Argonauts.ca Staff
The Argonauts travelled down the QEW to Hamilton for their second home game in as many weeks at Tim Hortons Field, taking on the Montreal Alouettes to kick off Week 18 of CFL action on Friday night.
The game marked QB Kevin Glenn’s second start for the Alouettes, and his growing familiarity with Montreal’s system was on display early. Receiving the ball to begin the game, Glenn led Montreal on a 71-yard drive, finished off by a six-yard touchdown pass to RB Tyrrell Sutton to give the Alouettes an early 7-0 lead.
A 59-yard punt single by P/K Boris Bede would extend the Alouettes lead to 8-0 at the end of the first quarter. Montreal continued to add to their lead in the second quarter, as Glenn would find veteran SB Fred Stamps for his second touchdown pass of the game to finish an 81-yard Alouettes drive.
The away team continued their strong first half on their next drive, aided by a 29-yard punt return from return man Stefan Logan to give the Alouettes possession inside the Argos’ red zone. From there it didn’t take long for Sutton to find the endzone for the second time in the game, extending Montreal’s lead to 22-0.
After a slow start, the Argonauts offence came alive in the dying minutes of the half, with consecutive completions to SB Chad Owens, FB Brendan Gillanders, and WR Vidal Hazelton. Unfortunately for Toronto, a sack on second down moved them out of field goal range.
But a stout defensive stand from the Argos defence hemmed the Alouettes in the shadows of their own goalposts, and Bede conceded the safety to put Toronto on the board.
The Argos couldn’t capitalize on their second chance however, as an errant throw from QB Trevor Harris was picked off by DB Jerald Brown and returned into Toronto territory. The Alouettes used the advantageous field position to their advantage, and Bede drove home a 33-yard field goal to give the Alouettes a 25-2 halftime lead.
Brendan Gillanders led all Argonauts receivers with two catches for 20 yards, while RB Brandon Whitaker tallied 30 yards rushing on five attempts after 30 minutes.
Argos QB Ricky Ray made his first appearance of the 2015 season late in the third quarter, and completed his first pass attempt to SB Kevin Elliott for a 19-yard gain.
But Ray couldn’t provide the boost that the Argonauts needed, and Montreal continued to add to their lead, as Kevin Glenn found RB Brandon Rutley for his third touchdown pass of the night. The Alouettes would hold tight preventing Toronto from scoring on the games final play from two yards out.
Ray finished strong in his first action of the season, completing 12 of 15 pass attempts for 107 yards. Whitaker finished the game with 70 yards rushing while adding 19 receiving yards.
Friday night’s 34-2 loss to the Montreal Alouettes now moves the Argonauts to 9-7 with two regular season games remaining in the regular season. Toronto will host the BC Lions next Friday, October 30 at 7pm.