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Player of the Game
By general consensus, the folks in Section W will choose one Alouette player as the PLAYER OF THE GAME based on his performance, impact and effort on that game day.
Nov. 27, 2005 Edmonton 38 - Montreal 35 @ Grey Cup Vancouver |
Whew, what a Grey Cup Week. Stay tuned to these pages. We'd like to wrap up a Section W Grey Cup 2005 pictures as we scramble around and try and collect some pictures from various photographers. If you have something you'd like to contribute, please send it along. We'd also like to do a re-cap of the best of this football year so your thoughts and contributions are welcome. Right now, gotta get some zzz's in so don't go away!. We'll be right back, |
Nov. 20, 2005 Montreal 33 @ Toronto 17 |
The Montreal Alouette defense came to play on a day when the cards have been stacked against them all year. Formed, re-formed, torn down, re-built, micro-managed, second-guessed all year long, the Montreal defense brought a page out of last year's playbook and delivered a mighty blow to the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts. In a heavyweight bout, the sly veteran Damon Allen of the Argos marched his offence almost at will to score consecutive touchdowns in the first quarter. It seemed eerily reminiscent of the October Crisis game when Montreal was pounded into submission in front of a home crowd at Olympic Stadium. Following the second Argo touchdown on a pass from Allen to Soward, RJ then raced to the sideline concession only to emerge with a bag of popcorn. He then raced around the field sharing his prize bag of corn with teammates! This display of disrespect seemed enough for the fuming Alouette sideline to blow a fuse. Undaunted by a his shaky start (not a single completed pass in the first quarter!), Calvillo went to work and began to slowly chip away at the Argo defense with sideline passes of five and six yards.. Nothing fancy. Using his slotbacks Vaughn and Cahoon, Anthony concentrated on finding a rhythm with his offense. Using Rrumbling Robert Edwards along the ground with marginal success, the Alouettes' Damon Duval knocked in a field goal. A second quarter punt by Duval and Eric Lapointe knocking the ball loose from Levingston turned the ball to the Alouettes who replied with another field goal. Nothing Fancy. Chipping away at the stone. Workmanlike and methodical. The defense in the meantime was putting pressure on Allen. The defensive secondary tightened up, led by a Reggie Durden interception. Special teams came up with a block on a Noel Prefontaine field goal attempt and slowly the wind started to shift in the Rogers Center . By halftime the Alouettes were only trailing by eight points. The second half has traditionally been good for the Als. Calvillo staying close to the game plan and chipped away slowly at the Argo defense. Edwards is sidelined with an injury and in comes Eric Lapointe. With a drive that almost stalled on a first and goal on the Argo 1 yard line after Ted White could not get his shoulders over the goal line three times in a row, in came Anthony Calvillo to signal a sense of calm in a very nervy situation and handed off to Lapointe for the Alouettes first touchdown. This seemed to be the play that turned the game around. To miss this opportunity would have been devastating to the Alouette chances. Turnovers began to plague the Toronto team. The defense swarmed Allen and forced him into a number of incompletions. Calvillo on the other hand started to find success with Eric Lapointe. The former Mountie from Mt. Allison pounded his way behind the holes made for him by a very aggressive offensive line. Lapointe showed that even being displaced in the depth chart at running back, he can still be a huge contributor to this team. The Als only led by three points going into the fourth quarter but had a firm grip on their opponent. Like any heavyweight fighter will tell you, keep your focus on your opponent, be patient and wait for your opportunity. Those opportunities presented themselves with some great plays by the defense. A timely interception by Kelly Malveaux led to terrific 48 yard field goal by Damon Duval. A Timothy Strickland sack on Damon Allen jarred the ball loose for a Reggie Durden recovery. Then it was Michael Botterill separating Levingston from the ball on a Duval kickoff only to have it end up in Ricky Bell's hands. With possession of the ball, Calvillo started to work the bag. Body punches to the Argo defensive line with Eric Lapointe on successive carries of 9,5,5 and 12 yards moved the ball to the Argo 11 yard line. Then just like those black and white boxing films when the attacker sets up his opponent with a series of jabs, Calvillo hands off to Eric Lapointe who delivers the knockout punch with an 11 yard blast into the end zone. Nothing Fancy. Workmanlike and methodical. The Argos lay dazed on the mat, bloodied and beat. The bag of popcorn had been knocked out of the fans' hands. The spilt corn lay strewn along the sideline of the Argonaut bench. The Alouettes pack their bags and head for The Show in Vancouver . The Section W Toot-Toot Salute goes to Eric Lapointe . His game started Monsters at Large : Reggie Durden was a playing like a madman. So did Kelly Malveaux and “Tugboat” Tugbenyoh . How about the clutch kicking of Damon Duval ? We'll need that kind of steadiness at BC Place. Terry Vaughn had fire in his eyes and Cahoooon still has his ‘stickum'. Tim Strickland led the charge like a good leader does. And of course Anthony Calvillo gave us the calm and focus to play 60 minutes. The Alouette defense only allowed the Argos 3 points for the entire game after RJ Soward emerged with his bag of popcorn! This Alouette team won this game on the will of their character and the faith in their team strategy. Maligned by a press that would like nothing more that to see them lose (say hello to the always negative, bitter Gazette scribe, Jack Todd), they prevailed against the reigning Grey Cup champs in their house to set the stage for what may be a very dramatic Grey Cup Championship. GO ALS Go!
Heroes : Don Matthews, his coaching staff and the roster of the 2005 Montreal Alouette Eastern Division Champs Zeros : Jack Todd and RJ Soward
It ain't over yet, but we've got a special invitation to the Big Dance!
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Nov. 13, 2005 Saskatchewan 14 @ Montreal 30 |
“Do or Die”, that was the marketing strategy from the Alouette head office the week before this Eastern divisional semi-final. The cross-over contestants were the Roughriders from Regina , a team with its' own internal problems looking for the end-around route to the Grey Cup. As for Montreal , it had to simply be a case of “Do”. The alternate would have only meant too much death. This was a team under the gun to avoid a royal grand sacking should they loose another game at home in front of another Olympic Stadium crowd. This was a team that had routinely enjoyed a capacity Big Owe turnout but was now struggling to draw the attention of what was always perceived as fiercely loyal support. Many fans stood back. Their reasons were their own. Perhaps they were turning their nose up at the Olympic Stadium, an enormous soulless, hollow cavern of concrete confusion. A reminder of previous loss, failure and waste. Perhaps people were giving the team its middle finger for their effort that fateful game weeks past when in a position to claim the Easter final , it flunked on its head before a capacity crowd against the Toronto Argonauts. Or maybe, just maybe, a large number of fans had an anxiety attack. A fearful dread of charging to the stadium full of excitement and confidence only to experience the gut-wrenching ordeal of witnessing their beloved Alouettes beheaded. How frightful would that have been to see your CFL king's head lopped off by a buzz-saw gang of Prairie Dogs? Our Alouettes were not in an enviable position. With a media that seemed to be lusting to run coaches and players out of town, a team defense that had stalwart players exited, or who were openly critical of its strategy and a team president who was pleading with fans to please make one more visit to Stadium that Jean Built. The measure of true grit and character came to be on this day for our beloved Alouettes. Led by quarterback Anthony Calvillo before the thunder of white clapping stix, Calvillo proved to be the very on-field General we imagined. The first half of play was as perfect as a movie script could have imagined. Bravery with battle honors to Ben Cahoon. Big Ben played with a determination that seemed to inspire the entire team, with great catches and even greater after catch plays to elude Saskatchewan defenders. Bravery with battle honors to Richard Karikari for sniping away a sure touchdown pass from Marcus Crandall. Bravery with battle honors to the O-line for armed protection in trench warfare with the likes of Nate Davis and Perry. Bravery with battle honors to David Crutchfield, Duane Butler, Timothy Strickland and Kelly Malveaux who hit with a velocity hard enough to jolt the will to win from Saskatchewan ball carriers. At half-time the score was 24-0. This Alouette team played with confidence and execution. Second half play was game plan management. No mistakes, bend but don't break. Give them some points but take away their clock. The Alouette team should be proud of its performance this Sunday for the way it handled their opposition and their own internal difficulties. And Montreal Alouette fans should never again shy away from an opportunity to show the same kind of courage this team faced. Football fans need to battle through the negative press and the inconvenient venue to realize that every person who makes the turnstile click becomes an important part of the Alouette team. They are the backbone and wall of support for a team vying for the national championship. They become the 13 th man. The Section W Toot Toot Salute goes out to the Commander of the Air Corps, Ahutla Hutla Hutla: Clearly the result of beating the SaskRiders was to continue the playoff drive to the Grey Cup game in Vancouver . But possibly more important was the opportunity to face Damon Allen and the Toronto Argonauts just one more time. This Alouette squad must have a bitter taste in its mouth from the beating it took on Oct. 22 at Olympic Stadium. To say nothing about the beating they took at the same place this time last year when our hopes of going to the Grey Cup in Ottawa were crumpled in the same heap that lay our all-star quarterback. The Argos have become a nasty thorn in our sides. From the debacle of October's game, one wry quote was recalled in the post game analysis. Calvillo simply said, “I want to play them again this year”. I have never read such a determined and focused quote from Anthony. He surrendered this years' Eastern Division MVP honors to the deserving Damon Allen, but in the back of Calvillo's mind, there seems to be a readiness to extract payback. To serve up the SMACK. To send 45,000 Toronto Rogers Center fans home dismayed and upset. It would be so very deserving.
