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Author of the article:
Montreal Gazette
Montreal Gazette
Herb Zurkowsky
Published May 24, 2025 • Last updated 15 minutes ago • 4 minute read
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There’s no hiding the truth: Davis Alexander wasn’t very good in his first game as the Alouettes’ legitimate starting quarterback — and he was the first one to admit it.
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“No turnovers, I guess. That’s the only thing I’ve got,” Alexander said following this ugly 23-7 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday afternoon at Molson Stadium in the teams’ opening exhibition game — one that was played in the rain, wind and cold following less than two weeks of training camp practices.
And it showed. Repeatedly. Dropped passes, overthrown and underthrown balls, a lack of sustained drives and far too many penalties. But at least the game didn’t count in the standings. It’s only unfortunate an announced crowd of 13,098 had to bear witness to this exercise in futility.
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“Obviously, it’s not our standard,” Alexander said. “It was frustrating out there. Those things happen. We’re a confident group. We know what we’re capable of. Things just didn’t go our way today. I take the blame for it.”
Alexander already has learned the most-important lesson all starting quarterbacks must accept — when in doubt, throw yourself under the bus and take full responsibility. The message will resonate throughout the dressing room.
Alexander completed 11 of 18 passes, but generated only 69 yards. And things got ugly for him quickly.
He completed his first two passes — a nine-yarder to Tyler Snead before connecting with Cole Spieker for 12 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Alexander delivered a perfectly thrown pass to Charleston Rambo in the end zone. And it would have been a touchdown, except Rambo nearly collided with the goalpost and was fortunate to escape unharmed.
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Alouettes wide receiver Austin Mack (81) misses a pass as he is covered by Ottawa Redblacks defensive back Charlie Ringland (39) during first half preseason CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
From there, the Als failed to generate a first down on five successive drives. Alexander fumbled once, after being sacked by Cleyon Laing, but the ball was recovered by Montreal centre Justin Lawrence. Alexander attempted a pass to Austin Mack in double coverage. Another attempt, to Spieker, was high. There simply was no flow to anything the Alouettes’ offence attempted in the first half, when the starters played.
Montreal had three first downs in the half, 62 yards’ net offence, ran 24 plays and allowed two sacks.
“Obviously it’s pre-season, so you don’t want to show stuff,” said receiver Austin Mack. “Everything’s really basic, and we know that. I think if we execute the little things it’s a different game. We can’t have penalties and shoot ourselves in the foot. It’s great that we’re getting this stuff out now and continue to keep building.
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“The dude is with it,” Mack said of Alexander. “He’s going to throw it deep. For me, I love it. We would have had a touchdown (to Rambo) if the goalpost wasn’t there. It’s just going to keep coming. We’re dynamic. Obviously, we didn’t get to show that today as much as we wanted. It’s pre-season. It was s—ty out there. Based on circumstances, it’s never as bad as you think. It’s never as good as it is either. We’ll continue to keep building.”
Alexander isn’t scheduled to play next Friday, when the Alouettes and Redblacks have their final exhibition game at TD Place. And Montreal head coach Jason Maas said nothing he saw — or didn’t see — Saturday will alter those plans.
“We are in training camp, so there’s room for improvement, which is a good thing,” Maas said. “We didn’t get into much of a rhythm. It’s hard when you’re going two-and-out a couple of times for various reasons. It’s not just one thing happening. Whether the elements are a part of it or being in the pocket for the first time in a while is a part of it? Your timing’s always a little bit different.
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“Everybody will always look at the quarterback, but it takes an offence, a whole unit for it to run efficiently. All 12 guys at the same time doing their job to make those plays work. Any time an offence doesn’t stay on the field for multiple drives in a row it gets tough. Then you try to press. When there’s no rhythm it’s hard.”
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Montreal.
Defensively, they pitched a shutout in the first half against the Redblacks’ starting offence; Ottawa’s only touchdown before the intermission coming on a 70-yard DeVonte Dedmon punt return. Starting quarterback Dru Brown passed for only 65 yards before being replaced by Matt Shiltz late in the second quarter. Tailback William Stanback was held to nine yards on four carries, while receiver Eugene Lewis caught three passes for 24 yards.
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James Letcher Jr. remains electrifying. He returned four punts for 48 yards — including a 25-yarder — along with two kickoffs for 34 yards. And do the Alouettes have a tailback controversy on the horizon? Stevie Scott had three carries for 30 yards, while Walter Fletcher was held to four yards on two carries.
Veteran quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who will back up Alexander, passed for 70 yards and drove the Als into scoring position, but completed only four of 10 passes and saw his second attempt intercepted.
While left-footed Joshua Hutley kicked a pair of field goals, Montreal couldn’t get into the end zone. Surely things have to get better. No?
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