Inexperienced Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander outscores Saskatchewan 17-0 in second half
It’s OK? You’re sure?
With a Command Centre run amok by randomly and incorrectly applying rules, adding time willy-nilly to the clock, embarrassing its on-field officials and befuddling the head coaches, Montreal rode the efforts of little-known quarterback Davis Alexander to a come-from-behind, 20-16 victory over the visiting Roughriders.
It’s apparently official; no rulings will be changed retroactively.
With headache-inducing airhorns again overwhelming TSN’s audio feed from Percival Molson Stadium, Alexander played the second half surprisingly well and completed his first 12 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns to Reggie White Jr. Montreal overcame a 16-3 deficit by outscoring the Roughriders 17-0 in the second half.
Saskatchewan’s defence was just too effective in shutting down quarterback Caleb Evans, who was replacing injured starter Cody Fajardo (pulled hamstring). So Alouettes head coach Jason Maas gave Alexander his first playing time this season, catching the usually well-prepared Roughriders unprepared for the pivot’s throwing accuracy and ability to duck a blitz by linebacker C.J. Reavis.
On offence the Roughriders started furiously, getting a field goal on their opening possession and a first-quarter touchdown run by Frankie Hickson, who carried 14 times in the first half for 98 yards but only four times in the second half for 19 yards.
Wait a second! We’ve been told we can’t say that about Ouellette. Must be a Command Centre edict.
Football will never be played perfectly. Nor will it ever be officiated perfectly. Trying to get everything perfect via incessant video reviews, the Command Centre wasn’t supposed to take over games. It was supposed to quickly correct only the most obvious mistakes, instead of making everything worse, to the point where it nearly destroyed an intriguing showdown between the CFL’s top teams.
Montreal deserved to win without all the unnecessary disruptions. Watching the game’s closing minutes was downright painful, as the coaches kept asking, “What’s happening” and getting explanations from guys wearing striped shirts and enough walkie-talkies, earpieces and microphones to conduct an Apollo launch.
When Saskatchewan’s Mario Alford might have fumbled a second-quarter punt return, Riders head coach Corey Mace was reaching for his challenge flag. He didn’t have to because possession changes are on a long list of things the Command Centre can review without a coach’s challenge.
TSN’s replay showed Alford was clearly down before he fumbled, so the Roughriders should have retained possession.
Not so, ruled the Command Centre, which let Montreal keep the football. It happened again with consequences in the third quarter, by mysteriously intervening in a play that ended with an Alouette evidently recovering a fumble by Alexander. The initial ruling was an incompletion, even though it didn’t sound or look like a whistle had blown to stop play.
The omnipresent Command Centre changed the call, allowed the forward fumble and set up the Alouettes for a successful third-and-one gamble, instead of leaving them to kick a field goal. The drive culminated in a touchdown pass that put Montreal ahead 17-16.
The coaches didn’t do any better.
Mace and Maas badly botched their respective challenges on obvious calls that never would have been overturned. And the Roughriders lost six points because kicker Brett Lauther, on field-goal attempts from 57 and 53 yards, hit a crossbar and an upright.
The Alouettes deserve credit for effectively blitzing and neutralizing Riders quarterback Shea Patterson, who has led his team to a respectable 2-2 record through Saskatchewan’s toughest stretch while replacing injured starter Trevor Harris (knee sprain). He hasn’t been perfect, but who has?
The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.
With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.