The Game of the Year begins at 3:00 PM , Sunday November 20. Don't miss it.
[Get Crazy and Hysterical.. Here!]
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Nov. 4, 2005 Montreal 9 @ Hamilton 15 |
With nothing riding on the results of this game between the Montreal Alouettes and the Hamilton Tiger Cats, you can expect there to be a lack of intensity. The Tiger Cats have been eliminated from the playoffs and were eager to get new players into the game to see how the measure up in a real game. The Alouettes, already secured with a semi-final playoff date against the Roughriders at Olympic Stadium, gained an invaluable insight into the progress of their back-up quarterback Ted White. White has been holding the clipboard for three years and was now given his first starting job against Hamilton . All week long, the hotly contested question was for how many quarters will Anthony Calvillo play? In the press he repeatedly said he wanted to get the work in. Matthews has in the past usually kept his starting QB in the game, maybe this time with the possibility that Calvillo can surpass 6,000 yards passing. Media and fan critiques were flying around Matthews head, almost demanding that Ted White be given at least a quarter of live action of play. “Give the People what they Want”, once sang by Ray Davies, was the song Matthews sung as he handed the ball to Ted White and gave him the entire game to show us his stuff. Pray for Anthony Calvillo's health. This is not to beat-up on Ted. But Ted White was awful. Yes, it could be said that his receivers dropped some passes. Yes, there were a few fumbles in the game, and granted there were the numerous interceptions at all the wrong times. Ted has not played really at all in the past few years. He has watched all the games from the sidelines, joined all the meetings, and studied all the film. It would be normal to expect the back-up quarterback may have a little rust. But at what point do we misinterpret rust from rot. One would expect to see at some point after the second quarter some progress. Some sign of getting into the groove that constitutes being a football quarterback. Ted White is not an athletic quarterback. He has a cannon of an arm like a lot of kids at the country fair, but sometimes being able to throw it the furthest doesn't make you the best passer. He failed to show some of the basic instincts you'd like to see in a young raw talent looking for a job as a CFL quarterback, like some of the things we've been seeing in the young Kevin Eakin in Hamilton . Ted White has been with this team long enough to have some understanding of its design. He has perennial all-star offensive linemen trained in front of him. He has a workhorse 1,000 yards rushing man lining up behind him in Rrumbling Robert Edwards. He has the Calvillo Air Corps, 4 receivers with great hands each with over 1000 yards to their credit. This same potent offense was lining up against a CFL team that had over 550 points scored against it. It was like handing a Ferrari to the back-up driver for a Formula One race, and the driver couldn't shift it out of the parking lot. Again, this is not to beat-up Ted White. Ted gave it everything he possibly could for the four quarters he played. It's up to the coaching staff to be able to evaluate this and make a decision if this is their best available talent to support Anthony Calvillo and the Montreal Alouettes. Until then, our hopes lay with the health of Number 13 and the strength and skill of the offensive line. The Alouettes lost this game, but no one got hurt. We participated but didn't play. The Section W Toot-Toot Salute goes out to place kicker Damon Duval. Monsters at Large : Hmmm, To the front of the class Mr. Botterill , Mr. Tugbenyoh , Mr. Anderson and Mr. Proulx . But our eyes were fixed on that youngster Jesse Lumsden. He will be something special in the years to come. Ahutla : Do or Die is the marketing cliché this week. Its' all do or die now. No matter how you look at it, this playoff game against the Riders from Regina is going to be tough. All along I've felt that the biggest single difference in our teams is the quarterback. Be on the look-out for Holmes and Keith. They like to run wild like a prairie fire. They have a solid defensive and offensive line. We'll have to finally put up a win at Olympic Stadium which for the most part has been nothing but a curse. Buy a ticket. Get to the game! The Grey Cup Crusade has just begun.
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Oct. 29, 2005 Montreal 43 @ Ottawa 23 |
The Montreal Alouettes resumed business as usual by taking the air out of the life of the Ottawa Renegades, by beating them 43-23. It was pretty much a ‘no-win' situation for our hometown heroes. To lose to the Renegades would presume a complete team collapse following the previous loss to the Argonauts. To win, would only presume the obvious. The Renegades seem almost pitiful despite individual talent in Murphy, Ranek and Joseph, there lacks a sense of chemistry on this team. Like the life has been sucked out it. The poor lame duck existence of coach Paopao is example of this. The painful admission of its players hoping the good ol' coach doesn't walk the plank at the end of the season, yet the inability of these same players to muster the on field courage to fight for his or their own lives. Anthony Calvillo pulled out his carving knives and diced up the Renegade secondary with 315 yards in the air. Fewer yards than that of his counterpart Kerry Joseph threw. But Anthony threw four touchdown passes which as anyone will tell you, is better that all the empty-pocket downfield marches you can imagine. The Alouettes now boast a receiving corps with four players over 1,000 yards receiving. An incredible feat. An incredible tribute to Anthony Calvillo considering two of them he had never worked with before (Watkins, Vaughn) and a third that rarely saw the ball last year (Stala). His main ally in the air corps, Ben Cahoon, fills out the Four Tops. It is also an incredible tribute to the offensive line who gives Anthony the protection to throw those passes and to provide the gaps along the ground so the Rrumbling Robert Edwards can claim his coveted 1,000 yard season as well.
Monsters at Large: Gotta love the work of Dave Stala, Mathieu Proulx, Sylvain Girard and certainly Anwar Stewart for his very timely quarterback sacks. What about Reggie Durden solid effort. And you gotta love the determination and effort put out by Renegade Josh Ranek . Ahuta : The Alouettes go through another dress rehearsal when they finish the season off with the Hamilton Tiger Cats in Ivor Wynne. A great opportunity to rest some of the veterans and give some others a good game day look. (Hello Ted White!). I don't care what the players say, Matthew could use a page out of Pinball Clemons manual, when last year Pinball was brutalized by the press for resting his starters in a meaningless game against the Alouettes, but proved to be the right decision when Toronto came back to beat the Tiger Cats and the Alouettes in playoff action.
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Oct. 22, 2005 Toronto 49 @ Montreal 23 |
It was supposed to be the match-up of the year. The winner comes out with a firm grasp of the Eastern division, a first round bye into the playoffs and home field advantage for the Eastern final. Pretty good swag for a good days work. Besides, wasn't it these same Argos who booted us in the teeth in the 2004 Eastern Final in front of another packed Olympic Stadium? A fitting opportunity for retribution, no? The Alouettes were coming off a huge character-building win against the BC Lions with enough momentum to battle the Argos tooth and nail. What transpired on the field in this game can only be summed up by the post game quotes "It was a total team collapse." – Coach Don Matthews "We won't be doing anything unless we become a better team in a hurry," slotback Ben Cahoon said after this carnage was over. "We looked like a high-school team out there." "That's not good at all ... 127 points. I'm sure the revamping will continue," defensive-back Kelly Malveaux said. "That was a disgusting outcome of the game. We didn't execute the assignments called. It's up to the players, at the end of the day, to execute." "It's hard to explain. I'm extremely disappointed," Cahoon said. "They had two sacks against us right off and that kind of set the tone," Anthony Calvillo said, "because after that, we really didn't do a whole lot." "That was embarrassing," he said. "I can't explain it. It's very sad. We've played the whole second half of the season to get to this point - and came out flat. We didn't step up to the challenge." "That was as embarrassing a game as I've been in," Als head coach Don Matthews said. "We have to take a long, hard look at a lot of things and see where we go from here. I'm at a loss to explain why we played like we did. I'm at a loss to explain why we played so badly with everything on the line.” For those of you who were there or who watched the game on the television need not to re-live this vile repugnant mess. To do so would be like rubbernecking at a roadside disaster. Not one team position came to play on this day. Suddenly the bottom has fallen out of what was supposed to be a systematic re-tooling for a trip to Vancouver in November. The Section W Toot-Toot Salute goes out to the 13th man. Ahutla : Our remaining games are against the hopeless Renegades and the struggling Tiger Cats. If any strategic tinkering is going to take place, it'll have to be then and in convincing fashion. They will like nothing better than to upset our applecart and with the cart rolling on only three wheels, anything can happen. Says Anthony Calvillo on the Toronto Argonauts, "I want to meet those guys again in the Eastern final." I hope so too, even now that the road is even more difficult with a probable Western team crossover. Until then, the Argos are our daddies until proven otherwise.
