(Vancouver) Vernon Adams Jr. had not started a game since Nathan Rourke’s return to the British Columbia Lions. In his first start in 78 days, against his former team, the quarterback seemed more motivated than ever.
Posted at 10:09 p.m.
Adams completed 27 of 37 passes for 393 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, scoring a rushing game of his own in an unimportant game on Saturday, and the Lions defeated the Montreal Alouettes 27-3
The 31-year-old pivot signed a third victory in as many matches against the Montreal team. Stanley Berryhill III and Alexander Collins scored touchdowns for the local favorites, who were already assured of a playoff appearance.
Two other former Alouettes, running back Jeshrun Antwi and kicker Sean Whyte, also contributed to the victory. Antwi had six carries for 71 yards, while Whyte had a field goal.
After missing the Sparrows’ last game due to the birth of his child, Cody Fajardo was back at the helm of the offensive unit. Since the quarterback hasn’t practiced with the team for a while, the visitors relied heavily on the ground game at the start of the game.
Wanting to give Walter Fletcher a day off, head coach Jason Maas turned to Sean Thomas Erlington at running back. The former University of Montreal hadn’t carried a single carry this season, and he was limited to 17 yards on six carries. Stevie Scott III added 33 yards on seven carries.
Fajardo allowed his team to pass 67 yards with his arm in the first half before being replaced by Davis Alexander. He reached his receivers seven times in nine attempts. In relief, Alexander completed 11 of 17 passes for 67 yards.
Jose Maltos scored the Alouettes’ only points with a field goal in the fourth quarter. The team nevertheless suffered another defeat in Vancouver, where it has not won since August 20, 2015. The Alouettes will conclude their season by hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next Saturday. The Eastern final will then take place in Montreal on November 9.
A great start from Adams
Certainly motivated by this duel against his former team, Adams fired a 43-yard pass towards Quebecer Justin McInnis on the first offensive play of the match.
With this pass, McInnis reached the 1,400-yard plateau. He could be the first Canadian to finish first in the circuit in gains with at least 1,400 yards since Dave Sapunjis, who had 1,655 yards in 1995.
It only took four more plays for the Lions to score the first major of the game. It was Adams himself who crossed the goal line with a one-yard run. It was his third rushing touchdown of the season and a 24e career in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Adams added with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Berryhill before the end of the first quarter. With a field goal afterwards, the Lions led 17-0 at halftime. Adams added more at the end of the third quarter by finding Collins for the middle finger.
Quebecer Mathieu Betts allowed the Alouettes to obtain a first down at the Lions’ three-yard line by receiving a misconduct penalty in the fourth quarter. Alexander thought he had scored a touchdown on the next play, but a penalty for an unacceptable procedure forced the Alouettes to punt.
Maltos then made a 14-yard field goal to score the Alouettes’ first points of the game. These points allowed the Alouettes to avoid being shut out for the first time since November 2017.
Alexander tried to score a touchdown on a second down and a yard late in the game, but he fumbled the ball. The Lions then recovered the ball and expired the remaining time.
