Quebec’s Marc-Antoine Dequoy and the rest of the defensive line kept the Alouettes in the game in the first half, but it was nowhere near enough to beat the powerful Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on Thursday night.
Adjusted to be 47-17, the Montreal team struggled in attack all night, which made all the difference. Because of this defeat, the Alouettes’ winning streak (6:4) ended abruptly at four.
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Montreal led 7-0 after less than a minute, thanks to an interception by Tyrell Richards, who put the ball 40 yards back into the end zone. Towards the end of the first half, it was Dequoy who twice intercepted Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros. The second time, he ran the oval for 57 yards for a touchdown.
PHOTO DANIEL CRUMP / SUPPLIED BY CFL
Bad game for Fajardo
Collaros, back in action after missing his side’s last game, retaliated with two passes to receiver Dalton Schoen in the pay zone, then one to Kenny “The King” Lawler and another to Brady Oliveira. The latter, the running back, also scored a touchdown on a sneak for the Bombers, as did auxiliary quarterback Dakota Prukop. Winnipeg took a 27-0 lead in the second half.
Cody Fajardo, who was also back as the Alouettes’ offensive lynchpin after suffering a left shoulder injury, didn’t show a great game. He completed 14 passes on 25 attempts for 137 yards. Fajardo was intercepted once by Winston Rose in the third quarter and fumbled with a questionable throw-in later in the quarter.
PHOTO DANIEL CRUMP / SUPPLIED BY CFL
Austin Mack injured
When Fajardo finally reached a receiver for a long pass, it was Hergy Mayala who couldn’t close the gap. In short, a game to forget for the Alouettes offensive, who also had to do without the services of rookie Austin Mack, who was injured, during the evening. Mack had caught five passes for 55 yards before walking. Richards also suffered an injury late in the fourth quarter.
Whether with Fajardo or Caleb Evans at quarterback, the Alouettes’ next game is scheduled for Saturday, September 2 in Montreal against the BC Lions.