Als bust down front door to East Crown 34-28, Calvillo pulls career first
Montreal had a zombie walk going on downtown AND in Regina, but the Als found new life from a rare source. The Als' walking dead offense failed to come up with any points in the opening quarter, but came back to life in the 2nd, putting a scare into Saskatchewan.
Then in the 2nd Half Anthony Calvillo did something he'd never done before in his 19 years in the CFL---he scored a pair of touchdowns himself, running the ball in as the Riders forgot about the 40-year old QB and focused on covering a banged up Als' receiver corps.
Calvillo found Jamel Richardson for a season-high 8 catches covering 161 yards (also a season high) but Calvillo ran one in himself after J-Rich dropped another sure touchdown in the endzone.
Calvillo himself didn't even believe he'd pulled off a career-first. The Als lost another of his bodyguards Andrew Woodruff to injury in the 1st half. Richardson also missed a series with a minor injury but returned to have his best game of the season.
Shea Emry was tossed from the game before halftime and told the CJAD Postgame show he committed a "classless act" and expects to be fined for his shot at a Rider---without confirming whether he'd thrown a punch in frustration.
Sean White kicked a field goal from 22 yards out, then Calvillo threw a TD pass to Bo Bowling covering 18-yards for Bowling's first CFL TD. Whyte then added his longest field goal of the year from 52 yards out. Whyte is now 5/11 from beyond the 40.
Chris Jennings made his first start for the Alouettes 5 years after first becoming an Alouette.
Jennings was on the practise roster for parts of the '08-09 seasons before bolting to the NFL where he became a starter in the backfield for the Cleveland Browns after being buried behind Avon Cobourne and Brandon Whitaker on the Als' depth chart.
Montreal has clinched the East Division Crown for the 9th time in the Calvillo Era, putting them in the Eastern Final Sunday November 18th at Olympic Stadium (live on CJAD 800 of course).
The Als have issues on offense and don't want to use injuries as alibis between now and postseason. Without Brandon London, SJ Green, Brandon Whitaker, Victor Anderson, or Trent Guy the Als return rookie Noel Devine to the lineup and debut 6'5" receiver Lavasier Tuinei, a recent cut of the Seattle Seahawks who was scouted by assistant GM Marcel Desjardins.
For the 2nd straight game the Als are taking part in the CFL Pink support of women's cancer fundraising. Check out Coach Jean-Marc Edme, running back Dahrran Diedrick and the gloves Jennings hopes will carry the football to the endzone.