The Saskatchewan Roughriders lost their starting quarterback to injury for the second time this season en route to falling 41-12 to the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night.
Mason Fine, making his fourth consecutive start in place of Trevor Harris, limped off the field at 10:05 of the second quarter at Percival Molson Stadium.
Jake Dolegala went the rest of the way behind centre as Saskatchewan’s record fell to 4-5. Montreal improved to 5-3.
“They got us right from the opening bell,” Roughriders Head Coach Craig Dickenson said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game and it was all of that and more.”
The Alouettes were without their own No. 1 pivot. Ex-Roughrider Cody Fajardo dressed for the game but did not play due to a left shoulder injury.
In his place, Caleb Evans ran for two TDs in addition to throwing a 56-yard scoring pass to Austin Mack before 17,027 spectators.
The Alouettes relied on a robust ground game, which produced 186 of their 335 total yards. Saskatchewan rushed for 117 yards and passed for 127.
“Basically, we had to match their intensity and we didn’t do it,” Dickenson said. “They came up really fired up. They played really hard and really physical and we just couldn’t match that physicality.
“We’re going to have to look at the film and figure out a way that we can get a little bit better in this next week.”
The tone was set early, as Montreal’s Tyson Philpot returned the opening kickoff 35 yards to his team’s 54-yard line.
The Alouettes quickly capitalized on advantageous field position, embarking on a nine-play, 56-yard touchdown drive. Evans scored on a two-yard run at 4:27 of the first quarter, with David Cote converting.
“They came out and really smashed us on that opening kickoff return and really just physically got after us the whole game,” Dickenson said.
“It was one of those games. I told the team that I’m not going to say much, but we’ll watch the film and try to make corrections.
Saskatchewan got on the board when Brett Lauther kicked a 32-yard field goal at 11:42 of the opening quarter.
Evans scored his second TD, a one-yarder, at 4:21 of the second quarter. Cote’s convert put the Alouettes up 14-3.
Cote’s 33-yard field goal, at 12:18 of the second frame, gave the Alouettes a 17-3 lead.
Montreal’s advantage swelled to 24-3 when Cote converted the long touchdown pass from Evans to Mack, who scored at 3:16 of the third quarter.
Jeshrun Antwi’s 19-yard TD run, converted by Cote, gave Montreal a 31-3 lead at 13:07 of the third quarter.
Lauther opened the fourth quarter with a 44-yard field goal that extended his streak of successful three-point attempts to 11. He is 21-for-25 at the halfway point of the 2023 season.
Montreal increased its lead when Tyrice Beverette recovered a Dolegala fumble and scampered 24 yards for a major at 3:48 of the final frame. Cote’s convert made it 38-6.
Dolegala scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak with 5:46 left to complete a 12-play, 68-yard march. It was the first career TD for Dolegala.
Montreal concluded its scoring when Cote split the uprights from 37 yards away with 1:04 left in the game.
Jamal Morrow led the Roughriders’ offence with 81 yards on 18 carries.
Dolegala was 11-for-20 for 107 yards. Fine was 5-for-9 for 20 yards before leaving the game with a leg injury.
“I think Mason’s going to be OK,” Dickenson said. “We’re optimistic that it won’t be a long-term injury, so that’s good news.”
Saskatchewan’s busiest receivers were Tevin Jones (with five catches), Jerreth Sterns (four) and Shawn Bane Jr. (four). Bane Jr. has a league-high 51 catches.
“We’ve got to do better as a unit, myself included,” Dolegala said. “There’s decisions that can be made quicker.
“Credit the Montreal team. They did a really good job scheme-wise and execution-wise. They kind of had our number, but that’s not an excuse for the way I played and the way we played as a unit.”
Larry Dean paced the Roughriders in defensive tackles, with seven. With 525 career tackles, he is tied with former Roughriders linebacker George White for 35th on the CFL’s all-time list.
Miles Brown added four tackles (including one for a loss) and one sack on Friday.
Amari Henderson had an interception and a tackle for a loss for Saskatchewan.
The Roughriders are to return to action on Aug. 20 against the B.C. Lions (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
