The Montreal Alouettes defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 on Saturday to advance to the Grey Cup.
The Story
Davis Alexander threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns as the Montreal Alouettes beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 in the CFL’s East Division final on Saturday.
Tyrice Beverette forced a pivotal late fumble, sacking the Winnipeg quarterback and recovering the ball himself with 3:50 remaining to swing momentum back to Montreal.
On the ensuing possession, Alexander completed a touchdown pass to Tyler Snead for 21 yards with 1:11 left, restoring the Alouettes’ lead after Winnipeg had cut the score to 26-20 early in the fourth quarter.
Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros returned from injury and completed 21 of 27 passes for 228 yards, but the Blue Bombers fell to Montreal for the second consecutive year after making five straight Grey Cup appearances from 2019 to 2024.
Most outstanding Canadian Tyson Philpot caught nine passes for 129 yards for Montreal, which advanced to the East final with a CFL-best 14-4 record and is returning to the championship game after losing to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season.
Jason Maas’s team built a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on a touchdown drive that included a 48-yard completion by Alexander to Charleston Rambo to the Winnipeg three-yard line and a rushing TD by Stevie Scott III at 3:37.
In the second quarter, Brady Oliveira fumbled at the Winnipeg 55 as Mustafa Johnson punched the ball loose for Murray to recover; officials initially ruled it Winnipeg ball before Maas’s challenge was successful and corrected the call.
Montreal kicker Jose Maltos Diaz went 4-for-4 on field goals, while Winnipeg’s Sergio Castillo was 3-for-4, including a field goal that pulled the Blue Bombers to 26-23 with 10:18 left.
The Alouettes will travel to Calgary to play in the Grey Cup on Nov. 15 at McMahon Stadium, facing the winner of Saturday’s West Division final between the Edmonton Elks and B.C. Lions.
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