Spieker, Fajardo lead Alouettes to 21-17 comeback win over Elks

Cody Fajardo and nan Montreal Alouettes looked retired of sync pinch a 17-6 halftime shortage against the Edmonton Elks on Sunday night, but caput coach Jason Maas wasn’t sweating it.

Fajardo, wide receiver Cole Spieker and an unwavering Alouettes defence led a second-half comeback arsenic league-leading Montreal defeated Edmonton 21-17 successful nail-biting manner for its 5th consecutive victory.

“We don’t ever springiness up connected anything, and we conscionable learn,” Maas said. “We cognize it’s a 60-minute crippled nary matter what nan people says astatine halftime, you sewage to play for 60 minutes successful this convention and decorativeness games.

“We do an unthinkable occupation of doing that.”

Fajardo, who returned from missing 4 games pinch a hamstring injury, threw a 33-yard touchdown walk to Spieker for his 3rd reception of a six-play, 100-yard thrust to unfastened nan 3rd quarter.

The Alouettes (10-1) carried nan momentum from there. Spieker conscionable hardly stayed successful bounds connected a 22-yard drawback for his 2nd TD of nan crippled pinch 3:37 near successful nan third. The reception capped a nine-play thrust that was sparked by a 30-yard catch-and-run by Walter Fletcher arsenic Montreal took an 18-17 lead.

“Cole Spieker had a hellhole of a game,” Fajardo said. “It seemed for illustration immoderate clip I threw nan shot his way, he came down pinch it.

“We made awesome adjustments astatine halftime. Also, I felt for illustration it gave maine clip to recoup. I came retired conscionable a small rusty, but I deliberation that’s what happens erstwhile you miss 5 weeks.”

Fajardo threw for 336 yards connected 22-for-34 completions to spell pinch 2 touchdown passes, while Spieker caught 2 TDs and totalled 107 receiving yards connected 5 receptions, each successful nan 2nd half, earlier an announced crowd of 19,048 astatine Molson Stadium.

But those efforts wouldn’t person mattered without nan Alouettes defence fending off Edmonton twice successful nan reddish area precocious successful nan game.

“To unopen them down successful three-down shot arsenic well. I mean, I can’t opportunity capable astir it,” Maas said. “I mean, that’s incredible.”

Down 21-17, the Elks reached nan Montreal 12-yard statement pinch 1:24 remaining, but only precocious six yards arsenic nan Alouettes defence forced a turnover connected downs.

Edmonton then precocious each nan measurement to nan Montreal 20 successful nan dying seconds of nan game, but Montreal’s defence stood gangly again arsenic the Elks failed to scope nan extremity zone.

Earlier successful nan 4th quarter, Elks kicker Boris Bede missed what turned retired to beryllium a pivotal 41-yard section extremity attempt. He was 1-for-2 connected nan night.

“It’s tough. It’s reliable correct now, arsenic acold arsenic having nan nonaccomplishment hap this way,” Elks interim caput coach Jarious Jackson said. “At nan extremity of nan day, you’re playing against nan champion squad successful nan convention correct now, and you gotta return advantage of your opportunities erstwhile they come.”

All-star receiver Austin Mack made 3 receptions for 32 yards successful his 2024 debut aft rejoining nan Alouettes this week pursuing a stint pinch nan NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Montreal kicker Jose Maltos went 3-for-3 connected section goals.

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Elks QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson went 21-for-33 for 200 yards and 2 TD passes successful his 2nd consecutive commencement arsenic Edmonton’s (3-8) three-game triumph streak came to an end.

Running backmost Kevin Brown, backmost from a enarthrosis injury, rushed for 105 yards.

The Alouettes besides edged the Elks 23-20 successful a Week 2 matchup in Edmonton.

The Alouettes didn’t people a touchdown successful a reliable first half that included a turnover, dropped passes and trouble establishing nan run. Montreal was besides without 2 violative linemen pinch Philippe Gagnon a precocious scratch earlier Pier-Olivier Lestage exited early successful nan first.

Meanwhile, Bethel-Thompson connected pinch Eugene Lewis successful nan extremity area connected a six-yard walk pinch 4:59 near successful nan first 4th as Edmonton took a 7-3 lead.

The Elks added to their lead 1:19 into nan 2nd to spell up 14-3. This clip Bethel-Thompson recovered Kurleigh Gittens Jr. done a crowd for an eight-yard TD.

Edmonton’s Devodric Bynum intercepted Fajardo’s heavy walk targeting Mack 5:27 into nan second.

The Elks added a section extremity successful nan dying seconds of nan first half to return a 17-6 lead aft 2 quarters, but nan 2nd half was a different story.

“They decidedly took nan momentum successful nan 2nd half,” Brown said. “Towards nan end, we benignant of sewage it back, but it was conscionable a small excessively late.”

LEGENDS IN THE HOUSE

The 1974 Alouettes were honoured astatine halftime to observe nan 50th day of their Grey Cup championship. The location broadside besides sported throwback jerseys pinch nan Alouettes’ 1974 logo during nan game. Montreal defeated Edmonton 20-7 astatine Empire Stadium successful Vancouver for its 3rd title successful franchise history.

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Alouettes: Head into a bye week earlier hosting nan B.C. Lions (5-6) connected Sept. 6.

Elks: Visit nan Calgary Stampeders (4-6) connected Labour Day (Sept. 2).