The 2014 Grey Cup Playoffs opened today in Montreal with a cross-over match-up in the East Semi-Final featuring the B.C. Lions playing guest to the Montreal Alouettes. Fans across the country and supporters at Percival Molson Stadium received nothing shy of pure excitement to open the road to the Grey Cup in Vancouver in two week’s time.
With the temperature at a measly 2 degrees Celsius and the first snow having fallen the night before, the first quarter in Montreal was a slow one. Only a single point was scored, and that off a Sean Whyte punt landing into the endzone. The quarter was was mostly the teams getting to know one another and adapting to the weather – it was the first time some of the American youngsters have seen snow.
Action heated up in the second quarter when the Alouettes rediscovered the dominance and power that gave them eight wins in the final ten games of the season. The turning moment of the game was when, after driving into the redzone, Jonathan Crompton threw an interception to Adam Bighill right at the goal line. But the play was called back on pass interference on Cord Parks; on his second chance, Crompton tossed the rock to SJ Green at the corner of the endzone for the touchdown.
The penalty was an early omen for the Lions, who were flagged 15 times for 105 yards through the game. But this major score catalysed the Alouettes’ attack for the rest of the game. Duron Carter scored a TD in the next drive on one of his two catches, and after Paul McCallum answered with a field goal for the Lions, the Alouettes were up 15-3 at the half.
The third quarter was where the Alouettes dominated most, with three drives and three touchdowns. Back-up quarterback Tanner Marsh – who led the team in rushing TDs this season with seven – ran the ball for two TDs while surprise player of the game Brandon Rutley ran for the other score in between Marsh’s. Rutley had a monster of a quarter too, exploding on the first drive with consecutive runs of 8, 8, 7, and 10 yards before the second string pivot punched it in.
Rutley, out of San Jose State, had one rush all season, against the Lions back on July 19. He also caught one pass in that game and remained almost unknown heading into today’s game. But after his 98-yard performance, his name is going to be a lot more recognizable. The 25-year-old made play after play against some of the most feared defenders in the league, including Solomon Eliminiam and Adam Bighill. The Lions were unable to pounce on him from start to finish and it’s a safe bet to say he will be the starting running back next week in Hamilton with both Brandon Whitaker and Tyrell Sutton dealing with injuries.
Two of the three scoring drives in the third quarter started with turnovers courtesy of the Lions; the other was off of the opening kick-off. Bear Woods intercepted Kevin Glenn’s pass midway through the quarter, tipping the ball up and bringing it down himself. Even in the playoffs, Woods continues to prove why he was named a CFL East All-Star, and is turning into one of the leagues top linebackers.
The Alouettes took the ball again when Marco Iannuzzi screwed up on a punt attempt and fumbled the football at his own seven yard line. The Alouettes failed to recover, but forced a turnover on downs. The biggest player on the defence, however, was playoff veteran and two-time Grey Cup champion defensive back Jerald Brown. On the first play of the second quarter, Brown made a leaping grab to pick off Kevin Glenn’s pass, as Glenn attempted to throw the ball away under pressure. Brown made a catch that would have been a highlight-reel play if it were caught by a receiver.
In the final quarter, Stefan Logan dropped the ball at the Alouettes’ seven yard line after he collided with a teammate. Brown scooped it up and had so much room he could have crawled his way 107 yards to the house. The Alouettes’ 50th point of the game was put up when Sean Whyte split the uprights on the extra point.
The Lions did score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter with Travis Partridge seeing some action under center. He found Shawn Gore and Ernest Jackson in the endzone late in the fourth quarter, but of course, it was far too little and too late.
The Alouettes were too much for the travel-weary Lions to handle. They play in a week in Hamilton for the right to head to Vancouver to play in the Grey Cup. If they play like they played on Sunday, expect to see the Larks in Vancouver on November 30.
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