Posted: September 7,2014 04:00PM
Updated: September 7,2014 09:57PM
CFL.ca Staff
MONTREAL -- The Montreal Alouettes defence held firm until the offence came alive in the second half, as they stormed back to down the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38-31 on Sunday afternoon.
Making his second CFL start, Jonathan Crompton completed 18 of his 27 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown, while Duron Carter hauled in four passes for 56 yards and a major in the win. Chad Johnson also chipped in with three receptions for 73 yards.
The win marked the first time the Als had put two straight wins together since weeks 14 and 15 of last season.
Before Crompton and the Alouette offence were even able to hit the field for their first possession of the game, Montreal’s defence made their presence felt with a timely turnover that translated into six points.
Following a Hamilton first down by-way of a pair
of runs by QB Zach Collaros, the Ticats stayed on the ground once
again, this time opting to hand the ball off to RB Mossis Madu, who
fumble the ball while being tackled at the tail end of a seven-yard run.
The loose ball was picked up and returned 59 yards for a touchdown by Als linebacker Winston Venable, giving the home side an early 7-0 lead.
But Montreal’s early lead was short-lived.
After a 47-yard field goal by Justin Medlock put the Ticats on the board, it was the defences turn to make their initial mark on the afternoon.
Crompton, who had yet to complete a pass to that juncture of the game, saw his pass intended for James Rodgers deflected and land directly into the hands of Rico Murray, who promptly returned it 40 yards untouched for the score.
Hamilton’s strong defensive play early on gave Collaros and his offence some time to regroup and gather their footing.
On their next possession, Collaros, playing in his second game since suffering a concussion in Week 2, guided his unit on a nine-play, 55-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard touchdown pass to Andy Fantuz.
Fantuz’s first touchdown of the season extended Hamilton’s first-half lead to 10 points.
Midway through the second quarter, the Ticats offence appeared to break through with a massive 75-yard hitch pass to Madu, but an illegal block by receiver Bakari Grant negated the play, forcing Hamilton to punt two plays later.
Undeterred, Collaros brushed off the mishap and marched the Ticats downfield on his next possession, highlighted by a 38-yard strike to Greg Ellingson on second-and-20.
But some stingy defensive play by the Als with their backs against the wall forced Medlock to kick his second field goal of the game, this time splitting the uprights from 12 yards out.
The two teams would enter halftime with the Tiger-Cats leading 21-7.
Collaros entered the break with a stellar first half under his belt, having completed 17 of his 21 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown.
Crompton, meanwhile, was good on just 7 of his 13 attempts for 48 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
Once the second half got underway, the Alouettes began chipping
away at Hamilton’s lead, thanks in large part to a heads up play by
their special teams unit.
After another stalled drive, Als kicker Sean Whyte let loose on a 47-yard punt that was corralled by Ticats returner Cary Koch.
Usually sure-handed, Koch fumbled the ball close to the sideline and the loose ball was eventually knocked out of bounds by the Alouettes, giving them possession at Hamilton’s 34 yard line.
Fortunately for the Ticats, the Als weren’t able to find the endzone, as they were forced to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Whyte. After another field goal by Medlock, the Als defence came up with another big play, as veteran cornerback Billy Parker picked off a deflected pass and returned it 44 yards to Hamilton's three yard line.
Then, after failing to reach the endzone on first down, Crompton looked towards Brandon London in the endzone, and drew a pass interference penalty, giving the Als a fresh set of downs from the one yard line.
Two plays later, Tanner Marsh punched it in on a QB sneak to bring them within seven of Hamilton's lead.
The touchdown seemed to inject a surge of confidence into the Als from top to bottom.
On their very next possession, Crompton and the Als offence embarked on a five-play, 98-yard drive that saw him hook up with Chad Johnson for gains of eight and 43, before finding Duron Carter for a 10-yard touchdown that tied the game at 24.
Moments later after a quick two-and-out by the Ticats, James Rodgers returned a Medlock punt 82 yards to the house, giving the Als a 31-24 lead.
With less than four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Als put the game on ice, as Marsh punched in his second touchdown run of the game, again scoring from one-yard out.
The Ticats would tack on another touchdown with 11 seconds remaining to bring them within 7 of Montreal's lead, but it was too little, too late, as the Als hung on for a 38-31 win.