[Share your Beef and Grief .. Here!]
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Oct. 16, 2005 BC 44 @ Montreal 46 |
The much anticipated match-up between the teams heralded as the best in the league and the most improved in the league got a chance to flex muscle on the turf of Percival Molson Stadium on Sunday. The BC Lions on a bit of a losing streak after compiling 11 straight victories were looking forward to establishing themselves as kings of the jungle. The Alouettes on the other hand were looking forward to payback from the heartbreaking loss in Vancouver and to make their run for the Eastern Divisional title. Not to mention that master strategists Don Matthews and Wally Buono enjoy their competitive rivalry. The game began with a blast for Montreal , as the hometown heroes scored 17 unanswered points by the mid-point of the second quarter on a touchdown pass to Terry Vaughn and a touchdown run by Rrumbling Robert Edwards. Duval's field goal started the scoring and it looked as though the Alouettes were going to keep a firm grip on the game. That is until BC quarterback Casey Printers started to connect with Antonio Warren for a touchdown and a long bomb 75 yard touchdown to Ryan Thelwell. The momentum had swung to the Lions as they capitalized on quarterback sacks and interceptions to score these points. By half-time, having scored zero points in the first quarter, the Lions went to the dressing room with a 21-18 lead and a lot of chilled fans in the stands started to chew wet fingernails. As second half's go, the Alouettes always come out strong. This game was no different. The third quarter kicked off with Calvillo connecting with Anderson and a 50 yard toss to Kerry Watkins to move the ball quickly down the field to set up a six yard throw to Dave Stala in the end zone. The next series sees Calvillo execute another downfield drive to finish off with a 19 yard touchdown pass to Thyron Anderson. Calvillo was masterful using Edwards on the ground and Stala, Watkins and even Girard to keep the Lions guessing who the target was going to be. The Lions roared back using the quality of talent they have when Printers and Warren started to run wild on the Alouette defense. Casey was playing with the same impact we remember him from last year. As soon as any Alouette defender came close to him, he would spring loose out of the pocket and gain big yardage. He totaled 100 yards on 9 carries for the day and proved to be a most effective weapon for BC. He used the talents of Claremont , Simon and Thelwell to move the ball seemingly at will. With Antonio Warren capping a 3 yard touchdown run and a Thelwell two point conversion the Lions found themselves with a three point lead late in the fourth quarter. The backbreaker was the ensuing 91 yard kickoff by Anderson for a single point making a hopeful Alouette field goal to tie the game a useless objective. They had to score a touchdown. There was little time on the clock. There were no other options. As fans left for the exits, Calvillo staged what will be remembered as the finest comeback drive we have ever seen. And to start the drive off with an incomplete pass only made it more dramatic. Watkins, Anderson and Stala went to work getting themselves open, as the Als O-line held the rushing Lions at bay, allowing Calvillo to surgically dissect the BC secondary. Catch Stala, Catch Anderson, Catch Watkins and Catch Stala again who smartly got out of bounds to stop the clock with 4 seconds left and the ball on the Lion 20 yard line. No time left. No options left. It's all or nothing. We stood in the W and watched Calvillo set back into the pocket. His pass seemed to defy real time as it sailed what seemed forever across the field deep into the opposite corner of the end zone. BC Lion defender Sam Young who had played a solid game all day, lost track of it and a number 88 hanging behind him. Dave Stala leaps into the air, grabbing the ball and landed safely inside the chalk line. Touchdown! Fans exploded with delirious celebration, as fireworks went off and players mobbed Stala. The Als win a crucial game against a formidable foe and remain on the hunt for first place in the East.
Monsters at Large : Who can overlook the impact of this poised Anthony Calvillo these days? He seems to be able to not only sense a victory but has the will to find a way to taste it. Rrumbling Robert Edwards is living testimony that you will always be able to create yards if you keep your legs going. This hell of a horse is becoming very hard for defenders to bring down. His 2 TD's and over 100 yards rushing was a punishing compliment to Calvillo's Air Corps Attack. In as much as we racked up big yards, we also gave up big yards. There were times when Printers and Warren made Alouette defenders look like school yard kids playing tag. Ahutla . This was our last game together in the W . Any games from now on this season will be played at the Big O, including the humdinger on Saturday against the Argos for all the marbles in the East. Big High-Five to all the great fans who make this Section a lot of fun, especially the always unpredictable, always frantic, always zany Vendor from Vaudeville – the Peanut Man. See you all in the Big Owe.
[Start Sharing Yours .. Here!]
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Oct. 8, 2005 Montreal 38 @ Saskatchewan 34 |
Was this a possible preview to the 2005 Grey Cup? Some might suggest so considering the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are the two hottest teams in the CFL. In an anticipated bout between two teams that boast sturdy offensive lines, cagey ball receivers and powerful ground attacks, these two teams match up well on paper. This turned out to be the most exciting game of the season thus far. The Alouettes jumped to an early 14 point lead in the first quarter. Even with that lead you knew that the Riders would be coming up with a response. They began with a running attack that saw Kenton Keith and Chris Szarka gain momentum through the Alouette defense. The game ties up with touchdown passes from Crandall to Jason French and Corey Holmes and its game on. The biggest battles seem to be in the trenches. Both teams champion stellar offensive lines that fought some gnarly battles against their opposing defenses. Each offensive line opened holes for their star running back - Edwards (Mtl) and Szarka/Keith ( Sask ). The game could have blown open when a wide open Kerry Watkins dropped a sure touchdown pass deep into Saskatchewan territory. However, Watkins redeemed himself when Calvillo, on a desperate 2 nd down and long, connected with a 62 yard long bomb to Kerry which helped to set-up another Alouette touchdown. The Alouettes capitalized on costly Roughrider turnovers and a third quarter penalty for too many men on the field that made possible for an Alouette drive to continue and result in a Ben Cahoon touchdown pass. A tremendous effort on the part of the Alouettes as they prepare for the climb for first place in the Eastern Division. The Section W Toot-Toot Salute goes to Alouette quarterback Anthony Monsters at Large : Jonas Lewis is a special teams torpedo. He had two big tackles, one which resulted in a fumbled ball with the recovery. Rrumbling Robert continues to pulverize defensive linebackers with over 90 yards on the day. Mike Botterill playing for injured Duane Butler etched up 12 tackles and Reggie “Durdie” Durden was no slouch with eight. Ben Cahoon leaves me slack jawed the way he can get vertical, catch the ball, and land on his ass and call it a touchdown. Don Matthews and staff have caught on to the idea of using the backup quarterback for those short-yardage first down attempts. Now if only Ted White can 1) hang on to the snap and 2) get his head and shoulders Down for the plunge forward. Good job to Clinton Jones who did an admirable job filling in for Zoom Zoom Ezra Landry . Ahutla : This Sunday has our Als against the BC Lions who are now in hurt mode after the beating they took at Canad Inns Stadium. I'm hoping we can give them the beating they deserve after our heartbreaking loss in Vancouver just weeks ago. This is also our last game this year in Percival Molson Stadium. Always a sad time to have to say farewell to the good folks who make a home in Section W. The last regular season home game will be played in the raucous, cavernous, concrete hell of Olympic Stadium.
