We’re still more than two weeks away from the next full moon. Clearly, it wasn’t that.
Perhaps it’s smoke and mirrors? Whatever is going on with the Montreal Alouettes through the early blushes of the CFL regular season, this team continues finding improbable ways to win, mounting a comeback victory for the second consecutive game.
Against Hamilton last week, , thanks to an interception returned for a touchdown by Robert Kennedy III. Friday night, in Montreal’s home opener against Toronto, the deficit was only six points in the fourth quarter. And the Als actually were nursing a one-point lead when lightning struck again.
Linebacker Micah Awe blocked a John Haggerty punt that was recovered in the end zone by , slightly more than 12 minutes into the final period.
That gave the Als a 30-23 lead. Only 96 seconds later, quarterback Davis Alexander connected with Tyson Philpot for a 56-yard pass-and-run touchdown, and Montreal held on for a 37-30 victory at Molson Stadium.
Awe, who played for the Als in 2022, refused to assume the role of hero, instead giving credit to special teams co-ordinator Byron Archambault for drawing up the play and having the belief in him.
“We (tried) the same play before and I made a mistake; I didn’t do it right,” Awe told The Gazette, explaining that he requested a reprieve from Archambault. “Football is such a great sport. It’s not about the Xs and Os sometimes. It’s about the journey. If I didn’t understand the journey, the mistake and didn’t care, but I was determined. If we do it again, I’m going to do it right. And after that, you saw what happened. You let your body do the rest of the work.
“It’s not me. It’s coach setting me up and believing in me. And then you’ve got to believe in yourself.”
Alouettes celebrate a touchdown during second half CFL action against the Toronto Argonauts in Montreal on Friday, June 12, 2026. (Evan Buhler / MONTREAL GAZETTE) Evan Buhler / Montreal Gazette
It seemed fitting the fumble would be recovered by Hamlin. Replacing the injured Najee Murray at strong-side linebacker, Hamlin struggled and was eventually benched on defence.
Hamlin, in his second season, was beaten on a 43-yard reception to Tyler Kahmann in the second quarter that eventually led to a Dave Ungerer touchdown. And then, two plays into the second half, Hamlin was no match for Kevin Mital in single coverage, beaten on a 63-yard touchdown.
“When you play football, it’s all about the next play,” Hamlin told The Gazette. “You’ve got to keep your mentality up, stay ready for the moment. When the moment happened, I was ready. I’m just trying to do what I can for the team. That’s all you can do.”
Offensively, the Als started strong and finished stronger.
They opened the game with a 45-yard touchdown, off a flea-flicker, to Tyson Philpot less than two minutes in. While the Als failed to find the end zone again until the fourth quarter, they scored three times in the final frame, erupting for 20 points.
Alexander completed 30 of 42 passes for 441 yards and two touchdowns, both to Philpot, who caught nine passes for 193 yards. chipped in as well, catching nine passes for 114 yards. That included four consecutive receptions for 52 yards in the fourth quarter, leading to a short touchdown run by backup quarterback Dustin Crum.
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander (10) makes a pass during first half CFL action against theToronto Argonauts in Montreal on Friday, June 12, 2026. (Evan Buhler / MONTREAL GAZETTE) Evan Buhler / Montreal Gazette
Alexander, who improved his regular-season record to 13-0, should have had even more passing yards. Tyler Snead dropped a 47-yard pass in the end zone in the third quarter when he was wide open. In the fourth, Snead again was open, only to have Alexander overthrow him.
There appears to be no limit to what Alexander can achieve when healthy.
“We’d like to think honestly not,” he said. “That’s our mentality. Everybody sees that. It’s what we demand from each other on both sides of the ball.”
Nonetheless, the Als struggled offensively through the second and third quarters — a fact that can’t be denied — producing only seven points off two field goals and a single. And Alexander is beginning to grow exasperated over the team’s early-season inconsistencies.
“We’ve got to figure it out,” he said. “I’m getting tired of starting the third quarter slow. It happens often. It’s something we’re going to take a look at, but it starts at the quarterback position. We have to find a way to be better every single week.”
Defensively, the Als have much to clean up.
Quarterback Chad Kelly, playing his first game in 581 days after fracturing his right leg and ankle in the 2024 East Division final against Montreal, picked the Als’ defence apart, passing for 445 yards and three touchdowns, although he also was intercepted once. Mital caught seven passes for 109 yards while Kahmann had six receptions for 106 yards.
But the Als also forced a pair of two-and-out series in the fourth quarter along with a turnover on downs when it mattered most.
Alouettes wide-receiver Jerreth Sterns (89) is tackled by Argonauts defensive-back Benjie Franklin (23) during second half CFL action in Montreal on Friday, June 12, 2026. (Evan Buhler / MONTREAL GAZETTE) Evan Buhler / Montreal Gazette
“I don’t think we were consistent this game,” middle-linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku told The Gazette. “We fought to the end. Tackling, penalties, even from my side. As a team, we did good. We just need to be more consistent.”
The Als improved to 2-0 and travel to Edmonton on Saturday.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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