The Canadian Press
MONTREAL — In a back and forth battle between East Division opponents it was the the Montreal Alouettes stealing the game with a walk-off field goal as they defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in front of a raucous home crowd on Saturday evening.
Alouettes kicker, David Cote hit a 48-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to help push his team to a 29-28 win over the division rival Ticats.
Montreal quarterback Trevor Harris put together a resilient performance as he completed 77 per cent of his 31 passing attempts, for 366 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback win on Saturday.
A pair of Alouette pass-catcher highlighted the Montreal offensive attack, as Eugene Lewis caught seven of his 10 targets for 83 yards and a touchdown in the game. While Reggie White Jr. Caught four passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, and it was Lewis who caught the pass to set up the game-winner from Cote.
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The Alouettes started the game with a touch of excitement from their offence, as rookie Tyson Philpot motioned across the backfield to take an end around for a 23-yard gain. However, it was the two defensive units that dominated the first quarter of play.
Following the play from Philpot, Harris was looking towards the end zone, but Hamilton defensive back Kameron Kelly read the play perfectly as he intercepted the pass to deny the Alouettes of a touchdown.
Montreal’s defence was provided some much needed relief following the interception, as they forced a two and out from the Ticats, neutralizing the damage from the turnover.
The defensive battle continued into the game’s opening quarter as Montreal forced Hamilton into a punting situation yet again. However, Montreal defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy was called for a roughing the kicker penalty, breathing new life into the Ticats’ drive.
With the new set of downs, Tim White and Steven Dunbar Jr. contributed back-to-back big plays immediately picking up a combined 25-yardss. Following the big plays from the pair of Tabbies receivers, Shiltz connected with Jake Burt for 25-yards helping to put his team on the Montreal 11-yard line.
Montreal would forced Hamilton into a third down situation, as the Ticats’ elected to keep their offence on the field to try and find the game’s first points.
Facing a third down and six, Shiltz fired a pass towards the end zone intended for running back Sean Thomas-Erlington that fell incomplete as the Als offence took over possession on downs.
With their offence back on the field nearing the end of the game’s opening quarter, the Ticats would not be denied points on back-to-back drives.
Standing on the Alouettes 13-yard line facing a second and long, Shiltz found White on a crossing route that looked like it would be enough for a first down. White make an incredible effort after the catch working his way towards the end zone before stretching for the touchdown to give his team a 7-0 before the end of the first quarter.
The Alouettes wouldn’t find the end zone, but they would put together a long drive that resulted in crucial points to open the second quarter of action.
Harris led his team on a 10-play drive that took over five minutes of time off the clock. After being forced into a third and long, Montreal’s Cote connected on a 26-yard field goal to give his team their first points of the game.
With their offence on the field for the first time in the second quarter, Hamilton appeared to be driving once again, but the Montreal defence held it’s ground and forced back-to-back incompletions from Shiltz.
The Ticats brought out kicker Seth Small to attempt a 43-yard field goal, which would be his second-longest make of the season. Small sent a booming kick off his foot, but the kick sailed wide and the game remained 7-3 in favour of Hamilton.
The missed field goal appeared to provide a spark for the Alouettes, as their offence seemed hit on big play after big play on their ensuing drive. Harris completed passes to Philpot and Hergy Mayala for 35 yards before running back Walter Fletcher broke free for a 12-yard gain.
With the ball on the Hamilton 23-yard line, Harris found the league’s leading receiver in Lewis on a 12-yard comeback route, before Lewis found his way into the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown.
Montreal elected to keep their offence on the field to attempt the two-point conversion, and it was Lewis again helping his team find points as he caught a strike from Harris to give Montreal their first lead of the game.
With 40-seconds remaining in the quarter, Small would convert on a 13-yard field goal to help his team tie the game going into halftime.
With their offence on the field for the first time in the new half, Montreal made quick work of finding a route that led back to the end zone.
The Alouettes would need to just four plays to find the end zone, Harris connected with Kaion Julien-Grant through the middle of the Hamilton defence as the Als receiver turned upfield for a 54-yard score, helping Montreal regain the lead.
Hamilton managed to put together a response to the Alouettes’ score, and once again they would be awarded a fresh set of downs on the tail end of a Montreal roughing the kicker penalty.
Following the penalty, Shiltz completed three passes to put his team on the Montreal 25-yard line. Looking to score, Shiltz fired a pass intended for Dunbar Jr. But the pass fell incomplete.
Montreal defensive back Mike Jones appeared to have good coverage on the play, however he was assessed an pass interference penalty. Alouettes head coach Danny Maciocia opted to challenge the ruling, but after review the officials deemed there was pass interference on the play.
With the ball on the one-yard line, Hamilton’s short-yardage quarterback Jamie Newman managed to plunge his way into the end zone on a quarterback sneak, helping the Tabbies tie the game at 18.
Hamilton’s White continued to wreak havoc against the Alouettes secondary into the third quarter.
On their first play of the new offensive drive Montreal brought heavy defensive pressure and forced Shiltz to escape the pocket. After making an athletic play to avoid a sack from Alouettes defender Ardarius Pickett, Shiltz found White in stride as he broke free from the Als defence for a 64-yard touchdown run. Giving the his team a one-score lead entering the final quarter of play.
Hamilton’s defence dictated much of the play for the Alouette, offence in the fourth quarter, forcing four consecutive punts from the Alouettes and holding Harris out of the end zone despite his precision passing.
Harris was finally able to break the constraints of the Hamilton secondary late in the fourth quarter as he found White Jr. With a beautifully place ball that resulted in a 45-yard touchdown to give Montreal a one-point lead with just over two minutes remaining.
Starting on their own 33-yard line Hamilton had an opportunity to attempt to regain the lead, but the Montreal defensive front pressured Shiltz into two consecutive incompletions, bringing up a crucial third down.
The Als again brought heavy pressure on Shiltz as Najee Murray appeared to bring him down for the sack, but Murray was called for a horse-collar penalty, giving the Montreal offence a new set of downs.
Montreal would hold ith 42-second remaining the Ticats called on their kicker to attempt a 51-yard field. Small found redemption for his earlier miss from long-range as he connected on the attempt, setting a new career-long and giving his team a 28-26 lead.
With 30-seconds remaining, Harris completed two clutch passes including a completion to Lewis to set up the potential game-winning field goal.
With no time left on the clock, Cote split the uprights on a 48-yard field goal attempt to seal the win for the Alouettes.
Looking ahead to next week, the Alouettes will earn some much deserved rest as they have a Week 12 bye. While Tiger-Cats will resume the season series with Toronto from BMO Field on Friday night.
