Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander fires the ball downfield during second-half action Saturday afternoon at Molson Stadium.
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander fires the ball downfield during second-half action Saturday afternoon at Molson Stadium.
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It's said that professional football never comes down to one play. But maybe, just this one time, it did.
In was dark and cold, the wind was swirling Saturday afternoon at Molson Stadium, and it seemed like the Alouettes were doing everything in their power to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the East Division final against Winnipeg.
That's when everything changed in a heartbeat.
The Als were nursing a three-point lead against the Blue Bombers, but the visitors were on the move, already within range of a field goal — albeit into the wind — that would have tied the score.
Veteran Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros, who wasn't expected to play while nursing a rib injury, had driven the visitors from their 23 to the Montreal 30.
On first down, Collaros dropped back to pass and had no idea linebacker Tyrice Beverette was approaching, quickly, from his backside. Not only did Beverette force the fumble, he recovered the loose ball at the Als' 34. The clock read 3:28 remaining in regulation.
Eight plays later, Davis Alexander passed 21 yards to a diving Tyler Snead for the insurance touchdown in this hard-fought 33-23 victory. Only then could the 23,035 spectators breathe a sigh of relief, knowing the Als were headed to their third Grey Cup in four seasons, Nov. 15 at Calgary.
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"We knew it may come down to the last minute," Beverette told The Gazette. "On the defensive side, we like to put things on our shoulders — even though we have one of the best offences in the league.
"For me, most of the game was a little dry. I didn't get too much coming my way. But I knew, if I just stayed down, something was going to come my way. It couldn't have happened at a better time."
Alouettes defensive-backs Wesley Sutton and Don Callis swarm Blue Bombers running-back Brady Oliveira.
Alouettes defensive-backs Wesley Sutton and Don Callis swarm Blue Bombers running-back Brady Oliveira Saturday in Montreal. Oliveira was a force for the Bombers, gaining 105 yards on 14 carries.
The Als became the first East Division team since Toronto, in 2022, to finish first and advance to the Grey Cup. And as much as it was the play of Alexander and the offence that drove this team, championships are won on defence.
Montreal's defence, other than some hiccups trying to corral talented Canadian tailback Brady Oliveira, came to play. Oliveira, the CFL's leading rusher this season, gained 105 yards on 14 carries but also fumbled once. Otherwise, the Bombers' offence wasn't a serious threat. Winnipeg was attempting to become the first crossover team to reach the championship game.
Beverette was far from alone on an Als defence that rose to the occasion.
Mustafa Johnson forced the Oliveira fumble and also had a sack, but left in the third quarter with a lower-body injury and was seen limping post-game.
Linebacker Najee Murray had a team-leading eight tackles and was all over the field. He also had a sack and recovered the fumble that Johnson forced.
The game might have served as sweet redemption for Murray. In the 2024 division final against Toronto that Montreal hosted, he intercepted an early Chad Kelly pass, only to fumble on the return — the first of six turnovers the Als committed in their 30-28 loss.
"I'm older, right," Murray, 32, told The Gazette. "You never know how many times you get a chance to get a moment like this to get to a Grey Cup. I wasn't going home. I told everyone in the locker room 'we're not going home today'."
Toronto rush-end Shawn Lemon, Murray's former Montreal teammate, tweeted during the contest that Murray is the CFL's most underrated player. And it's true. Murray is in his ninth season with the Als. No Montreal player has more tenure with the same team, yet remains unheralded.
"I've always felt like that, but I never look into the headlines," Murray said. "Shawn is my brother and I appreciate him saying that. If the credit comes to me it comes to me. I love playing the game of football. Montreal has taken care of me. I'm just happy to be playing football as long as I've been playing."
Offensively, Alexander won the game as much with legs as his arm. Made a healthy scratch for the final two regular-season games, Alexander — along with Snead and Tyson Philpot — was playing for the first time since Oct. 12. Nonetheless he passed for 373 yards and two touchdowns. But he also was mobile, escaping pressure numerous times, gaining 25 yards on five carries.
Alexander, named the CFL's outstanding player on Thursday, also was emotional post-game, claiming Winnipeg rookie defensive-end David Reese, made inflammatory comments on the field about his late father, Matt, who succumbed to lung cancer in 2024. Alexander briefly went to the dressing room in the fourth quarter to regain his composure.
"It's f---ing horse----," Alexander said. "It wasn't only once or twice; it was multiple times. I was ready to fight. Everything that I've been through. I didn't say a word to him. No matter what, there's no need for that in the heat of the moment. There's no excuse."
Reese denied the accusation to the Winnipeg Free Press.
Alexander suffered recurring hamstring issues throughout the 2025 season that limited his effectiveness in last November's Grey Cup loss to Saskatchewan. But that won't be an issue next Sunday.
"I used my legs a lot. For sure it helped," Alexander said. "I still think I won the game with my arm."
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com