MONTREAL — The league-leading Montreal Alouettes rallied a second-half comeback to defeat the Edmonton Elks 21-17 at Percival Molson Stadium Sunday night.
In his first start since an injury in Week 6, quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 22 of 34 passes for 336 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Fajardo connected with wide receiver Cole Spieker on both majors, while Alouettes kicker Jose Maltos was perfect on the night with three field goals.
The win maintains the Als’ stronghold atop the CFL standings, improving to 10-1 on the season. Edmonton drops to 3-8 in their 2024 campaign.
McLeod Bethel-Thompson led the Elks offence to a first-half lead, finishing the night with 21 of 33 completions for 199 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
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Photo: Peter McCabe/CFL.ca
Fajardo opened his night by leading the Als on a 10-play drive that included a 38-yard pass to Charleston Rambo and ended with a 12-yard field goal from Jose Maltos for a 3-0 lead. Rambo added a 50-yard reception in the second half for the longest catch of the night.
Bethel-Thompson responded on the Elk’s next possession with a six-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that included a 25-yard rush by running back Kevin Brown. Former Alouette receiver Eugene Lewis caught a six-yard pass for the first major of the game.
Leading 7-3 after the first quarter, the Elks added another touchdown off an eight-play, 70-yard drive. Bethel-Thompson threw an eight-yard pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. for the second major.
Five and a half minutes into the second quarter, Elks’ defensive back Devodric Bynum recorded his first CFL interception off a deep pass from Fajardo.
The Alouettes defence stalled that Elks drive and on the next, Montreal linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku sacked Bethel-Thompson for a loss of eight yards. The 25-year-old from Lévis, Que., added another sack in the second half.
Both teams added field goals – Maltos from 28 yards, Boris Bede from 19 – for a 17-6 Edmonton lead at the half.
It was all Montreal in the third quarter. Backed up in their own End Zone to start the half, Fajardo connected with Cole Spieker on a 38-yard pass to open the drive.
Spieker bookended the effort with a 33-yard touchdown reception for Montreal’s first major. The Alouettes’ two-point convert fell incomplete to trail 17-12.
Later in the third, Fajardo found Spieker again in the End Zone for a 22-yard touchdown pass and an 18-17 lead. Montreal fell short once more on a two-point convert attempt.
Fajardo completed 11 passes for 218 yards in the third quarter alone, while Edmonton was -2 in net offence in the same frame.
The Als continued their scoring run in the fourth quarter with a 26-yard field goal by Malto for a 21-17 lead, which stood as the final score. Bede did have a chance to counter shortly after, however the kicker’s 41-yard field goal attempt went wide right.
The Edmonton Elks now have a week to rest before heading down the highway for the Labour Day rivalry game against the Calgary Stampeders (4-6). Kickoff is 6 pm ET on Monday, Sept. 2.
The Montreal Alouettes have a bye before hosting the BC Lions on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 pm ET.