Rod Pedersen

The Saskatchewan Roughriders visited the Montreal Alouettes in Week 12 of the 2012 CFL season Sunday afternoon at Percival Molson Stadium.  The Riders went in at 5-5 while the Alouettes were 6-4.  Here's the game log from the broadcast booth:

- It was 19 degrees Celsius and sunny at the 1:00 pm kickoff with a west northwest wind gusting to 30 km/h.
- The Riders' four scratches from the 46-man roster were RB Brandon West, WR Greg Carr, OL Alexander Krausnick-Groh and CB/KR Tristan Jackson.
- It was the first pro start for Drew Willy at quarterback for the Roughriders as veteran Darian Durant was out with a hip injury.
- The Riders wore their road white uniforms with white pants and helmets while the Alouettes wore their home red jerseys with silver pants and helmets.
- The Alouettes won the coin toss and got the ball to open the game.  Their opening drive started at their 36-yard line.  They moved it 74-yards downfield and capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by Brandon Whitaker for an early 7-0 lead, 4:30 into the game.
- Saskatchewan's first drive started at their 39-yard line.  They got to the Montreal 35 before attempting a 48-yard Sandro Deangelis field goal.  It was good.  7-3 Alouettes with 6:43 left in the opening quarter.
- Montreal's second drive ended with a 1-yard Adrian McPherson touchdown run.  It was an 81-yard drive.  14-3 Montreal with 4:03 to go in the first.

AFTER ONE: ALOUETTES 14 RIDERS 3

- The game's first turnover came on a fumble by Als quarterback Anthony Calvillo.  It was returned to the Riders 19-yard line by Rider defensive lineman Terrius George.
- On the next series Rider receiver Taj Smith fumbled and the Alouettes recoveredat the Rider 34.  They lined up a 43-yard field goal for Sean Whyte but he missed and it went for a single point.  15-3 Als with 7:21 to go in the first half.
- Sandro Deangelis went 2/2 on field goals when he nailed a 46-yarder with 4:18 to go in the second quarter cutting Montreal's lead to 15-6.
- Alouettes went up 22-6 with an 8-yard Brian Bratton touchdown reception from Anthony Calvillo.  It came at the 14-22 mark.

AT THE HALF: ALOUETTES 22 RIDERS 6

- Anthony Calvillo had 235 passing yards at the half while Drew Willy had 79.
- Riders got the ball to open the second half and began at their 45-yard line.  They managed one first down before punting.
- Montreal's first series began at their 5-yard line.  They went two-and-out, then conceded a safety to make it a 22-8 Montreal lead.  Rider DT Jay Alford left the field injured on the play, favouring his left ankle.
- On Montreal's second series they gave up another safety, making it 22-10 for the Alouettes with 8:23 left in the third.
- Sandro Deangelis missed a 46-yard field goal with 5:00 left in the third quarter, for no points.  They could have used that.
- With 31 seconds left in the third quarter Deangelis lined up a 43-yarder and missed again, for no points.
- On the last play of the third quarter Whitaker fumbled and it was recovered by Rider DB Craig Butler.  LB Tyron Brackenridge had the strip.  The Riders got the ball at the Alouette 33.

AFTER THREE: ALOUETTES 22 RIDERS 10

- Two plays into the fourth quarter Kory Sheets caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Drew Willy making it 22-17!!!!
- With 7:56 left Drew Willy was picked off by Montreal CB Seth Williams who returned it to the Rider 19.  That tied the turnovers at 2-2.  They went up 25-17 with a Sean Whyte field goal of 35 yards after the turnover.
- On the next Rider series, receiver Aaron Hargreaves tipped a Drew Willy pass into the hands of Montreal's Kyries Hebert.  Turnovers 3-2 against the Riders.  Montreal moved it downfield and got into position for a 41-yard Sean Whyte field goal to make it 28-17 Alouettes with 1:55 to go.
- Riders turned it over on downs with 1:18 to go, and the Alouettes ran out the clock.

GAME OVER: ALOUETTES 22 RIDERS 17

POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH COREY CHAMBLIN

- That's football.  There was an opportunity for us to take this game but we didn't take it.  Cinderella didn't show up twice.  We need to lack at ourselves with the penalties and the turnovers.  I have to look at the film to see how disciplined or undisciplined we were.  I couldn't see much out there the way the stadium is set up.

- Montreal's gonna be fast out of the blocks no matter what.  Once we figured them out we were to control them but they outlasted us.  I don't want to say too little too late, because we had a chance late, but it wasn't meant to be.

- Kory Sheets is a quality guy.  Just need one or two guys to step up more to take heat off Drew Willy.  We have to wait and see where Darian is with his health.  We don't want to push him.  Drew will get better with more reps and experience.

*The Roughriders host Calgary next weekend.