Next week, the Als will travel west to take on the Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium, while the Ticats will return home to Tim Hortons Field where they'll play host to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
MONTREAL -- The Montreal Alouettes defence held firm until the offence came alive in the second half, as they stormed back to down the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38-31 on Sunday afternoon.
Making his second CFL start, Jonathan Crompton completed 18 of his 27 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown, while Duron Carter hauled in four passes for 56 yards and a major in the win. Chad Johnson also chipped in with three receptions for 73 yards.
The win marked the first time the Als had put two straight wins together since weeks 14 and 15 of last season.
Before Crompton and the Alouette offence were even able to hit the field for their first possession of the game, Montreal’s defence made their presence felt with a timely turnover that translated into six points.
| Related: Als vs. Ticats |
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 » View Game Stats» Crompton overcomes tragedy » Video: Venable Scoops and Scores » Images: Montreal vs Hamilton » Preview: Als host Ticats on Sunday |
The loose ball was picked up and returned 59 yards for a touchdown by Als linebacker Winston Venable, giving the home side an early 7-0 lead.
But Montreal’s early lead was short-lived.
After a 47-yard field goal by Justin Medlock put the Ticats on the board, it was the defences turn to make their initial mark on the afternoon.
Crompton, who had yet to complete a pass to that juncture of the game, saw his pass intended for James Rodgers deflected and land directly into the hands of Rico Murray, who promptly returned it 40 yards untouched for the score.
Hamilton’s strong defensive play early on gave Collaros and his offence some time to regroup and gather their footing.
On their next possession, Collaros, playing in his second game since suffering a concussion in Week 2, guided his unit on a nine-play, 55-yard drive that was capped off by a three-yard touchdown pass to Andy Fantuz.
Fantuz’s first touchdown of the season extended Hamilton’s first-half lead to 10 points.
Midway through the second quarter, the Ticats offence appeared to break through with a massive 75-yard hitch pass to Madu, but an illegal block by receiver Bakari Grant negated the play, forcing Hamilton to punt two plays later.
Undeterred, Collaros brushed off the mishap and marched the Ticats downfield on his next possession, highlighted by a 38-yard strike to Greg Ellingson on second-and-20.
But some stingy defensive play by the Als with their backs against the wall forced Medlock to kick his second field goal of the game, this time splitting the uprights from 12 yards out.
The two teams would enter halftime with the Tiger-Cats leading 21-7.
Collaros entered the break with a stellar first half under his belt, having completed 17 of his 21 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown.
Crompton, meanwhile, was good on just 7 of his 13 attempts for 48 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
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After another stalled drive, Als kicker Sean Whyte let loose on a 47-yard punt that was corralled by Ticats returner Cary Koch.
Usually sure-handed, Koch fumbled the ball close to the sideline and the loose ball was eventually knocked out of bounds by the Alouettes, giving them possession at Hamilton’s 34 yard line.
Fortunately for the Ticats, the Als weren’t able to find the endzone, as they were forced to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Whyte. After another field goal by Medlock, the Als defence came up with another big play, as veteran cornerback Billy Parker picked off a deflected pass and returned it 44 yards to Hamilton's three yard line.
Then, after failing to reach the endzone on first down, Crompton looked towards Brandon London in the endzone, and drew a pass interference penalty, giving the Als a fresh set of downs from the one yard line.
Two plays later, Tanner Marsh punched it in on a QB sneak to bring them within seven of Hamilton's lead.
The touchdown seemed to inject a surge of confidence into the Als from top to bottom.
On their very next possession, Crompton and the Als offence embarked on a five-play, 98-yard drive that saw him hook up with Chad Johnson for gains of eight and 43, before finding Duron Carter for a 10-yard touchdown that tied the game at 24.
Moments later after a quick two-and-out by the Ticats, James Rodgers returned a Medlock punt 82 yards to the house, giving the Als a 31-24 lead.
With less than four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Als put the game on ice, as Marsh punched in his second touchdown run of the game, again scoring from one-yard out.
The Ticats would tack on another touchdown with 11 seconds remaining to bring them within 7 of Montreal's lead, but it was too little, too late, as the Als hung on for a 38-31 win.
Next week, the Als will travel west to take on the Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium, while the Ticats will return home to Tim Hortons Field where they'll play host to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
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