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Sept. 25, 2005 Winnipeg 23 @ Montreal 42 |
A chilly Saturday night in Calgary as Stampeder faithful endured the ache of watching their playoff drive stall. Rookie third-string Calgary quarterback Danny Wimprine was mauled by the Alouette defense right from the first series where Wimprine lost grip of the ball and fumbled to Marc Word. It was downhill for the Stamps from then on. While the Montreal offense appeared totally inept in the first half, it was the defense literally setting the table for the Calvillo squad to feast from. The Wimprine fumble recovery resulted in a field goal. A Karikari interception resulted in a Watkins TD pass. A punt return fumble recovered by Anwar Stewart and its back to the dining table for Cavillo's Carnivores. This time it was a 32 yard touch down toss to Terry Vaughn as the O-team kept eating up everything the defense and special teams could feed them. Meanwhile on the other side of the field it must have been painful for the hometown fans to watch the brave but futile effect young Wimprine was having. His three interceptions in the game were costly and largely the result of a rookie who is desperate to try and make something happen for his team. The defense racked up three sacks and three interceptions on Wimprine and kept the Calgary offence off balance all day. Finally in the fourth quarter, Montreal delivered the knock-out punches with both Lapointe and Calvillo running short-yardage plays into the end-zone. Ben Cahoon becomes the all-time Alouette pass receiver when his total 95 yards giving him a career 7,724 eclipsed the record of 7,699 yards held by the great Red O'Quinn. The Section W Toot-Toot Salute goes out to #5 Eric Lapointe. Monsters at Large: Claybrooks, Word and Philion are really beginning to put it together on defense. KJ returned to form with six tackles and QB sack. How about Terry Vaughn looking loose as a goose in his old McMahon Stadium haunt? Did any see if Copeland was on the field at all? Looked like “Durdie”, “Hari-Kari” and Malveaux were shutting down the gregarious Jeremaine. And again, how come Ted White doesn't get allowed into the game immediately after the Calvillo touchdown at the 7 minute mark of the fourth quarter. Is this a statement of Coach Matthew's confidence in Big Ted to hold a sizeable lead? This is the second game in a row that Ted gets to haul out the mop and pail with only a minute and change left in the game. Great confidence booster Don! Next game is in Regina with the surging Roughriders. This one will be a battlefield.
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Sept. 25, 2005 Winnipeg 23 @ Montreal 42 |
The last place Winnipeg Blue Bombers flew into Montreal for this Sunday afternoon match-up against the Alouettes and from the beginning kick-off seemed ready to upset the hometown favourites by taking advantage of sloppy plays and key turnovers. On an overcast afternoon that rained sporadically, the Alouettes in the first half of the game seemed to play with the same inconsistency. They threatened but never really delivered. A first quarter interception by Calvillo led to a Kevin Glenn pass to a Milt Stegall touchdown. In case the Alouettes didn't quite rehearse that one to perfection, Calvillo threw another interception pass into the arms of ex-Alouette Omar Evans who took a 22 yard romp into the end zone. By the end of the first quarter it was 14-3 Winnipeg . It was the closest sniff the Bombers would get to putting us away. If Calvillo's throwing arm is not going to warm up easily, the Alouette solution is easy. Hand it off to Rrumbling Robert Edwards. The Big Man is making quite an impression in the league and the game itself showcased two of its premier running backs with Edwards and Winnipeg 's Charles Roberts. Both displayed remarkable talent in following blocks and creating holes themselves. The second quarter sees Calvillo complete a great Alouette drive downfield and take the ball into the end zone on a perfect fake. Damon Duval and Troy Westwood duke it out in the field goal department neither of them missing one. But as the skies dry up and Anthony's arm warms up, the fireworks in the air begins to start. Tremendous long bombs to Cahoon, Watkins and Thyron Anderson softens up the Blue Bomber secondary so that Edwards can grind it out on the ground. Rrumbling Robert gained over 120 yards on 16 carries, while the Calvillo Air Corps were gouging themselves on hefty yardage in the air. Cahoon (85), Vaughn (53), Anderson (58), Stala (45) and Kerry Watkins with a whopping 164 yards on 7 catches. Calvillo ended the game going 25 for 35 for a huge 430 yards in the air. The second half of play exploded for 28 points that were methodically executed and convincing for the win. In as much as the Montreal Alouette offensive seemed to jack up the all purpose yards (635) and kept moving the chains, it was the Alouette defense from the start that maintained the course to victory. If this was the defense that was on the field in the beginning of the year, the outcome might have been different. This defense is getting much better. Despite being put in the hole in the first quarter, Stewart, Claybrooks, Word, Philion and the gang put big minutes on the field to keep this game from getting out of hand. They had the big job of pressuring Kevin Glenn and trying to keep Charles Roberts out of the end zone. Four times they stuffed the Blue Bombers on third down gambles and got the ball back.
Monsters at Large : Kerry Watkins was on fire in this game as was Rrumbling Robert . But Anthony Calvillo showed us his professionalism by responding to a very difficult first quarter and putting up all-star numbers. The O-line was fantastic once again (hope Chiu is alright) but the one player who really impressed these rain-soaked eyes was Winnipeg 's Charles Roberts . Its' one thing to see him run on television, but when you get a chance to see him live, you realize his amazing talent. And Away We Go : Ronnie James and his crew pack up the team's gear and head to Calgary for Saturday night. With the Stampeders on the limp at the QB position, expect to see a lot of running against our defense. Get the popcorn ready. It'll be a good game.
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Sept. 17, 2005 Montreal 26 @ BC 27 |
It was a torrential rainstorm Saturday night and your humble hack was gunning east on the 401 to the squeaking of old windshield wipers. It was already late, the game had started and my shotgun was busily searching the AM radio frequencies to find the much anticipated BC Lion and Montreal Alouettes broadcast. Finally locking in on the distant fuzzy tones of CJAD's Rick Moffat and Tony “the Staple gun” Proudfoot, we could sense that a real fistfight of a game was going on. There was no scoring to mention of in the first half other that a few kicking points traded off, the only major score was from the Lions when QB Dave Dickenson connected with Geroy Simon for a touchdown pass. What was very strange was in the first quarter, Montreal committed 5 line of scrimmage infractions, three of them from the O-line. The steering wheel took a pounding in frustration with every flag that flew. Either the sound in BC place was deafening or the rust from inactivity was showing. With the teams going to the locker rooms in a locked arm wrestle, the car caromed down the soaked pavement in Deux Montagnes. “Push-it “, my shotgun shouted. “”I'm giving it everything it can handle” I replied, imagining in my mind the same effort that was going on underneath my hood was equal to the effort the Als were putting on the field.. While the teams returned to the field, the lights of Dorion were above us. “Push-it” my shotgun urged. “Push-it” I imagined Coach Don Matthews urged his team. It was going to be a great finish. The score was still close until my fist pounded the steering wheel again after Jason Clermont's touchdown separated the teams by twelve points. The race was on. The car screeched to the front steps as Anthony Calvillo took to the field in the fourth quarter. Exhausted and spent, the glow that came from that television was the most exciting football I'd seen the Alouettes play. Calvillo donned the general's cap after the Lions scored another field goal. He zoned in with Ben Cahoon and four straight completions later, it was Cahoon in the end zone. “Push-it” we yelled at the television screen. Calvillo returns and marches the squad down the field again, this time connecting with Terry Vaughn who takes it into the end zone, followed by a Kerry Watkins two-point conversion. “Push-it” we both yell in unison at the colored screen before us. The Als have tied it up. But BC's Dave Dickenson has the ball and shows no mercy to the Alouette defense who has soldiered bravely in this game. He moves the ball quickly enough to score yet another touchdown pass, this time to Myers. This Lions team will not die. How can we drive a stake into its heart?! The camera then swings back the other direction. Its now back to Calvillo for the ante. In a series of pass completions that still amaze me to Cahoon, Edwards and Thyron Anderson, the Als are now on the BC three yard line. “Push-it” we scream at the top of our lungs, as Calvillo drops back and finds Dave Stala alone in the end zone. Touchdown! The Als can tie it up! Then it happens. The un-imaginable. The signal from the sidelines calls for a two point conversion attempt to win, not tie the game. Paper coasters, newspapers and obscenities are wildly hurled at the helpless television screen.” No!.. What are you doing?!!!” Then it occurred to us. The same risk and acceleration, the same drive, the same excitement that got us from our starting point hours ago to this very moment when Anthony Calvillo stepped in behind Chiu made sense. We both glanced quickly at each other, and then back to the screen. “PUSH-IT, PUSH-IT”.
Monsters at Large : Anwar Stewart , Tim Strickland , Kelly Malveaux , Reggie Durden , Duane Butler , and newbies Garrison and Word for battling with sabers drawn. The O-line bulldozers, Cahoon , Vaughn , Edwards , Stala and QB Anthony Calvillo for making every effort to catch, run and drive the ball downfield in the fourth quarter. This season is only beginning. Keep the teeth sharp and get ready for the Blue Bombers on Sunday. Ahutla :
[Would you? Could you? Tell us here!]
