The Montreal Alouettes (5-0) hosted the Calgary Stampeders (2-2) on Saturday night from Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. The Stampeders were the latest team to attempt to end Montreal’s undefeated season. In 18 games played this season, 12 of them ended in comebacks. After tonight, another game featured another comeback win.
First Quarter:
The game got off to a slow start in the first quarter with three two-and-out plays. On Montreal’s second possession of the game. They went on a six-play drive for 44 yards ending when quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Kaion Julien-Grant for a 7-0 lead with 6:26 left of the first quarter.
Calgary responded by using the running game. B.J. Emmons, Jalen Philpot, Peyton Logan, and Tommy Stevens combined with five carries for 58 yards, including a 39-yard run by Tommy Stevens. Stevens scored a one-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak and the game was tied 7-7 with 1:15 left of the first quarter. The drive went eight plays for 65 yards.
On the final play of the first quarter, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw a short pass to wide receiver Tyson Philpot for no gain. The game remained tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo was a perfect 7 of 7 completions for 47 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for 11 yards. Montreal had 80 yards in the first quarter (47 yards passing, 33 yards rushing). Calgary quarterback Jake Maier completed 2 of 6 passes for 20 yards. Calgary had 79 yards on offense (20 yards passing, 59 yards rushing).
Second Quarter:
On the first play of the second quarter, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed a pass to Tyson Philpot. Philpot started to run when he got creamed by Julian Howsare losing the football in the process. Tre Robinson recovered the ball for Calgary on the Alouettes’ 34-yard line.
Calgary went on a six-play drive for 19 yards before kicker Rene Paredes made a 22-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 10:02 left. Calgary’s defense continued to make good plays. On the third play for Montreal, quarterback Cody Fajardo attempted to throw the ball to Reggie White Jr. but Bentlee Sanders jumped in front of White Jr. to make the interception returning it for 22 yards before stepping out of bounds on the Alouettes’ 50-yard line.
Calgary quarterback Jake Maier started the drive by throwing four straight passes 27 yards. The Stampeders went on a 10-play drive for 45 yards ending when backup quarterback Tommy Stevens scored a one-yard touchdown running to his right side.
On the extra point, Montreal defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson penetrated Calgary’s offensive line to block Rene Paredes’s kick. The ball was scooped up by Kabion Ento and he scored a two-point conversion. Calgary’s lead was now 16-9 with 2:36 left before halftime.
After Montreal went two-and-out, Calgary’s offense was back out on the field. On the second play, running back Peyton Logan found an open hole on the left side for 42 yards before he was pushed out of bounds on the Alouettes’ six-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Jake Maier threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Begelton for a 23-9 lead with 1:36 left of the second quarter. The drive went for three plays for 53 yards.
Montreal had the ball for the final 1:28 of the second quarter. On the final play, kicker Jose Carlos Maltos made a 12-yard field goal and the Stampeders led the Alouettes 23-12 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Calgary had 211 yards on offense (91 yards passing, 120 yards rushing). Quarterback Jake Maier completed 11 of 16 passes (69%) for 67 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for one yard, while backup quarterback Tommy Stevens completed one pass for 24 yards, five carries for 46 yards, and two touchdowns. Running back Peyton Logan had five carries for 56 yards and made three catches for two yards.
Wide receiver Marken Michel made four catches for 40 yards, while Reggie Begelton made three catches for 23 yards and one touchdown. Calgary’s defense made one tackle for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Calgary was penalized one time for 10 yards.
Montreal had 189 yards on offense (156 yards passing, 33 yards rushing). Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 17 of 19 passes (89%) for 156 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and one carry for 11 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had two carries for 18 yards and made three catches for 48 yards.
Wide receiver Tyson Philpot made six catches for 45 yards, and Charleston Rambo made three catches for 28 yards. Montreal was penalized one time for 8 yards.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, Calgary went on a nine-play drive for 64 yards ending when kicker Rene Paredes made a 31-yard field goal for a 26-12 lead with 6:23 left. Montreal’s comeback started on their next drive. They went on an eight-play drive for 51 yards before Jose Carlos Maltos made a 22-yard field goal and Calgary’s lead was now 26-15. During that drive, Calgary had made a stop on second down but back-to-back penalties hurt them which led to the field goal.
