Montreal and Edmonton completed their final walkthroughs ahead of Sunday’s Grey Cup, with defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson and offensive tackle Jordan Murray among players listed for game-time decisions.
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The Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Elks held their final walkthroughs Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Grey Cup championship game.
Cody Fajardo of Montreal said he and teammates Justin Rankin and Austin Mack planned to maintain their pre-game routines on Saturday night, including going out for a meal while keeping “the ritual the same.”
Montreal linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku said he would spend Saturday night with his mother, Nancy, after she arrived in town, and planned a weekly dinner at The Keg before going to bed ready for Sunday.
On the coaching side, Alouettes head coach Jason Maas said his team has no meetings on Saturday and that there is a nightly curfew, but otherwise players are free before game day.
Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam said the Elks would continue their season-long approach of holding a team meeting Saturday night, then returning for a meeting and walkthrough in the morning before the pre-game meal on Sunday.
Both teams released their final depth charts Saturday, and they have until 30 minutes before kickoff to determine the status of defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson (Alouettes) and offensive tackle Jordan Murray (Elks).
The Grey Cup features the Alouettes in the CFL title game for the second straight year after a 25-17 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and they are chasing a second league crown following a 2023 championship.
Edmonton is appearing in the Grey Cup for the first time since 2015.
Weather in the kickoff area is forecast to be about 8 C, dropping to roughly 4 C by the time the contest ends, with winds around 15 km/h and gusts near 23 km/h.
As of Saturday, 30,832 tickets had been sold or distributed, leaving about 4,768 tickets remaining.
Before the opening kickoff, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds will perform a final public flyover in their CT-114 Tutor jets, flying in formation as Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan finishes O Canada, with Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor and James Barker Band providing pre-game entertainment.
Riley Green is scheduled to be the featured halftime act.
On the field, Montreal’s offence is led by quarterback Davis Alexander, and the Alouettes’ receiving group includes Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead.
Montreal led the CFL in offensive TDs (65), net offence (420.9), second-down conversion (56.7 per cent), average yards per play (7.53) and fewest sacks (19), and was second in passing yards (320.6).
Edmonton entered the game with the CFL’s top-ranked defence, leading in fewest offensive points allowed (23.6) and fewest net offensive yards (338.6), tied with Hamilton in fewest offensive TDs allowed (44), and second in fewest rushing yards (81.4) and passing yards (272.7).
The Elks also forced a CFL-high 53 turnovers, scored 178 points off turnovers (also tops), and had a plus-23 turnover ratio, with defensive back Tyrell Ford leading the CFL with seven interceptions.
Montreal committed the fewest turnovers (23), recorded six interceptions, and posted the league’s second-best turnover ratio at plus-21.
Montreal was listed as a 3.5-point favourite ahead of the game.
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