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Sept. 2 , 2005 Ottawa 18@ Montreal 41 |
It was as interesting a premise as any game this season. Renegade coach Paopao said that this game was the most important in Renegade history. The Alouettes knew that another loss to their two game losing streak would result in big changes for the team. With both the Renegades and the Alouettes proclaiming this as a must win, both battled for control of second place in the East. Ottawa quarterback Kerry Joseph used his best weapon, his feet, to gather 76 yards on the ground. His favourite receiver Jason Armstead caught 7 passes for 113 yards. Rather reminiscent to the numbers Burris and Lewis did with Calgary . But the big difference tonight, is that the Alouettes played a defense that was reminiscent of last year. It attacked. It flew. It ran wild. The defensive backs led by Curry, Chapman, Durden and Richard “Hari”Karikari stepped up to disrupt Renegade receivers and nail down two interceptions, both of them crucial. “Hari” Karikari jumped in front of a Joseph pass to bolt 81 yards for a touchdown and Curry snapped up a sure touchdown that was bobbled by Armstead in the fourth quarter. Linebackers Duane Butler and Kevin Johnson were electric. Johnson was the KJ of old, taking on a personal battle with Josh Ranek and Duane Butler with six tackles was all over the field. On the other side of the ball, Calvillo was masterful using seven different receivers, with a great couple of passes to Terry Vaughn and Kerry Watkins (who took a nice pass from Anthony 33 yards for a fourth quarter touchdown.) Damon Duval was productive with 4 field goals (and two great open field tackles), and Rrumbling Robert produced yet another great performance with +100 yards on 17 carries. The Alouettes played an inspiring second half of football and with this win now reset the table with seated diners squarely focused on the Argonauts. The Section W Toot-Toot Salute goes to Timothy Strickland for putting the Monsters at Large: Ed “Feel-Leon” Philion was playing like the king of the jungle out there with huge sacks and gap stuffers. He looked like he was flying with energy. How big a thrill it must have been for the Edwards family with brothers Rrumbling Robert and Terrence scoring Alouette touchdowns with Dad in the stands to watch. “Tugboat” Tugbenyoh and Anwar Stewart attacked hard all night and each nailed QB Kerry Joseph . You got to love the fire within Ottawa Renegade Josh Ranek . He's a punishing runner. Time now to get all the re-tooling greased up. The next game isn't until Sept. 17 when the Alouettes travel into the darkness. BC Place and its voodoo chill. It is a venue where we rarely come out alive. A win in BC would be a message that would resonate loudly throughout the league that these Alouettes are poised for a Grey Cup surge.
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Aug 26, 2005 Montreal 26 @ Edmonton 36 |
Commonwealth Stadium says a lot about Alberta. A debt-free province enjoying 1.5 billion dollar budget surplus is a common wealth shared by Albertans. The stadium is host to the most successful team in the CFL. With richness in success, the Edmonton Eskimos have never tolerated failure or mediocrity. An Eskimo two game losing streak is not something any opponent wants to face. Especially an Alouette team suffering from defensive insecurity. This insecurity was heightened as the Green and Gold threw upper-cuts at the Montreal defense. The game seemed to start off well enough with a first quarter QB sack on Ricky Ray by Mawuko “the Tugboat” Tugbenyoh, a Mathieu Proulx blocked punt, and a defensive line that seemed to plug the gaps on Ron McClendon. In fact, after trading touchdowns the only difference was a Eskimo safety scored by sacking Calvillo in the end zone, the score only 9-7 for Edmonton. But as time wore on, Eskimo QB Ricky Ray started to find his favourite receiver Jason Tucker open time and time again. Another coaching experiment by Don Matthews and staff put a totally inexperienced Taqiy Muhammad in the defensive secondary. Muhammad had only a handful of practices in the Canadian Football League, and was fed to the savvy of the most lethal offensive combinations in Ray/Tucker. Another Matthews decision gone awry. A decision uncomfortably similar to the one made in the 2003 Grey Cup game when the same Ray/Tucker combination feasted on rookie Alouette defenders. The chaos in the Alouette backfield seemed to unsettle the defensive corps, to the point where Butler and Strickland were scurrying around trying to cover long ball threats. There wasn't much success on the other side of the ball either. The O-line had trouble opening up the gaps, Rrumbling Robert Edwards managed only 19 yards on 8 carries and he was the team rushing leader in this game. Damon Duval missed two key field goal attempts, one which resulted in a downfield drive for Edmonton and a touchdown pass from Ray to Kwame Cavil in the fourth quarter. The game ended with Ted White throwing a TD pass to Kerry Watkins, which made the score look more respectable that what it really was. The Section W Toot Toot Salute goes out to Kerry Watkins . Mutterings : It was nice to see Robert Brown in the thick of it with the recovery of the Proulx blocked punt and a third quarter safety touch sack. Rrumbling Robert Edward's brother Terrence looked good with 6 catches for 44 yards. Hope we see more of him. Duane Butler recovered two loose ball fumbles and Dave Stala continues to impress with his own set of dependable hands. Eskimos Steve Charbonneau (fumble recovery), Kwame Cavil (TD) and William Loftus (Interception) all had good games against their former Alouette teammates. Jason Tucker's final stats were 9 catches for 217 yards. Incredible performance. Question: Why was Lamar Chapman , who seemed to have success covering Calgary's Jeremaine Copeland not on the field to go head to head against Jason Tucker? The Ottawa Renegades come into Percival Molson stadium on Friday. The Alouettes better get BOTH eyes opened in time for this game.
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Aug 18, 2005 Calgary 40 @ Montreal 37 |
The Calgary Stampeders rode into town on this day and like many of you, I was looking for them to get run right back out. But it was Calgary QB Henry Burris who did the running and his agility to escape Alouette defenders put the Stamps in position for a game winning field goal as time ran out. Just when we thought our defense was beginning to find its form after successful outings against the Argos and the Rider, in comes Hotshot Hank who more often than not will serve up a mental error if pressured, yet we make him look like a reincarnation of Warren Moon. Burris alone ran just short of 100 yards on 13 carries and threw for 327 yards with 2 touchdowns. The opening half survived an opening touchdown drive by Calgary as Burris connected with someone named Ralph. How he got all alone in the backfield will have to be determined by the video coaches this week. Yet the Alouette offense responded with first half scores by an inspired Dave Stala and Terry Vaughn. With every step forward, it seemed like another step back. It was a slugfest with blows absorbed with each one thrown. Touchdowns traded and field goals traded, the Alouettes led at halftime because they were holding the ball when time expired. A great Canadian football play by Stala who punted a pass reception into the end zone for a rouge (don't ya love CFL!) was a highlight second quarter play. However the second half showed our defensive weaknesses as the Stamps moved the ball up and down the field. Not only did the secondary not get an interception, but can anyone remember if there was even a pass knocked down? The defense was unable to contain or pressure Burris into mistakes and he beat them with his feet and his throwing arm. As Calvillo marched the team down for a field goal to tie the game with less than a minute left, Calgary ended up winning the game because the Alouettes could not take the ball back from Calgary and allowed them to get into field goal range for DeAngelis. Last man with the ball wins. The feeling is best summed up this post game quote: "This erases everything we've done the last two weeks," strong-side linebacker Timothy Strickland, the Als' defensive captain, "We couldn't get it done," Strickland continued. "I don't know how we think we're going to get to a Grey Cup when we can't get a stop."
Monsters at Large : You can't overlook the big effort by Anwar Stewart . Playing both sides of the ball, Stewart made a nice pass reception, a QB sack and a couple of great tackles. Rrumbling Robert Edwards etched up another 100yard plus effort. This guy has tons of power. I honestly don't know how we can legitimately take Rrumbling Robert off the field. Terry Vaughn played like I remember him from Edmonton . Not only great catches but great yards after catch. Dave Stala is running some heads-up routes and showing good hands and big effort. It's off to Edmonton for the next game. The Green and Gold play with grit. And this Alouette team needs to match it.
