Breadcrumb Trail Links
Sports
Football
Montreal’s starting QB passes for 205 yards and runs for 50 in season-opening 28-10 win against Toronto.
Author of the article:
Montreal Gazette
Montreal Gazette
Herb Zurkowsky
Published Jun 07, 2025 • Last updated 13 minutes ago • 4 minute read
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander throws a pass during first half CFL action against the Toronto Argonauts in Montreal on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander throws a pass during first half CFL action against the Toronto Argonauts in Montreal on Friday, June 6, 2025. Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press
Article content
Now that Davis Alexander has reached a certain status level as the Alouettes’ starting quarterback, he might want to eschew having to play exhibition games next season.
Advertisement 2
Toronto Sun
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
Enjoy additional articles per month.
Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
Enjoy additional articles per month
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Article content
Alexander in general, and the Als’ offence in particular, struggled mightily in the first half against Ottawa on May 24 in the teams’ first exhibition game. Montreal failed to score a touchdown over the opening 30 minutes and even had trouble generating first downs that afternoon. Based on two weeks’ of training camp workouts to that point, there was a modicum of reason to wonder — especially since Alexander and the starters didn’t play the following week on the road against the Redblacks.
Article content
Article content
Wonder no more.
While one game does not a season make, the early reviews on Alexander are positive. Despite starting only four games last season — all wins — the 26-year-old fourth-year veteran showed the moment wasn’t too big for him on Friday night.
opening envelope
Your Midday Sun
Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
Alexander and his teammates delivered a beat-down on the Toronto Argonauts, handling the visitors with ease during this complete 28-10 victory at Molson Stadium in their regular-season opener before 21,480 Molson Stadium spectators.
The Argos might be the defending Grey Cup champions, but on this night they looked like chumps.
“His mental toughness,” said receiver Tyson Philpot, who scored Montreal’s first offensive touchdown on a 26-yard pass from Alexander late in the first quarter. “He raises the level of competition. He demands excellence from all of us. As a receiving corps we know we have to show up for him.
“I think that’s the start of the D.A. era right now.”
Alouettes linebacker Tyrice Beverette drills Toronto Argonauts wide receiver Dejon Brissett after a completed pass in Montreal on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Simply based on statistics, there was nothing spectacular about Alexander. He completed 19 of 26 passes for 205 yards along with the touchdown to Philpot, who suffered a freak season-ending foot injury last August against Hamilton. Alexander also was intercepted once in the third quarter, while underthrowing Philpot on a long attempt that was as good as a punt.
Advertisement 4
Article content
In the process, Alexander showed a quarterback need not throw for 300 yards to be effective. He was accurate with his passes and was able to find receivers while moving the pocket. Austin Mack was Montreal’s leading receiver, catching five passes for 51 yards. Philpot had four receptions for 48 yards.
Alexander utilized seven different receivers.
“I’m not going to say the pre-season doesn’t mean anything to me,” Alexander said. “You know I go out there and compete every single time. Maybe it was knocking a littler bit of rust off? Or just a different type of competitive juice. We’ve got playmakers everywhere. We had guys making crucial second-down conversions, and our run game was spectacular.
“I refer to it as cowboy football,” he added. “If things break down it’s on me as a quarterback to make something happen.”
Advertisement 5
Article content
This might have been the Alouettes’ most-balanced offensive attack since Jason Maas became head coach in 2023.
Canadian tailback Sean Thomas-Erlington gained 86 yards on 17 carries. Alexander had four carries for 50 yards, while American rookie Travis Theis chipped in with three carries for 22 yards. The Als had 163 yards rushing. Montreal generated 22 first downs along with 354 yards’ net offence while running 55 plays and controlling the ball for 34 minutes.
“He (Alexander) showed me a little bit of everything,” Maas said. “He did some really good things throwing the ball down the field, did a lot of great things with his legs. Some toughness and leading us on offence. I thought he did a tremendous job of making really good decisions and didn’t put the ball in harm’s way.
Advertisement 6
Article content
“We still have to look at the film and get better; I know that.”
The teams were meeting for the first time since last November’s East Division final, when the Alouettes committed six turnovers and lost 30-28 at home, denying themselves the opportunity of defending their CFL title.
If Montreal was seeking revenge on Friday night, it succeeded.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say that a big part of that came from that sour taste we had in our mouth from that game,” said linebacker Tyrice Beverette, last season’s division finalist as outstanding defensive player. “We know we left something on the field. We know we were the better team that (day), but didn’t come out to play. We wanted to show the world tonight who was the better team.”
Advertisement 7
Article content
Toronto quarterback Nick Arbuckle might have been the Grey Cup’s most valuable player last season, but Montreal’s’ defence made his life miserable. While Arbuckle passed for 273 yards and a touchdown, he also was intercepted twice — a trademark that has dogged him throughout his inconsistent career.
Arbuckle also fumbled just before halftime when under duress from defensive-tackle Shawn Oakman. Rush-end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund recovered the ball, returning it 17 yards for a touchdown.
Short-yardage quarterback Caleb Evans scored the Alouettes’ other touchdown on a one-yard run in the third quarter after James Letcher Jr. returned the opening second-half kickoff 67 yards. Jose Maltos added two field goals and a single.
Montreal’s next three games are on the road beginning next Friday at Ottawa.
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Comments
Featured Local Savings