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Containing league-leading quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and Tiger-Cats receivers is "not going to be easy, but we're ready for that fight."
Published Nov 07, 2025 • Last updated 21 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Montreal Alouettes defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy (24) looks on during training camp in Saint-Jérome, Que., on Friday, May 16, 2025.
"If you can protect the ball and play the way we've been playing ... that will be the key to success," Alouettes safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy says of Saturday's Eastern final against the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton. Photo by Christopher Katsarov /The Canadian Press
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One play arguably changed the 2023 East Division final between the Alouettes and Toronto.
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But it was another play, forgotten with the passage of time, that might have cemented the Als’ legacy as a team of destiny.
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The Argonauts were driving on their opening possession and appeared primed to take an early lead. But quarterback Chad Kelly threw the ball directly to Montreal safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy, who returned it 101 yards for a touchdown barely more than three minutes into the game.
“It changed everything. A big play early in the game for me,” Dequoy said Thursday. “They drove the field and I made the interception. But then we go back on defence. People don’t remember, but they drove the field again and we stopped them on third down. Back-to-back for me made the big difference that early in the game. It set the tone.
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“After that, Kelly couldn’t see nothing else.”
The Als upset Toronto 38-17 that day despite having lost to the Argos three times that season. Toronto committed nine turnovers, including four interceptions from Kelly. He also was stopped twice on short-yardage situations and fumbled once. Montreal went on to defeat Winnipeg in the Grey Cup the next week.
Two years later, the opponent and quarterback have changed. Montreal meets the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday in the East Division final at Hamilton Stadium (3 p.m., CTV, TSN1, TSN2, TSN3, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM) and the home team will be led by veteran pivot Bo Levi Mitchell, the division nominee as most outstanding player. Mitchell, 35, passed for a league-high 5,296 yards and 36 touchdowns.
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Quarterback leaps into the air to celebrate a score.
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander celebrates a first-half touchdown during Eastern semifinal win over the Blue Bombers at Molson Stadium on Nov. 1. Photo by Christopher Katsarov /The Canadian Press
While the Ticats defeated Montreal twice this season, Als quarterback Davis Alexander (hamstring) missed both. Alexander is undefeated in 12 career starts, including 8-0 this season.
While Dequoy referred to Alexander as the CFL’s best player, he also believes this game could be decided by turnovers.
“If you can protect the ball and play the way we’ve been playing, what we’ve been seeing on the field, that will be the key to success,” Dequoy said. “We’re getting more respect this year (than in 2023). People thought we came through the back door that year. Without Davis Alexander, nobody gave us credit. With him, we already have that credit. We’re still the underdog, but less than in 2023. The rest is kind of the same.
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“Hamilton’s a really good team,” he added. “The receiving corps is one of the best in the league, with a quarterback who threw for over 5,000 yards. They’re a good offensive team and we have to respect them for that. They’re going to make some plays. It’s going to be a challenge. It’s not going to be easy, but we’re ready for that fight.”
The Als (10-8) have won six of their last seven games, including a 42-33 victory at home against Winnipeg in the division semifinal. While the Ticats went 11-7, they had a bye last weekend and haven’t played since defeating Ottawa on Oct. 24. Hamilton was coming off a bye before defeating the Redblacks.
“We have a bunch of winners on this team, the best defence in the league and our special teams unit is a force,” Alexander said. “I just have to take care of the football and lead our guys, and try to be the spark plug some guys lean on me for. I don’t have to be Superman. We have a talented roster. I know our guys are going to give us everything they’ve got. They know they’re going to get my best every single time, no matter what the score is. I’ll be there to lead those guys. But I’m going to lean on them as much as they’re going to lean on me.
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“This is playoff football. This is do or die. Win or go home. I’ve trained 11 months for another opportunity like this. Who doesn’t want the game on the line to go to the Grey Cup? This is what you dream about. This is what you do it for.”
Montreal will be without injured defensive-tackle Mustafa Johnson (shoulder) for a second consecutive game. Receiver Austin Mack (leg) has been listed as a game-time decision. If he can’t play, Alexander Hollins could come off the practice roster. Travis Theis will back up tailback Stevie Scott III instead of Sean Thomas Erlington, while defensive-back Dionté Ruffin has been replaced by Robert Kennedy III.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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