The name of Russian forward Ivan Demidov is on everyone’s lips in Montreal, but that of Alouettes head coach Jason Maas also fueled some discussion Friday night in Toronto, when he showed audacity in a 30-20 win against the Argonauts.
By winning, the Alouettes organization above all set a team record, obtaining a ninth consecutive victory in the regular season.
The Alouettes had indeed won their last five games of the 2023 campaign and the team has now won its first four games this season. Including the three victories signed during the most recent playoff run leading to the Grey Cup, we are also talking about a 12e straight-up win for the Montreal club. The Alouettes have not lost a single game since September 15.
Hats off to Maas who, for some, never hesitates to show ingenuity. Others will bluntly say that he has “balls”.
Antwi, the little rascal
The Montreal football club was leading by seven points in the third quarter, when Jeshrun Antwi made his little mistake again. He made a short 1-yard field goal for himself in a finely prepared play called by Maas.
Antwi had already done the same thing last season, on September 30 in a victory against the Ottawa Redblacks that allowed the Alouettes to qualify for the playoffs. By dropping the ball on the ground, then kicking it and recovering it on the other side of the line of scrimmage, he gave the Alouettes a first down.
The Montreal club, which was then on a second down and 20 yards to go, was thus able to continue its offensive sequence, which ended with another surprising play, a long pass from Caleb Evans to Cole Spieker for the touchdown . This time, on a third down and a yard to go. Once again, we must salute the audacity of Maas.
An important victory
Beyond the Alouettes’ team record, the victory obtained in Toronto could have a significant impact towards the end of the season. Who knows if this result will not decide between the first two positions in the Eastern division? The advantage of getting a bye and being able to play the Eastern final at home is not negligible.
The Alouettes and the Argonauts will face each other two more times between now and the end of the season, July 11 in Montreal, then September 28 in Toronto.
By starting the current season with four victories, the Alouettes also achieved a first since 2009. That year, the Montreal club concluded the regular season with a brilliant 15-3 record.
– The Argonauts had won their last 11 regular-season home games heading into Friday night’s game.
– The Montreal team last won eight straight games in the regular season in 2002, a streak that came in the first eight games. To match such a start, the Alouettes will have to take advantage of their next three-game homestand, against Calgary (July 6), Toronto (July 11) and Saskatchewan (July 25), before going to win against the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton on August 2.
