It was another retro 1960s game for the 4-3 Saskatchewan Roughriders Friday night in Montreal as they faced the 6-1 Alouettes. It was the opening game to Week 8 of the 2009 Canadian Football League season.
It was the second meeting of the season between the two clubs with the Als prevailing 43-10 in Regina back in Week 3. The Riders were looking to takeover first-place in the CFL West while Montreal was hoping to pad their lead over second-place Hamilton in the East.
The Riders were 0-2 in their retro white 60s era uniforms while the Als were unbeaten in their retro red outfits which are strikingly similar to the Phoenix Cardinals of the NFL.
Here’s the game log from the broadcast booth:
– 27 degrees and no wind at Molson McGill Stadium at game time. Very humid!
– Before the game the Riders learned rookie LB Kye Stewart is lost for the season with an ACL tear from the Hamilton game. Rider GM Eric Tillman will meet with free agent LB Reggie Hunt this weekend. Ultimately it’ll be the coaches’ decision whether or not to sign the popular former Rider.
– Riders win coin toss and take football to open the game.
– SK 2 and out on opening drive.
– Als score a 56-yard punt single on their opening drive. 1-0 Montreal with 11:04 left in 1st qtr.
– SK 2 and out on 2nd drive. Als Larry Taylor returns Jamie Boreham punt 65 yards for a touchdown. 8-0 Montreal.
– Riders stuffed three times at Als’ 1 yard line on their third drive. Turnover on downs. Still 8-0 Als.
– Sask gets on the board when the Als concede a safety with 4:07 left in the quarter. 8-2 Montreal.
– Second Rider turnover came on a Durant interception. 8-2 Als after 1.
– First Rider sack comes from John Chick on second play of 2nd quarter. He’s a monster.
– Duval hits 61 yard punt single. 9-2 Als with 12:54 to go in half.
– Riders tie the game on a 26 yard Durant-to-Rob Bagg hookup. 9-9 with 10:48 to go in half.
– Riders take the lead on a 93 yard kickoff single by Boreham. 10-9 Sask.
– Montreal retakes the lead on their next drive, courtesy an 18-yard field goal from Duval. 12-10 Als with 4:58 to go in first half.
– Riders retake lead on a 43-yard TD toss to Gerran Walker. 17-12 Sask with 2:34 to go in 1st half.
– What a game! Als retake the lead on a Ben Cahoon 9 yard TD from A.C.
19-17 Als with :33 to go in first half.
– 90th consecutive sellout at McGill. 19-17 Als after one half.
– Stevie Baggs sacks AC on 1st play of 3rd qtr. Ties him with Chick for team lead with six.
– Most popular Rider Weston Dressler with a 28-yard PR as they force MTL into a punt. Als started the half with the ball.
– Third Rider turnover comes on Durant INT to Proulx on Sask first drive. Returns to SK 28 yard line.
– Als get seven points off the turnover as backup QB Chris Leak tosses 2 yard TD to Kerry Watkins. 26-17 MTL with 5:07 to go in 3rd qtr.
– Als carry over the nine point lead into the fourth quarter.
– Durant 2/5 for 19 yards in the second half to this point: 13:32 to go…
– Riders 2 and out, Als 2 and out. Back and forth it goes…. 8:44 to go. Still 26-17 MTL.
– 4th Rider turnover is Durant interception to Chip Cox. Return to Rider 22-yard line.
– Montreal converts with a 10-yard TD pass from Calvillo to Avon Coburne. 33-17 Als with 6:01 to go in the game.
– Riders make it a game with a Hugh Charles 4 yard TD run with 4:31 to go. 2 point convert successful. Durant to Getzlaf. 33-25 MTL. 4:00 to go.
– Als 2 and out, Riders get the ball at their 21 yard line with 2:17 to go, down 8 points.
– Sask turns it over on downs at Montreal’s 53-yard line with 1:15 to go. Fifth Rider turnover of the game. Als have none.
– Montreal 2 and out and forced to punt with 47 seconds left. Riders take their timeout.
– 58 yard single by Duval makes it 34-25 Als with 31 seconds to go.
Game over. Alouettes 34 Roughriders 25.
Montreal 7-1
Saskatchewan 4-4
Both teams head into a bye week.