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Aug 12 ,2005 Montreal 18 @ Toronto 10 |
It was the much anticipated rematch of July 28, this time the Alouettes were the visiting team at Skydome ..er .. Rogers Center . Over 30,000 came out to see the Eastern Division tussle, which is great news for the Argos and the CFL. It wasn't long ago that when Montreal Train Game fans once surprised a local Skydome-area sports bar for a quick lunch, the manager needed to be told there was a CFL game being played no more than 100 feet from this front door. No one needed prompting for this game. If the Alouettes ever started a game with as near a perfect opening drive, can someone please tell me? It was carefully orchestrated and executed with military precision. Other than an overthrow by Calvillo to Watkins, the drive was picture perfect. It was a balance of throwing and running, 13 plays, six minutes of first quarter play, and 75 yards later, the Als were in the end zone with Rrrumbling Robert Edwards. The Alouettes owned the first half of play. The Argo defense was kept guessing as to where the ball was going to be thrown to, or where Edwards would be running. Calvillo was masterful in disguising his plays, giving chances to everyone. The score could have been even bigger had opportunities in the red zone (a notable Watkins drop) been capitalized. Damon Duval had to come in to kick a pair of 14 yard field goals in the first half, when it really seemed apparent that the Als were destined for touchdowns. The Alouette defense gave Argo back-up QB Michael Bishop no time to establish any rhythm, the Argos being forced 2 and out series after series. At the end of the first half the Alouettes found themselves with a solid 14-0 lead. The second half saw Damon Allen return to the field for the Argonauts. His appearance seemed to inspire the Argos and they began to move the ball. Prefontaine got the Argos on the marker with a 50 yard field goal, but credit must be given to the Als defense behind Kevin Johnson and Tim Strickland. While only yielding one major score (a TD pass to Arland Bruce) the Als kept Toronto off balance not allowing them into field goal range. A solid performance by Montreal as they even up the Argonaut series one game a piece. The deciding game between these two teams will be played at the Big Owe on October 22.
Monsters at Large : Offensive Co-coordinators Doug Berry and Kevin Strasser for putting together a game plan that not only worked but was executed as instructed. Rrumbling Robert Edwards continues to mow through yardage with 21 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. Newcomers Lamar Chapman (DB) with 2 interceptions and Clinton Wayne (DL) with a fumble recovery. Welcome to Montreal ! And you're welcome to stay in Montreal too, Tim Gilligan , you just gotta hang onto the ball! Next game is Thursday with the return of fan favourite Jeremaine Copeland. Let's make sure there's no dancing in our park!
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Aug 4,2005 Saskatchewan 13 @ Montreal 42 |
Welcome Back! Welcome back Marc Megna. Welcome back Almondo Curry. Welcome back the Alouette Aerial Gladiators. On this hot humid evening in Montreal , fans were treated to the way things used to be. The hapless Saskatchewan Roughriders came to town hoping to end a two game losing streak but ran head on into an Alouette defense that took a page out of last year's playbook and played aggressively at high speeds. The first quarter opened with a James Whitley forced fumble scooped up by Duane Butler for a TD. It's Almondo Curry robbing Rider Richardson in the end zone for an interception. Then its Kelly Malveaux flying in the air for a one handed interception. Duane Butler scoops up another loose ball caused by an Anwar Stewart collision. What does all this mean? It means the defense came out with sabers drawn. They played without trepidation. They stormed the walls. The installment of Mr. Intensity Marc Megna supercharged the defensive corps. His pad slapping encouragement lights the fires under Ed Philion and Anwar Stewart who both excelled in running down Rider QB's Greene and Crandall. He brings a speed level to the field that may have been lacking in previous games. On the other side of the ball Anthony Calvillo remained calm and poised and steered the offense for four touchdowns. His favourite target Ben Cahoon displayed great athleticism snaring great crossing route passes and a leaping end zone touchdown. What the Alouettes did best was to gangbash Rider receivers to limit their after catch yardage. To see the defense, offense and special teams executing with precision is a benchmark moment we've been hoping to see. The team looked prepared and willing to execute different schemes. It was even great to see Zoom Zoom Ezra used in a good end-run play. The Section W Toot Toot Salute goes out to running back Robert Edwards. Ahutla : The visiting Riders committed seven turnovers (3 fumbles, 4 interceptions). In as much as this was a result of Alouette play, this kind of self-injury is suicidal if the Riders expect any success this season. Ben Cahoon 's injury may see him out for 4 to 6 weeks. The replay on the television will even make you wince. Hurry back Ben, you know we need you badly. Dave Stalla will get more balls thrown to him when he holds on the ones he's given. Terry Vaughn and Anthony Calvillo are just seconds/inches from making great things happen. Now that Big Ben is on the limp, I'd like to see this combo really ignite. Monster Mash: James Whitley, Duane Butler, Kelly Malveaux, Anwar Stewart, Ben Cahoon and of course Anthony Calvillo all came with the big plays today. Next Week: The Toronto Argonauts. It will be a pivotal game that may decide the outcome of the East Division.
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July 28,2005 Toronto 36 @ Montreal 24 |
The Toronto Argonauts, 2003 Grey Cup champions came to Montreal on this Thursday night expecting to confront a riled and agitated Alouette team, instead wrecked havoc on the home team reeling them into the ropes. Like many of you, I was looking for revenge on the Eastern Divisional playoff loss to these same Boatmen when they knocked us out of our bid for the Grey Cup. This was the first of three match-ups this year and a game where we needed to set the tone - at home. In front of another capacity crowd, the Als looked lost. Defenseless. Desperately they try to locate the right key to activate the right scheme to come up with the right play. This is not our defense. This is not our Alouette defense. For the most part, these are the same men but this is not the ferocious attack defense that used to send opposing teams to the canvas. Key positions in the defense are being occupied by tackling dummies and I don't mean the lay figures used on a practice field. Give credit to Argo QB Damon Allen who took all the steamboats the Als gave him to engineer 4 touchdowns. But you can only beat Allen if you chase him into the ground and force him to make mistakes. John Avery returned to form making Alouette defenders look silly trying to tackle him. The defense is being exploited at the line and in the backfield. When Argo defensive back Byron Parker is put into the offense and scores a touchdown standing all alone in the end zone and when John Avery tosses a touchdown pass himself to Andre Talbot you begin to realize that Alouette Defensive Coach Chris Berry better get out his box of Snap-On's and retool this defense. In a hurry! The Section W Toot Toot Salute goes out to Chiu, Lambert, Okeke, Fritz, Flory and Mudge. This stalwart O-LINE remains the sturdiest unit on the entire Alouette team. They continued to give Calvillo good protection to enable him to pass for over 300 yards. They delivered the smash to convert a critical third down attempt into a first down. They opened the holes to allow Edwards and Lapointe their yardage and crushed the Argo defensive line on the Lapointe touchdown. Unfortunately they are not allowed to carry or catch the ball, but if they were I can see Okeke lumbering into the end zone to finish off a red zone drive, or Chiu leaping Cahoon - style for a touchdown pass. Cheers with Beers for the BIG O Line! Wandering Wonderings : Now that Davis Sanchez is no longer with us, who is responsible for helping Kelly Malveaux navigate in the defensive backfield? I'm not sure my Buster Brown compass will help his lost and lonely look out there. Rookie Matthieu Proulx was put in to replace injured Darrel Crutchfield . Will this finally be the incident that forces SPCA gatekeeper Don Matthews to allow Almondo Curry out of the doghouse? Do we really believe that Marc Megna is not playing because of a rib injury? How much longer is this team entitled to its “don't worry, the season is young” alibi for its sub-par performances. The injury riddled Roughriders from Regina limp into Montreal this Thursday, Aug 8. They have a .500 record. If we're lucky Thursday, maybe we can have one too. WHAT TIME IS IT? ………………IT'S TIME TO GET BUSY!! !
