Riders get carved by Alouettes on Thanksgiving Monday, lose 44-24

On a Thanksgiving Monday clash, it was the Montreal Alouettes who enjoyed a feast while the Saskatchewan Roughriders tumbled to a fourth-straight loss.

Als quarterback Davis Alexander found plenty of big plays as he connected on touchdown passes of 45, 46, and 51 yards, as he finished with 403 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception as Montreal won 44-24 and Saskatchewan fell to 8-8.

“We preach not giving up deep balls, not giving up explosion plays and it seemed like they had a couple and they got momentum and they were able to capitalize on those things. We just have to go back to practice and work,” defensive back Marcus Sayles said.

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The Riders were able to put up a good fight in the first half of the game, as they went into halftime down 17-13 and still in the game.

But Montreal came out and outscored the Riders 14-3 in the third quarter to really pull away in the game.

“I just felt like it spiralled. I don’t really have the words right now. We cut it to 17-16 and wish we could have got a touchdown on that drive. They scored; we went two-and-out, unfortunately and didn’t give our defence a breather and then they scored,” quarterback Trevor Harris said. “It was a 38-16 game before we knew it and at that point, we needed to score. We turned it over and they scored and it just spiralled unfortunately.”

Saskatchewan has now dropped six of their last eight games and are in danger of becoming the first team that started 6-2 to miss the post-season in CFL history.

“We’re not where we need to be as a team. That was a whooping in the second half. It sucks. A lot of times right after games, you’re feeling emotional as I do right now and I don’t have tremendous words for that but I know for a fact we will come back and fight,” Harris said. “We have to play our best football now because there is no other option. We win the last two games and we are in. We just have to make sure we are on our P’s and Q’s and understanding the urgency of each and every rep, each and every day, each and every meeting.

“We have a championship locker room — guys who have won championships and understand what it takes and so it’s just a matter of us putting the foot on the pedal and doing it. Enough words; we have to have action.”

Head coach Corey Mace said the team understands the situation it finds itself in.

“We knew it was going to be a challenge versus a really good team tonight. That was something I felt the guys were ready for. We were looking to get back into the win column and we want to do it against some of the best team,” Mace said. “We have another opportunity versus them next week and follow that up with Edmonton. If that’s what we want, we have to go do it.”

While the game was inconsequential when it comes to where Montreal will finish in the CFL’s East Division, they came out firing and put on a show for their home crowd as they improved to 9-0 at home this season.

Saskatchewan only mustered 16 points and zero red zone trips until under three minutes left in the game as the team’s freefall continued.

Harris completed 23 passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Kian Schaffer-Baker led the way for Saskatchewan’s receivers as he had 76 yards and two touchdown catches.

Saskatchewan welcomed back Tevaughn Campbell to the defensive backfield, but it didn’t provide a spark as the Alouettes continued to find success deep down the field, similar to how the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders have over the past few games.

Former Riders receiver Jerreth Sterns led the Montreal receivers with 124 yards. Tyler Snead and Charleston Rambo both caught a pair of touchdowns while possible Most Outstanding Player candidate Tyson Philpot had a touchdown to go along with 74 yards.

The only turnover Saskatchewan got was an interception by Sayles on Montreal’s first drive of the game.

Sayles said the team isn’t playing in unison right now.

“I don’t know exactly why we aren’t playing in unison but at the same time, we just have to figure out a way,” Sayles said. “We only have two games left; granted, everything is in our control. We are still exactly where we need to be. We just have to figure out how to finish these games.”

Both teams’ backup quarterbacks came into the game for different reasons. Montreal eventually took Alexander out as Dustin Crum came in late and threw three passes with two completions for a total of 20 yards.

Saskatchewan backup Jack Coan was also eventually put into the game as it was out of reach for the Riders. He completed both of his passes and finished with 15 yards.

Kicker Brett Lauther was perfect in his Riders’ return as he hit all three of his field goal attempts — including a 51-yarder — and his lone convert kick attempt.

Saskatchewan will get a chance to take on the Alouettes again shortly as they host Montreal on Saturday — though a number of their starters are expected to not dress.

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