The Montreal Alouettes look to win their fourth straight game of the season at home against the Ottawa REDBLACKS (2-4), who are on a four-game losing streak, at Percival-Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal. A victory for Montreal would give them the tiebreak over Ottawa, having already defeated the REDBLACKS in Week 5.
“I told the guys earlier this week, we just want to take this game one at a time,” Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. said. “Try to get this win. Improve to 4-2. We know it’s going to be huge in standings so that’s why we really want to get this win.”
Adams Jr. will make his fifth consecutive start Friday since taking over for an injured Antonio Pipkin. The Oregon product has five touchdown passes and has thrown for over 1,000 yards since assuming the starter’s role, but feels he can still learn how to take command.
“We have a great group of leaders on this team who are helping me learn how to lead,” Adams Jr. said. “I’m just going to keep learning how to lead first and help try to win games and go from there.
“You look at guys like John Bowman, Kristian Matte, DeVier Posey. Taylor Loffler. Tommie Campbell. Who’ve been through it (as) All-Stars or won Grey Cups, they just know how to be professionals.”
The Als anticipate that the REDBLACKS will play with desperation.
“We know they’re going to be hungry,” said Adams Jr. “They’re going to want to get a win. This is a [divisional] game so we have to come out with everything we have and give them our best shot.”
REDBLACKS players like Kevin Brown are hoping they can build off the end of their Week 7 17-16 loss to Calgary. The REDBLACKS scored a fourth quarter touchdown, giving them a lead until the dying seconds of the contest when a late Rene Paredes field goal won the game for the Stampeders.
“We just have to build off of last week’s little bit of momentum we had,” Brown said. “I feel like there were positives to take away. As long as we stay together and keep playing hard and physical.”
Despite being the road team, REDBLACKS fullback Jean-Christophe Beaulieu says he’ll have fans and enough support making the trek to La Belle Province.
“Oh yeah. Family’s going to be there. Fans are going to be there,” Beaulieu said. “R Nation is going to be sitting behind our bench, it’s going to be crazy.”
Meanwhile, the REDBLACKS will start Dominique Davis at quarterback. The pivot missed the last two games due to a lower leg injury.
“Dom is back so timing is getting better,” Beaulieu added. “We just have to execute.”
Davis won’t be the only member of the REDBLACKS added into the lineup. Linebacker Jeff Knox Jr. has been added into the mix, alongside fellow linebacker De’Andre Montgomery and Carleton alum and defensive lineman Kene Onyeka.
The Alouettes will have deep threat B.J. Cunningham back at slotback Friday. The receiver hadn’t played since Week 5 against Ottawa. They’ve also added quarterback Antonio Pipkin to the active roster, and had to cut Canadian Brandon Bridge earlier in the week to bring him in.
BY THE NUMBERS
400 — The Ottawa REDBLACKS have allowed over 400 net yards to each of their opponents in each of their last five games for the first time in team history.
4 — Vernon Adams Jr. can join the names of Jonathan Crompton, Tracy Ham, and Anthony Calvillo if he and the Alouettes win this week. They’re the only quarterbacks since 1985 who’ve led the Als to four straight wins.
64 — Ottawa REDBLACKS kicker Lewis Ward is still Mr. Automatic, having made 64 consecutive field goals.
61 — REDBLACKS receiver Brad Sinopoli did the best he could for his team last week, accounting for nearly half of his team’s receptions (7 of 15) and 61 per cent of his team’s passing yards (76 yards).
– With files from OttawaREDBLACKS.com/MontrealAlouettes.com
AFI, Yare Media and the CFL
American Football International is collaborating with Yare Media and the Canadian Football League to present 2019 CFL games live. This is more than a livestream. This is a stream of the top flight TSN network television broadcast.
LIVE STREAM PPV: CFL –Ottawa REDBLACKS @Montreal Alouettes, Friday, Aug. 2, 7p EDT (1a Aug. 3, CEDT)