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July 22,2005 Montreal 46 @ Winnipeg 51 |
July 22, 2005 Montreal 46 @ Winnipeg 51 With a week off to tend to nagging injuries, personal matters and game film the Montreal Alouettes resumed their CFL season with a visit to Canad Inns Stadium against the winless Bluebombers. The Winnipeg team have been boasting a robust defense but been plagued with an anemic offense. However starter Kevin Glenn was returning from injury and perennial all-star Milt Stegal has for weeks been burning the ears of his fellow teammates to get in the game. Well what a game it was. Although it can be said the Alouettes were sloppy and mistake riddled, the ensuing slugfest was reminiscent of the old Batman television series where everyone throws hits and punches but no one goes down for the count. You smelled disaster when Ezra Landry got torpedoed in the first quarter to cough up the football for a Winnipeg touchdown. Or when Kwame Cavil and Dave Stala started to drop passes. Or when the defense couldn't contain an inspired Charles Roberts who ran freely away from Alouette defenders. Or Wes Lysak's jarring tackle on Ben Cahoon that seemed so devastating that it loosened a few fillings in my own teeth! The Alouette defense, usually stingy and dominant was being dictated to in the first half of play. It may have been 24-10 for the Bluebombers at halftime but this game was played in punch-counterpunch fashion. Introducing #86 Ben Cahoon. It's Cahooon! in the end zone in the third quarter with a 38 yard touchdown from Calvillo. On the same play that Lysak almost separated his head from his shoulders, Ben bounces from the turf to come within inches of tackling the Bluebomber. Then it's Ben in the end zone again, out muscling the Winnipeg defender for a fourth quarter touchdown pass. Screams of Cahoooon! resonate from Montreal living rooms everywhere when it's Ben again with the 2 point conversion following a Kerry Watkins touchdown in the fourth quarter. Anthony Calvillo was on fire helping orchestrate a 27 point final period for a hopeful come from behind victory. But remember, its punch-counterpunch football. Our blitz attack defense had holes blasted in it when Roberts ran solo for 69 yards into the Montreal end zone. The final blow came when Stegall grabbed a Kevin Glenn pass and slipped away from Timothy Strickland's missed tackle to cement the deal. When the dust settled and the total 97 points were counted, it was Winnipeg who got to scratch up their first win in the 2005 CFL schedule. The Section W Toot Toot Salute goes to Ben Cahoon . We would like to courier Ben a Purple Heart medal and a box of Advils. If its one player that epitomizes the “Never say Die” attitude it's Ben. With all the heroic catches he made (7 for 146 yards and 2 TD's) and the punishing hits he rebounded from, he even had to endure a blast to the head from his own teammate. Attempting a two point conversion, Calvillo throws a meteor off Ben's head; the ball ricochets fifty feet in the air for a Bluebomber interception. Ouch! Great Playing Big Ben!! Monsters At Large : Newcomer Dave Mudge seemed to enjoy getting some good licks on some old friends with his return to Winnipeg . Terry Vaughn appeared on the radar in the second half and not a minute too late. Vaughn made some inspiring plays when he got the ball from Calvillo. You heard it here again; Damon Duval is getting a sense of calmness about him and will become in time the CFL's finest kicker. Both Charles Roberts and Keith Stokes once again displayed great performances while playing against Montreal . Couch Chatter : Similar quotes like:” Great game,we(the Als )played like shit, but a great game” CFL Favour : Okay, for the betterment of the league, we surrendered two losses to teams that needed their first wins of the season with Ottawa and Winnipeg . Enough already. We expect to see sharpened teeth and the desire for payback when the Toronto Argonauts come to Percival Molson on Thursday July 28. Don't ever forget. These are the same Argonauts that kicked us in the head in front of 50,000 fans at Olympic Stadium in last year's division final. ARRRGOS SUCK : Yes they do. Read about it all on www.argos-suck.com [Shout It Shout It Out Loud !]
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July 8,2005 Edmonton 29 vs. Montreal 32 |
Friday, July 8, 2005 Edmonton 29 @ Montreal 32 Special teams, Special plays on a Special night at Percival Molson Stadium. Hiking up the hill we all anticipated a good on field fistfight. These were the Edmonton Eskimos and the toughest challenge for the Als in this new season. You could feel the sense of expectation in the crowd just before kickoff. That same expectation turned to clenched fists as the first quarter ended. The Eskimos carved their way through the Alouette defense almost at will. Moving the ball behind quarterback Ricky Ray, Edmonton jumped to an early 14-0 lead by the end of the first 15 minutes. While the Alouette offense failed to show any rhythm with the ball, the defense gathered its strength and shut the Eskimos down in the second quarter. So with the Alouette Offense sputtering, the Defense battling a five bell, red alert fire, it was the Special Teams who rode in like the Calvary . It will be a play that will remain with us when we revisit this season in the months to come. It's a play I can rewind on my VCR over and over again. Zoom Zoom Ezra Landry catching an errant Sean Fleming field goal attempt and high gearing it around Eskimo defenders coming at him from every direction. Like a Super Mario cart, Ezra displayed incredible speed, agility and balance sidestepping Eskimo landmines everywhere. An exhausting 125 yards later and Landry is in the end zone and the Alouettes have cut the Eskimo lead in half. Not only that but the entire team and stadium is energized by this touchdown. To the disbelief of everyone in the stadium and I'm sure Edmonton coach Danny Maciocia, Landry returns to the spotlight again when in the third quarter he returns a third down punt 74 yards for another exciting touchdown. Not only is this guy swift but he's playing a very smart game of football. Taking a knee in the fourth quarter to surrender a game tying point to Edmonton was a great play by Ezra because it allowed the Alouettes good field position to set up the dramatic final moments. These same dramatic moments would be provided by another heads-up play from Ezra. Fielding a punt in the dying seconds of the game, Zoom Zoom hits the ground to stop the clock thereby giving his team the chance to win with 0.2 seconds left on the clock. In comes Damon Duval, who has already launched a pair of long bomb field goals of 42 yards, to take a 48 yard attempt. The crowd is absolutely buzzing with tense excitement as Duval lines up for the kick. The ball is UP UP and AWAY and the euphoric roar from the 20,202 faithful is deafening. An incredible effort from the Special Teams to put these precious two points in the standings. The Section W Toot Toot Salute goes to the lion from Southern State. Zoom Zoom Ezra Landry ! Providing heart-stopping electricity he supercharged everyone to give us this win. A big High-Five to the Big E.!
Monsters at Large : Anwar Stewart and Ed Philion played like monsters Friday. Battling in the trench all night long they twice gave Rick Ray a taste of Percival turf at very critical times in the first and fourth quarters. Big Boys with Big Hearts. As well, Special Team blocking assignments were perfectly executed to allow Zoom Zoom his plays to the end zone. Duval is giving us another game day experience and showing some pro poise. The kid has a bazooka attached to his hip. Something's wrong when the leading rusher for Alouettes is Anthony Calvillo . His twenty yards on the ground is one more yard than what Lapointe had. Take nothing away from Eric. He only touched the ball six times. Gotta love Richard “Hari” Karikari . Using his quick reads and quick speed he grabbed two Rick Ray passes. Did Edmonton's Joe Montford get a sack in this game? I don't thnk so! Better thank Uzooma Okeke for that big job. Ahutla : We may have only moved the yardsticks twenty times Friday night, but I think we emptied many more cups of Molson's coldest. Friday night Alouette football and Jazzfest is just the kind of tonic that makes for great Montreal fun. The next Thrill on the Hill takes place Thursday July 28 against the Argos . Bring your Hate-On!
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July 1 , 2005 vs. Ottawa--Montreal 36 @ Ottawa 39 |
Just when we were going to launch a few celebration fireworks into the air to celebrate Canada Day and an Alouette victory in the nation's capital, all hell breaks loose.
Like many of us who were watching the game on television, you had one eye on the game and one eye on the clock because July 1 st means Canada Day festivities, unpacking boxes in your new place, enjoying family bbq's, trekking to the jazz fest and taking in the fireworks. If one thing seemed in the bag, it was the convincing way the Alouettes held down the Renegades. Through three quarters of football there was enough evidence on the field of Frank Clair Stadium to say that if we weren't able to beat the Renegades, the Renegades would beat themselves.'Gades started the game with a lack of confidence and a slew of terrible penalties. By the end of the game, Ottawa had surmounted the most improbable come from behind wins to upset the startled and stunned Alouettes. The game began in typical methodical fashion. Calvillo was brilliant in his use of all his weaponry. Despite losing Girard early on, Anthony connected with a corner pass to Cahoon, and a running waltz into the end zone himself. Fullback Mike Vilimik had a great game bulldozing for a touchdown and a great catch and run play from Calvillo. On defense, Duane Butler and Kevin Johnson provided the metal hammering. Going into the fourth quarter and the score was 33-10 for the Als. Who else reading this thought this was a great time to stoke up the 'Q' and start patting up the burgers. A comeback from Ottawa was about as likely as a rebel Afghan rifleman taking down a helicopter gunship. And as the bullets began to fire from the arm and legs of ‘Gades quarterback Kerry Joseph and as the Ottawa defense stiffened up, the gunship took a heavy hit. With an end zone Joseph/Cutolo combination, a fumble recovery on Kerry Watkins, stuffing an Alouette third down gamble, the Montreal gunship blew smoke and began to lose control. In the dramatic overtime, with the Alouettes firmly fixed in their crosshairs, it was a single shot off the foot of former Alouette Matt ‘Kick-It” Kellet that took the Alouette gunship to the ground. In total disbelief, the Renegades now find themselves in a one-game winning streak. As for the Als, it looks like surveyors will be asked to scan the wreckage and find out why this high-flying plane came down. Section W Toot Toot Salute goes to slotback Terry Vaughn . His first official game as an Alouette and we get a peek at the all-star talent this man had as a Stampeder and an Eskimo. 11 catches for 160 yards is something to take notice of. This is going to be the first of many pitch and catch sessions we'll be seeing between Calvillo and Vaughn. Thumbs Up Terry! Ahutla : How about RB Robert Edwards ? . Big size, agility, speed. Gotta give him another look. He has some fiery edge. Can't figure out that third down throwing gamble the Als took in the fourth quarter. You've got the best O-line in the league thirsty about whacking a few ‘Gade defenders and either Lapointe or Edwards ready to bust a hole. Why do you throw for a one-yard gain? Duane Butler was a monster out there. This guy is quick and disciplined. Even when Kerry Joseph deftly dove into the end zone for a TD, Butler maintained his gap coverage. Someone should tell O'Neil Wilson it's easier to catch a ball with his hands than with his facemask. Damon Duval got out kicked in this game, but once his gets some more experience this guy will soon be as good as Prefontaine . Athutla Hutla : Some quotables from memory: Ed Philion :” we've gone 9-0 in the past and nothing came of it. It's a long season. We'll be ready” Saskatchewan 's Daved Benefield on the nervy win over Hamilton : ” After watching Ottawa come from behind and beat Montreal , you know that anything can happen in the CFL. This is going to be a great season for the league” Ahem. |
June 22, 2005 Hamilton 21 @ Montreal 31 |
It was a game filled with celebrations as the Alouettes kicked off the 2005 season with their first victory. The visiting Tiger Cats could not keep pace with the second half Alouettes and fell short in upsetting the hometown favorites. Als quarterback Anthony Calvillo filled the air with balls 41 times, completing 26 of them for a total of 342 yards. One of those passes was to Ben Cahoon and with trusty No. 86 making the catch, established Calvillo as the all-time pass completion Alouette quarterback passing by Sam “The Rifle “ Etcheverry. That same pass completion by Ben established him as the Alouette leading pass receiver with 500 receptions, passing Red O'Quinn. The first half was the typical slow start we've seen in the past. It's what you would expect for the first game of the season. The offence started to move the ball in the second quarter but couldn't convert some golden opportunities into big scores. Aside from a three yard plunge by Vilimik, the Als points came off the foot of Damon Duval. It wasn't until the second half that Calvillo started to connect with some big tosses to Girard and Watkins. All the while the Alouette defense held firm, not allowing Hamilton 's Danny McManus to put his team into the end zone. As much as this was a win filled with important individual milestone markers, we would have to agree with Calvillo's post game thoughts when he mentioned the team had to do a better job protecting the ball. Lost opportunities on fumbles and missed catches almost cost the Alouettes the game. This is bound to happen with a team that is fielding some key positions with players who don't have a lot of game experience. Nonetheless, the two points are up on the standings and the new season will begin to unfold. We have some great players who are quickly mending and knowledge that our young replacements can get the job done.
