Argos beat the Alouettes 25-20, but QB Quinlan made his presence felt
Anthony Calvillo made his pre-season debut insisting his only goal is to win another championship. Unfortunately for the rest of the CFL, after a 2011 filled with alltime record-setting milestones AC has nothing left to throw for but the 100th Grey Cup.
Fitting Calvillo found Jamel Richardson for his first completion of the new year. J-Rich is only the reigning CFL leading pass-catcher. That set up reigning rushing king Brandon Whitaker for his first touchdown of the new year.
Calvillo completed 7/11 for 55 yards and was happy to give up the reigns to Adrian McPherson even before the 2nd quarter.
The Alouettes' defense made sudden impact on Ray, knocking a pass on the opening series into the hands of Alouette Aaron Hunt, then Rod Davis came up with a sack.
Montreal's new defensive coordinator Jeff Reinebold watched proudly as veteran Billy Parker made a leaping interception of a Ray pass on the Argos' 3rd offensive series.
Calvillo's former quarterback coach and OC (offensive coordinator) Scott Milanovich is the new Argos' head coach and the battle of the brains will be repeatedly regularly in 2012.
McPherson was 5/10 by the end of the 1st half for 98 yards and a touchdown to rookie Travon Patterson with his 2nd TD in 2 pre-season games.
UPDATE: Canadian Kyle Quinlan, who led McMaster to the Vanier Cup last year, was the last of four quarterbacks to play for Montreal, and he made sure to leave an impression.
Quinlan's first CFL pass was a 41-yard completion to Felton Huggins that put the Alouettes at the Toronto 46-yard line with under two minutes to go. And even though Quinlan's third-down incompletion forced Montreal to turn the ball over on downs, he still gave QB's McPherson and Josh Neiswander some competition for one of the remaining few roster spots.