and Mike Moore each getting a sack on Zach Collaros.
To start the second quarter, the Alouettes scored the first points of the game. After a pass interference call on Winston Rose, who was covering Kaion Julien-Grant, brought the Als down to the Bombers two-yard line, Dominique Davis plunged in for the touchdown. David Cote’s covert was good as the visitors took a 7-0 lead three minutes into the second frame.
Following a two-and-out on the Bombers first possession of the second quarter, they got on the scoreboard on their second drive of the frame. On second-and-10, Collaros scrambled to escape the pressure from the Als defence and on the run tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schoen. The score, along with the completed convert, tied things up at seven with just under seven minutes left in the half.
The Alouettes moved chains on their ensuing drive, trying to respond to the score with points of their own. They got into field goal range and Cote attempted a 20-yarder but it hit the goal post and it was unsuccessful.
Montreal added three more points to their score midway through the third quarter. The drive started on their own 15-yard line and Harris moved the chains, including a 42-yard catch and run from Julian-Grant, to set up Cote’s 43-yard field goal. With the three points, the Alouettes took a 10-7 lead.
The Bombers responded with a field goal of their own as Marc Liegghio connected on his 45-yard attempt. That score tied things at 10 with four and a half minutes left in the quarter.
Those two field goals were the only scoring of the third quarter as the defences continued to flex their muscles, including Als defensive lineman Moore, who notched his second sack of the evening in the frame.
Winnipeg’s offence went to work to start the fourth quarter, finishing off the drive that started in the third. Collaros called his own number for 11 yards on the first play of the frame before he found Greg Ellingson for a 25-yard gain followed by a 12-yard catch from Drew Wolitarsky. Brady Oliveira then scampered for 19 yards and stretched into the end zone for the touchdown score. With the completed convert, Winnipeg took a 17-10 lead.
After the Alouettes offence went two-and-out on the ensuing drive, Montreal’s defence made a big play to bring them back onto the field. As Collaros and co. were driving down the field, Sutton sacked the QB and forced him to fumble and Tyrice Beverette recovered.
Harris and co. went to work on the drive, highlighted by a 17-yard gain from Jake Wieneke, moving down the field into Winnipeg territory. On the Winnipeg five-yard line, the Alouettes tried a QB sneak twice but Davis was stopped on both tries. On third down, and the third attempt of the same play, the Bombers defence once again stopped Davis from scoring but an offside penalty was called against Winnipeg, giving the Als a new set of downs.
On the fourth QB sneak attempt, Davis was able to get across the goal line for the touchdown. With the convert, things were tied once again with two and a half minutes left to play.
Collaros and the Bombers moved the chains and into field goal range on their ensuing possession. Liegghio missed his 32-yard field goal attempt as time expired sending things to overtime.
Harris and the Alouettes had the ball first to start the extra frame. The Bombers defence made back-to-back stops on the drive and Montreal had to settle for a field goal as Cote connected on his 43-yarder.
Then it was Collaros and co.’s turn.
Oliveira started the drive with a six-yard rush and then Collaros looked for Schoen but it was an incomplete pass. Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea challenged that there was pass interference on the play but was unsuccessful, bringing up third down. Liegghio 37-yard attempt hit off the upright, giving the Alouettes the victory.
Next up for the Bombers is a week of rest as they head out on a bye while the Alouettes host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 11.