A 100-yard defensive touchdown in the fourth quarter allowed the Montreal Alouettes to continue their winning streak by defeating the Edmonton Elks 25-18 at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.
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Head coach Danny Maciocia’s side won a third straight game for the first time this season, injuring the Alberta club badly as their playoff chances suffered.
It was a joint effort from linebackers Adarius Pickett and Tyrice Beverette that made the difference in this duel as the Elks (4-11) were deep in Sparrow territory. The first knocked down a pass and the second caught the ball. He then brought the precious object back to the other end of the field for the middle finger.
“Just before this game we said to ourselves that we have to make a big defensive play while they managed to get their way and cross the field,” Beverette said at the TSN network microphone. I have to commend Pickett for his game and I was only there to help him make that game.
The Alouettes (7-7) seemed headed for defeat going into this game, the offense led by quarterback Trevor Harris failing to win in the second half. After the success of the defensive unit, the pivot managed to convert two points.
The latter also had to do the job in the final minutes. A little more than four minutes before the end, the crowd’s favorites found their way to within a few meters of the pay zone. The Alser defense frustrated running back Kevin Brown three times. Then Micah Awe finally ended the opposing hopes with an interception.
More reversals
The Alouettes therefore narrowly escaped, although they still had control and confidence in the early moments of this game. The visitors held a 10-point lead in the second quarter and nothing seemed to work for the Moose.
However, Montreal’s attack offered their rivals not one, but two golden chances to return to the points tally. Indeed, turnovers caused by running backs from Walter Fletcher and Harris allowed Edmonton to believe in their chances and return to the dressing room by a point at halftime.
Luckily for the Sparrows, kicker David Côté’s leg ensured the gap wasn’t very impressive.
Also, wide receiver Eugene Lewis again demonstrated his incredible talent by catching the ball with one hand and scoring his second major early in the second quarter. Dominique Davis had previously scored the winners’ first touchdown through a sneak.
“I didn’t feel like we were on the pitch much in the second half,” Harris said after the game. […] Our defense really did it and changed the story of this game.”
The Alouettes now have nine days until their next game, a duel against the Ottawa Redblacks at Percival-Molson Stadium. It is the first of a five-day, two-game streak against the club that head coach Paul LaPolice showed the way out on Saturday.