Turnover Battle Wins the Game
In a match that would prove whether Calgary was a team that routinely takes 1 step forward and three back, Montreal visited the Stamps in hopes of beating a team that hasn't seen much success at home this year. Calgary recently came off a road-win in the second half of the Battle of Alberta CFL style to face the East leading Alouettes. Many sports writers predicted that Montreal would find out that the division between East and West is huge....turns out they were mostly right in this game.
First Half
Montreal started with the ball and had moderate success before punting away. Calgary started in much the same way as both teams tried to figure out their gameplan amidst the falling rain. Elements aside, in the first quarter Calgary's D came up big, aided by some poorly thrown balls, to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.
Montreal QB Anthony Cavillo helped the fortunes of the D by playing perhaps his worst game of the season throwing 3 interceptions and coming up short in the adverse conditions. On the flip side, Henry Burris threw for just over 400 yards and 5 TDs to 5 different players.
Calgary managed to force Cavillo interceptions either by rushing the QB (no sacks tonight) and bad throws. Thankfully, the team scored 14 points off of the turnovers which largely made the difference in the game. Although the offence did move the ball for 5 TDs, they still were victimized with many penalties that could have been costly.
Compound the win with the fact they recovered two fumbles that could have been game changers and some other close calls and the game's outcome could have been much different. Albeit, we could discuss 'what ifs' all day, but by in large the Stampeders did put up complete numbers and operated on all facets of the game well enough to put the first place Alouettes downs early.
The plays of the game certainly go to the defence and their ability to take away points from the Alouettes through interceptions. Regardless of how bad Montreal played Calgary's D gave the offence a chance to put up points and they did just that.
Notes: The Stamps had a new import returner Jennings who didn't show much flash as was expected. After missing nine games Rasheed returned to the middle linebacker spot; still some work to be done there.