Ahutla : On the other side of the ball, veteran quarterback Danny Mac made his own record, surpassing his boss Ron Lancaster for the second spot on the all-time passing leader charts. Don Matthews celebrated his 66 th birthday, on this festive, energy charged day. And of course, the classy way the Alouettes paid tribute to Mike Pringle by allowing Mike to be introduced to the fans … and coming onto the field in full gear wearing the classic jersey of the late nineties. The pregame “ Fort Bop ” included Mike as the team raised him up on their shoulders. To complete the ceremony Pringle gave a classy speech to all the fans. It was very special to see the hundreds of #27 jerseys being worn by the fans. Ahutla Hutla : The Alouettes gave us 27 first downs on this game. This might explain a few sore arms today. Big cheers to all the returning section fans and all the new folks who participated in the fun. |
with his special teams play and ended by stepping up to the call of duty to replace his fallen comrade. Eric took charge of the gamelan's ground strategy and put together some brilliant runs. Which way are we going Eric? Lapointe points to the west. It's off to YVR. Big High-Five to the Big E! 
Anthony Calvillo . His leadership and masterful execution made everyone on the offense successful and in turn helped push this team to a successful conclusion. Quick reads, zipped passes and most of all no mistakes. Atta-boy Anthony! 
With field goals 49, 47, and 20 yards, Damon got into the groove we need if we're going to be successful in this playoff drive. Besides it was Damon who gave us all our points. How SWEET he was! High-Five Damon. 
The Section W Toot Toot Salute goes to receiver Terry Vaughn. Vaughn seemed possessed in his routes and YAC's. (Yards after Catches) He also helps place the Alouettes in position to claim a return bout with Toronto with his experience and his consistent play. High-Five to Terry! 
The 51,279 fans who came to the stadium prepared for this game. They purchased their tickets. They made sure all their personal and professional responsibilities were taken care of so they could venture to the Olympic Stadium for this important game. They made their travel plans from everywhere to support the Alouettes. They came ready to cheer as loud as needed to urge the hometown favourites on. Thumbs-up to all the faithful fans that came to play on this day. 
The Section W Toot-Toot Salute goes to Dave Stala . Not only was his heroic catch a moment that will remain etched in our stories of reflective folklore, but his totals were fabulous. He had 11 catches for 109 yards and two big touchdowns. And as we read these words at this moment, this is only the beginning for what should be a stellar career for the young Stala. High-Five Dave! 
Calvillo . Considering many of the matchups between the two teams were equal, the deciding factor was the maturity, skill and poise of Calvillo. He stuck to the game plan and used his receivers as effectively as he used his running game with Edwards. His bootleg touchdown was picture perfect as was his masterful use of the clock late into the fourth quarter to seal the deal for a Damon Duval field goal. Crandall is no Calvillo and it was Anthony who tipped the scales in Montreal 's favour. High-Five Anthony!. 
The Section W Toot - Toot Salute goes out to Duane Butler of the Alouette defense. His six tackles and one fumble recovery was a solid effort for a defensive corps. Thumbs-Up Duane! This defense is ready now to pack its bags for the two weeks of travel ahead of it against teams that will be itching to run. (Reynolds in Calgary , Keith in Regina ) 
The Section W Toot-Toot Salute could be shared by many, but goes to the passionate warrior Ed Philion. Ed wore his heart out and kept his fist clenched in the air. His two Dickenson sacks and three tackles were symbolic of an Alouette defense that fought savagely against the premier team in the league and proved to themselves and every other team watching, that this bunch is poised for the finish line sprint. 
Argue and debate “the Call”, but he is the Don. Not a coach in the league would have called that. It may not have worked now. I hope we get the chance where it may work and Reward us later. 
jak into the yak. All week long Tim took the team and the media on to challenge everyone to their best games of the year. Strickland was flying all over the field notably stuffing an Ottawa attempt to drive an errant field goal into the end zone. He also not only put the lick on Joseph to open the ball up to “Hari”Karikari interception but provided the police escort for Richard to reach the goal line. Way to bring the ‘A' game Tim! 
Watkins caught eight passes for 130 yards and a TD and teamed up with Dave Stala to provide the best receiving combination for the Alouettes. Keep it up Kerry! 
The Section W Toot Salute goes out to a Slotback named Desire . Without doubt, the news this week of Ben Cahoon's six week absence was a blow to the Montreal offense. Mighty big shoes to fill. But to fill the gap, who does the coach call on? STA-LA!. When the Alouettes need some trusty hands to make some great plays who do they go to? STA-LA!(8 receptions for 103 yards) When Duval looks around for a holder for the first quarter convert who gets called in? STA-LA! When the same Duval gets tossed out of the game for throwing a couple of punches at Argo Idiot Mike Crumb, who shrugs off a painful leg injury to go into the game to do the teams' kicking? STA-LA! (2 punts for 80 yards total) A Big Effort in a key game! Bravo Dave Stala ! 
Running behind an inspired O-Line (who must have been excited to be involved in such a running game) Edwards rolled to almost 150 yards showing both strength and agility. Not only that but he added another 24 yard on 4 pass receptions. Whatever war-torn injuries he suffered in the past, Edwards showed us glimpses of his brief heroic NFL career and we hope to be seeing much more of that as the season wears on. Atta-Boy Edwards! 
QB Anthony Calvillo opened the game with a solid drive using receivers Dave Stalla and Kerry Watkins but again stalled in the red zone and came away with only a single point on a missed field goal by Damon Duval. A lot of hard work for very little reward. This seemed to be the underlying theme for the game. Each time the Alouettes were able to get some offensive momentum going, undisciplined penalties diffused the drive. (2 offside penalties to Terry Vaughn, a brain-cramp unnecessary roughness and offside penalties to Kwame Cavil were glaring examples of drive busters) Success on the field belonged to Kerry Watkins and Dave Stalla who combined made up over 200 yards in pass receptions. Eric Lapointe continues to be productive in the backfield. His 86 yards on the ground on 12 carries produced one touchdown, while Robert Edwards contributed 27 yards on only 4 carries. But where is the finish? Where is the Red Zone polish? An offense is only threatening when its momentum downfield converts to 7 points. If that doesn't happen then the defense is called in to keep the game on. 
