Zurkowsky: Alouettes come out flat in high-scoring affair at Toronto

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As they head into their third and final bye week of the regular season, Alouettes players and management will emphatically state there’s no reason for concern.

Both will argue this team’s in the driver’s seat in the East Division, and it would be hard to dispute that claim. Win one game at home, and the defending Grey Cup champions will punch their ticket again to the CFL championship game.

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But what condition will Montreal be in come Nov. 9, when they host either the Ottawa Redblacks or Toronto Argonauts? What will be this team’s state of mind, given the numerous warts that continue to surface — problems that the coaching staff appears unable to eradicate?

The offence doesn’t produce enough points, can’t run the ball and has become too predictable. But the most distressing aspect is the play of veteran quarterback Cody Fajardo, who hasn’t regained the form he displayed before suffering a hamstring injury on July 11, forcing him to miss four games over a six-week period.

Defensively, Montreal can’t stop the run. Plain and simple. And the Alouettes don’t get to the quarterback nearly enough, with the absence of rush-end Shawn Lemon — suspended indefinitely for a 2021 gambling violation — becoming more apparent with every game.

The Als clinched first place in the division for the first time since 2012 Saturday afternoon before the opening kickoff at BMO Field, by virtue of Ottawa’s loss earlier that day at Saskatchewan. And despite head coach Jason Maas‘s claim on Thursday that the Redblacks’ result would have no bearing on his team’s performance, the opposite occurred.

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Predictable or not, there can be no excuse for Montreal’s 37-31 loss to the Argos before 14,856 spectators, who were forced to endure rain showers throughout most of the first half.

“We’re going out there to win a football game,” middle-linebacker Darnell Sankey told The Canadian Press in Toronto following the game. “We weren’t too concerned with anybody else or placing. We’re not going to use that as an excuse. We didn’t come out and play our best game.”

It was the Alouettes’ first loss on the road this season in eight games, dropping their league-leading record to 11-3-1. Indeed, Montreal hadn’t lost on the road in 11 games, dating back to Sept. 9, 2023. The team, arguably, was due.

But the final score was misleading as it really wasn’t that close, despite the teams being tied 22-22 at halftime. The disparity between the clubs on this night was staggering.

The Als, yet again, got off to a slow start, held to one first down and 25 yards’ net offence in the first quarter, and controlled the ball offensively for barely more than four minutes.

And yet, Montreal escaped the period with a 7-6 lead. A Dionté Ruffin interception — his team-leading fifth this season — led to a 10-yard touchdown pass to tailback Walter Fletcher one play later at 6:30, giving the visitors a 7-3 lead.

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Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly, who threw four interceptions in last season’s division final against Montreal, was again in a vulnerable position following the Ruffin turnover, but the Alouettes let him off the hook.

Still, the Argos assumed a 19-7 lead 25 minutes into the contest and appeared to be in complete control despite continually leaving points on the field while settling for Lirim Hajrullahu field goals — five in the first half and eight in total, establishing a franchise record.

Toronto’s only first-half touchdown came on a five-yard run by Ka’Deem Carey, who gained 80 yards on only nine carries by the intermission.

Montreal should have been rejuvenated for the halftime break, getting back into the game on Fajardo’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker at 13:23, followed by a 100-yard punt-return score from James Letcher Jr. one minute later, his second special teams touchdown this season.

But the Alouettes, as everyone has witnessed by now, rarely play well in the third quarter and were outscored 6-1, with Toronto getting a touchdown on a six-yard run by Deonta McMahon.

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Montreal attempted to mount a late comeback when Fajardo directed a nine-play, 70-yard drive — thanks to a 34-yard reception by Reggie White Jr. — that culminated in a one-yard run by short-yardage quarterback Dominique Davis, who also fumbled in the second quarter.

The Als needed three attempts to score from the Toronto 2, but the teams were tied 31-31 following a successful two-point convert. However, two more Hajrullahu field goals sealed Montreal’s fate.

While Fajardo completed 20 of 29 passes, he could only produce a modest 225 yards along with the two touchdowns. A late desperation pass was intercepted.

The Alouettes produced only two plays of 30 yards or longer, and were held to 14 first downs, 288 yards’ net offence and ran only 46 offensive plays, controlling the ball less than 25 minutes.

Montreal’s defence was worn out, spending slightly more than 35 minutes on the field, and had virtually no answers for stopping the Argos. Toronto had 25 first downs, 517 yards’ net offence and ran 66 plays.

The Argos produced a mind-boggling 234 rushing yards. Carey was held in check over the second half, ending the game with 90 yards on 13 carries. McMahon had 67 yards on only five carries, while Canadian Dan Adeboboye generated 39 yards on eight carries.

Toronto (8-7) moved to within one point of second-place Ottawa and captured the season series against Montreal, scoring 37 points against the Alouettes for the second time this season. Maas likely will have some sleepless nights this week. Or at least he should.

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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