Alouettes come up 1-yard short of a comeback against Stampeders
On Friday night, rookie quarterback Jake Meier passed for 304 yards and a score in his first career start as the Calgary Stampeders rallied from an 11-point second-quarter deficit to beat the Montreal Alouettes 28-22.
After two-time Most Outstanding Player Bo Levi Mitchell was placed on the six-game disabled list earlier this week with a fractured fibula, the 24-year-old earned the start.
After a shaky start in which a pair of first-quarter interceptions resulted in Montreal touchdowns and a 14-3 lead for the visitors, Maier settled in quickly, helped by the Stampeders’ outstanding defensive play.
A Ka’Deem Carey one-yard rush concluded an eight-play, 100-yard drive that began with a Royce Metchie interception of Vernon Adams Jr. and reduced the gap to 14-9. At halftime, Rene Paredes’ second field goal of the game, this one from 52 yards out, but the game at 14-12.
Calgary held Montreal to just one first down on four drives in the third quarter. Meier’s first touchdown throw, a four-yard completion to Kamar Jorden, capped off a 41-yard drive for the Stampeders, who took advantage of their increasingly improving field position.
Montreal roughing penalties resulted in the beginning yard line, as well as the first 15 yards of the drive. On the subsequent kick-off, another Alouettes penalty, this time for clipping, resulting in Montreal being pressed deep and punter Joseph Zema conceding a safety, extending Calgary’s lead to 21-14.
On Maier’s longest completion of the night, a flea-flicker in which he handed the ball to Carey, had it pitched back to him, and tossed a long bomb to Josh Huff, who came back to the football, beat Alouette defensive back Wesley Sutton one-on-one, and ran the ball to the one for an 83-yard pass and catch, the Stampeders extended their lead to 28-14.
The Alouettes’ lack of discipline led to a second Carey touchdown, as he dove over the goal line from one yard out. The Stampeders were stopped at the two-yard line and facing third down on the previous play, but Tyquwan Glass struck Stampeders receiver Energy Mayala after the play.
Montreal finished the game with 16 penalties for 149 yards. Calgary had nine penalties for 80 yards.