On the final play of the third quarter, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier threw an incomplete pass to Reggie Begelton. Calgary had an 11-point lead of 26-15 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw three passes for 59 yards. Two plays later, Fajardo threw a deep pass to Cole Spieker for a 15-yard touchdown as Spieker got hit by Bentlee Sanders but held onto the ball. Montreal went for a two-point conversion but did not get it. The score was now 26-21 Calgary with 11:02 left in the game.
Calgary’s offense struggled the rest of the game and did not touch the red zone. Montreal’s defense stepped up to make quick work on them. When Montreal got the ball back, they went on a six-play drive for 48 yards resulting in Jose Carlos Maltos kicking a 30-yard field goal and suddenly, Calgary’s lead was now 26-24 with 5:07 left in the game.
Calgary’s offense managed to get a first down but penalties hurt them forcing them to punt the ball. On the fifth play for Montreal, quarterback Cody Fajardo handed the ball off to Walter Fletcher. He ran to his right side making a couple of juke moves before scoring a 31-yard touchdown. They tried to go for another two-point conversion but Calgary defensive back Tre Robinson intercepted the ball and nearly took it back four two points but he was tackled.
On the second play for Calgary, quarterback Jake Maier tried to force a throw down the field to Marken Michel into coverage and it was intercepted by Dionte Ruffin for a return of 15 yards before he was tackled on their 55-yard line with 19 seconds left. Montreal went into victory formation and completed the comeback with a 30-26 win over the Calgary Stampeders.
Final Stats:
Montreal had 466 yards on offense (374 yards passing, 95 yards rushing, three yards lost). Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 35 of 42 passes (83%) for 374 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and four carries for 35 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had five carries for 56 yards, one touchdown, and made nine catches for 104 yards.
Wide receiver Tyson Philpot made 12 catches for 134 yards, while Cole Spieker made four catches for 48 yards and one touchdown. Kicker Jose Carlos Maltos made three field goals with a long of 30 yards. Montreal was penalized five times for 60 yards. Montreal’s defense made 40 tackles, five tackles for loss, seven tackles on special teams, and one interception.
Calgary had 278 yards on offense (130 yards passing, 148 yards rushing). Quarterback Jake Maier completed 18 of 28 passes for 106 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for eight yards. Backup quarterback Tommy Stevens completed one pass for 24 yards, six carries for 49 yards, and two touchdowns. Running back Payton Logan had six carries for 65 yards and made four catches for 12 yards.
Wide receiver Marken Michel made seven catches for 59 yards, while Reggie Begelton made four catches for 21 yards, and one touchdown. Kicker Rene Paredes made two field goals with a long of 31 yards. Calgary was penalized four times for 40 yards. Calgary’s defense made 44 tackles, seven tackles for loss, seven tackles on special teams, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions.
Final Thoughts:
Calgary should have won this game. The reason they did not was the play calling was stuck on repeat mode. When the game started to get out of hand, the coach should have adjusted the gameplan right there and he didn’t which cost his team the win. Calgary will not win a lot of games with Jake Maier as the starting quarterback. He continues to struggle as a starting quarterback. Calgary should start either Matthew Shiltz or Tommy Stevens.
For Stevens, he is six foot five and can see the entire field. He should get an opportunity to be a starting quarterback. Stevens did the majority of scoring for Calgary. Why not give him a chance as a starter and see what he can do on the field? Calgary’s been needing a change for the last two years and it is a shame the upper management does not see it.
Montreal is a good football team. They did not play their best football but when their backs were against the wall, they dug themselves out to beat Calgary. Cody Fajardo is making a case right now early in the season to be the Most Outstanding Player. In addition, I won’t be surprised if you start to hear teams calling offensive coordinator and three-time Grey Cup champion Anthony Calvillo for a head coaching job.
Next Thursday, the Montreal Alouettes host the Toronto Argonauts at 7:30 pm on TSN and CFL+, while the Calgary Stampeders visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday at 8:30 pm on TSN and CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
