Tailback Stevie Scott III tantalized Alouettes fans last season with a brief glimpse of what was possible.
Dressing for 10 games after spending most of his 2024 rookie season on the practice roster, the 6-foot-1, 231-pound bruising runner gained 418 yards on 86 carries while scoring one touchdown. His breakout performance came against Saskatchewan on Sept. 13, when he produced 125 yards on 19 carries.
Scott missed the first three games this season with a hamstring injury, but is expected to return Sunday, when the Als host the Ottawa Redblacks at Molson Stadium (7 p.m., TSN1, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 99.5 FM).
has performed admirably in Scott’s absence, and the Alouettes should be able to dress both players, creating the possibility of a double-edged sword. Offence hasn’t been Montreal’s problem while winning two of three games.
“I’m feeling the best and most complete I’ve been as a player, person and man,” Scott told The Gazette. “I’m just happy to be here and play for this organization. They gave me an opportunity and a chance to learn the system. I’m forever grateful for that. Now that I have the opportunity, it’s up to me to make the most of it and do what God blessed me to do.
“It was definitely hard to watch as a player, knowing you can contribute so much to the team,” Scott added. “We all know that we’re capable of making big-time plays, no matter who’s in the game.”
Here are some other questions and thoughts to ponder:
One streak ends and another begins: Now that quarterback Davis Alexander suffered his first defeat following 13 regular-season victories, how will he react?
Alexander was growing weary of being queried about the streak, noting it actually ended last November, when the Alouettes were defeated by Saskatchewan in the Grey Cup.
Alexander held up his end of the bargain in last Saturday’s overtime loss at Edmonton, passing for 356 yards and a touchdown. But he doesn’t play defence, and the , who chewed up Montreal’s defence for 179 yards on 18 carries, including touchdown runs of 36 and 47 yards.
Alexander is the CFL’s leading quarterback heading into the fourth week of regular-season games. He has completed 85 of 124 passes (68.5 per cent) for 1,133 yards and five touchdowns. Perhaps more remarkably, Alexander is one of three starting QBs — along with Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris and Calgary’s Vernon Adams Jr. — yet to be intercepted.
Alexander hasn’t been pilfered in a regular-season game since last July 17 against Toronto.
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About that defence: There are undoubtedly some early-season issues. While it isn’t all bad, when things go off the rails for brief periods these players seem unable to stop the bleeding.
The Alouettes are averaging nearly 30 points against per game, placing tremendous pressure on the offence to score. And Montreal has allowed a league-high 10 touchdowns.
Montreal lost starting cornerbacks Kabion Ento and Lorenzo Burns against Edmonton to injuries. Neither will play this week. While Montreal won’t declare its roster until Saturday morning, it appears they’ll be replaced by rookies Don Callis, who has played briefly, and Gemon Green, who would come off the practice roster.
“I know in the fourth quarter (against Edmonton) we figured it out,” Alouettes head coach Jason Maas said. “When we needed it most we figured things out. And we played to the end.”
Boundary linebacker Tyrice Beverette, who missed the Edmonton game with a neck injury, is expected to return against Ottawa. That was the first game he has missed to injury since joining the Alouettes in 2022 as a free agent from Hamilton.
“The thing I love about (Beverette), he can impact a game in a variety of different ways,” Maas said. “We’re used to him being on the field and his presence. It’ll be very much welcome having him back.”
As for the Redblacks: Ottawa’s 0-2 record wasn’t the biggest story this week. The Redblacks traded Dru Brown — their former starting quarterback — to Winnipeg and signed former Alouette McLeod Bethel-Thompson as a free agent.
Brown lost his starting position to Jake Maier and, apparently, didn’t take kindly to the decision. As for Bethel-Thompson, he’s dealing with family matters at home and hasn’t been activated for the game.
The Redblacks have numerous issues, including already having lost twice at home. Ottawa allowed 44 points last week against Toronto; Maier has passed for a modest 484 yards and two touchdowns while being intercepted twice, and its offence has been limited to an average of 21.5 points and three touchdowns — both last in the CFL.