With the dog days of summer upon us, every CFL team has played at least nine regular-season games and has entered the final half of their schedules.
The Alouettes (9-1) are on a seven-game winning streak and running away with the East Division. This is a good time to take stock and hand out our midseason player awards.
Outstanding player: This has traditionally gone to a quarterback, especially when the club is winning and the player is producing impressive statistics.
Davis Alexander’s numbers have been well documented. Even held to a modest, by his standards, 260 yards against Ottawa in Thursday night’s 46-16 evisceration of the winless Redblacks — and only because he didn’t play the majority of the fourth quarter, Alexander remains on a record pace.
He has passed for 3,400 yards and 20 touchdowns while being intercepted only twice. Entering this week’s games, Alexander was on pace for 6,280 yards, which would surpass the franchise record (6,041) established by Anthony Calvillo in 2004. The CFL mark of 6,619 yards held by Doug Flutie in 1991 appears safe for now, but don’t be surprised if Alexander breaks that record before he retires.
He’s that good.
Forget for a moment that Alexander is 20-1 as a starter. He completes passes on a rope in tight windows and has ice water running through his veins. He is the Als’ undisputable leader. He’s running less frequently, likely by choice, and the hamstring that caused him — and Montreal — so many problems in 2025 has held up. The Als aren’t the same team without him and their season would probably fall off the rails without him. If Alexander remains healthy, he’ll be named the CFL’s MOP during Grey Cup week in Calgary.
Alouettes receiver Tyson Philpot scores a touchdown over Edmonton Elks defensive-back Kordell Jackson in Montreal on Aug. 8. Allen McInnis / Montreal Gazette
Outstanding Canadian: Another easy selection. Tyson Philpot is the league’s leading receiver — by a landslide. Held to a modest 75 yards off nine receptions by Ottawa, Philpot still has 1,229 yards off 83 catches. He also has nine touchdowns, including five alone in the last two games.
Philpot has become Alexander’s go-to receiver on a team that also boasts Tyler Snead and Cole Spieker. Philpot is fast, runs great routes and makes incredible catches. He’s also defiant, claiming no defender can cover him. We applaud that attitude.
Were it not for Alexander’s exploits, Philpot could easily be named the league’s outstanding player. And he’ll undoubtedly receive some well-deserved votes.
Outstanding offensive lineman: The Als have allowed a league-low eight sacks. That means every member of the line is pulling their weight.
But our nod goes to Nick Callender. The 6-foot-6, 356-pound skyscraper plays left tackle. That’s the second-most important position on a team, behind the quarterback, because he blocks the QB’s blind side. Callender also has played an important role in tailback Travis Theis gaining 788 yards on 120 carries.
Outstanding defensive player: It’s tough to single out one player on a unit that has performed well.
Field cornerback Kabion Ento might have the most natural talent. Defensive-back Wesley Sutton, in his sixth season with Montreal, could be considered the anchor of the secondary. Fellow DB Robert Kennedy III, in his first full season as a starter, continues making plays. And Canadian middle-linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, who made Darnell Sankey expendable, makes tackles and always seems to be around the ball.
Alouettes’ Lorenzo Burns tackles Toronto Argonauts running-back Samuel Hicks in Montreal on June 12. Evan Buhler / Montreal Gazette
But boundary corner Lorenzo Burns plays the most difficult position in the secondary. After knocking down three passes and intercepting Cody Fajardo against Edmonton in the Als’ 48-30 win this month, the Redblacks appeared reluctant to work against Burns. We suspect more teams will follow suit in the future. And that’s the ultimate display of respect.
Outstanding special-teams player: While Jose Maltos-Diaz has been near-perfect, only missing one of 25 attempts, we’re happy to report the Als are scoring more touchdowns this season and relying on Maltos-Diaz less than in 2025.
Don’t get us wrong. With the game on the line, this is the guy you want attempting a field goal. But receiver and kick returner DeVonte Dedmon has been a pleasant surprise — and our choice — since returning from a hamstring injury on July 24 against Hamilton.
Dedmon provides the Als with everything Mario Alford, who was released, could not — beginning with actually securing the ball. In only four games, Dedmon is averaging 31.8 yards on kickoff returns (including a 50-yarder on Thursday) and 10.9 yards on punt returns. It seems only a matter of time before one is returned to the end zone.
Outstanding rookie: The Als don’t have many — seven first-year CFL players were on the roster against Ottawa — and while some receive considerable playing time, including defensive linemen David Perales, Daniel Wise and Kylan Guidry, our choice is Jonathan Sutherland.
The Als had to wait for the former first-round (fifth overall) 2023 draft choice while he pursued an NFL career, but he was worth it. Sutherland would be the Als’ starting safety, except for the emergence of Nate Beauchemin. In the meantime, Sutherland has made significant contributions on special teams, with 10 tackles. He will eventually become a defensive starter, either at safety or linebacker.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch: While they have only three regular-season home games remaining, the Als (6-0) are undefeated at Molson Stadium. While many dominos must still fall into place, Montreal could clinch first place in the division as early as Sept. 4, when it hosts B.C.
That would be with six games remaining and might be the worst-case scenario facing head coach Jason Maas and this team.
We remember 2024, when the Als (12-5-1) finished first, but went 2-4-1 down the stretch, lost their momentum and fell in the division final to Toronto, committing six turnovers in the process. Time will tell whether any lessons were learned from that experience. Maas also must decide, in that case, how much playing time Alexander receives.
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Short yardage: Ento was the only Als’ defensive back without an interception until he pilfered Ottawa’s Jake Maier, returning it 29 yards for a touchdown. Earlier in the same game, Ento stripped holder Noah Gettman of the ball following a low snap on an attempted field goal. Ento returned that turnover 49 yards. … Not only are the Redblacks 0-10 this season — becoming the first CFL team since 2003 to lose its opening 10 games — they’ve lost 16 straight, dating to last season. This makes us wonder how Shawn Burke (VP of football operations) still has a job? No CFL team has ever gone 0-18. We can’t wait to watch this train wreck continue to evolve. … Last Sept. 13 Ryan Dinwiddie, then Toronto’s head coach, taunted Edmonton’s bench after a walk-off victory. Dinwiddie, now Ottawa’s head coach and general manager, hasn’t won since. The football gods have a way of exacting their revenge. …
Great moments in scheduling: The CFL remains a gate-driven league, despite Bell Media’s considerable financial contribution. The Redblacks played their last three games on the road and will go nearly a full month between home games. Winnipeg, conversely, just played three straight at home.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com