Zach Collaros passed for 304 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the losing effort.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n With a rambunctious crowd behind him, Alexander wasn\u2019t afraid to go deep on the first drive of the game, throwing a 43-yard pass to Charleston Rambo a few plays into the possession. But after back-to-back incompletions intended for Austin Mack, the Als had to settle for a field goal to open the Eastern Semi-Final. Jos\u00e9 Maltos-Diaz was good on his 35-yard attempt, giving the home team a 3-0 lead early in the contest.<\/p>\n Following a Winnipeg two-and-out, the Als got to work again starting on their own 21-yard line. As Montreal started to move the chains, Alexander went deep again, this time looking for Tyler Snead. Dexter Lawson Jr., who was in coverage, was called for defensive pass interference on the play, awarding Montreal a 39-yard gain. On the Winnipeg 11, Alexander handed off to Stevie Scott III, who powered through defenders all the way to the one-yard line, setting up first-and-goal for the home team. Shea Patterson came in on short yardage and the Bombers held him out of the end zone on the first attempt. Set up on what looked like another quarterback sneak, it was Tyson Philpot<\/a> who took the handoff on a jet sweep and ran into the end zone for the game\u2019s opening score. With the completed convert, Montreal took a 10-0 lead with four minutes left in the opening frame.<\/p>\n The Als\u2019 defence held the Bombers to another two-and-out following a Winnipeg procedure penalty on the first play of the visitor\u2019s ensuing drive.<\/p>\n After a 30-yard catch-and-run from Rambo on the second play of Montreal\u2019s next possession, Alexander went long again, this time finding a streaking Philpot in the end zone. The Canadian\u2019s second touchdown of the game, a 45-yard catch, and the completed convert, increased Montreal\u2019s lead to 17-3 with 30 seconds left in the opening frame.<\/p>\n Winnipeg matched with a big play of their own through the air, as Collaros connected with Keric Wheatfall<\/a> for 29 yards. The Montreal defence continued to hold strong on the drive, however. Sergio Castillo<\/a> hit the field for the first time in the game, booting a 44-yard field goal to cut the Als lead to 17-3 early in the second quarter.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Montreal\u2019s dominance continued, keeping Collaros and the Bombers\u2019 offence from generating anything positive. The defence held them to another two-and-out after an Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund<\/a> sack and they were forced to punt.<\/p>\n Alexander continued to push the ball downfield in the first half, finding Mack for a 37-yard gain, bringing their team down to the 10-yard line. The Als quarterback then called his own number, running into the end zone untouched for the Alouettes\u2019 third major score of the contest. With the completed convert, Montreal increased their lead to 24-3 with 6:19 on the clock.<\/p>\n Things continued to go in Montreal\u2019s favour in the second quarter. Collaros couldn\u2019t find an open receiver a few plays into the drive the next time he hit the field, so he took off himself, looking for a first down. Montreal\u2019s defence had other plans, however. Adeyemi-Berglund forced Collaros to fumble and recovered it himself, bringing the Als\u2019 offence right back on the field.<\/p>\n The Als looked to turn the turnover into points, but Maltos-Diaz missed his 32-yard attempt for the single point. The rouge increased Montreal\u2019s lead to 25-3 with 1:20 on the clock.<\/p>\n As the final moments of the first half were ticking down, Collaros and co. were trying desperately to get points on the board. They moved the chains down into Montreal territory, and added a field goal to their score (25-6) before heading to the locker room to regroup for the second half.<\/p>\n After the break, Winnipeg went to work looking to start a second half comeback.<\/p>\n Collaros found Gavin Cobb for 27 yards, before a defensive pass interference call against Montreal brought the Bombers down to the Als\u2019 one-yard line. Jason Maas challenged that there was no pass interference on the play, but the call on the field stood. Terry Wilson<\/a> came in on short yardage and plunged forward, but Montreal\u2019s defence held him out of the end zone. Mike O\u2019Shea matched Maas, using his challenge, challenging that Wilson crossed the goal line, but the call on the field stood bringing up second-and-goal. Once again, the Als defence held strong and kept the Bombers out of the end zone. On the third try, Winnipeg finally was able to break through the defence, as Wilson scored their first touchdown of the game. With the completed convert, the Bombers cut Montreal\u2019s lead to 25-13.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Winnipeg took the momentum and ran with it, as Cam Allen intercepted Alexander on the Als\u2019 second play from scrimmage on the ensuing drive. The Bombers made them pay immediately, with Collaros connecting with Ontaria Wilson<\/a> on the first play of the drive for a 54-yard touchdown. With Castillo\u2019s convert, the Bombers cut Montreal\u2019s lead to 25-20 just four minutes into the second half.<\/p>\n The Bombers\u2019 defence kept things going, with Jamal Parker Jr. causing Philpot to fumble the ball on the Als\u2019 first play from scrimmage when they hit the field. Evan Holm picked the fumble up, returning it 36 yards. After a 19-yard gain by Oliveira, Collaros looked for a receiver in the end zone but hit the upright. On the next play, a pass interference penalty on Montreal brought the Bombers down to the one-yard line. That set up Wilson for his second touchdown of the game, and put the Bombers ahead 27-25 with 8:44 in the third quarter.<\/p>\n Alexander settled in on the next possession, not letting the turnovers rattle him, and went deep again, connecting with Mack for a 50-yard gain. On the Bombers\u2019 13, Alexander handed off to Scott III, who ran into the end zone for the touchdown. With the convert, the Als re-took their lead, 32-27.<\/p>\n The final quarter of the game began with the ball in Collaros\u2019 hands, as Winnipeg hoped to strike again and retake their short-lived lead. The team had to settle for a field goal on the drive, with Castillo connecting on his 44-yard attempt, making it a two-point game (32-20) with 12:57 on the clock.<\/p>\n After an Alouettes\u2019 two-and-out, Montreal\u2019s defence continued to create chaos. Roberson Jr. caused Oliveira to fumble on Winnipeg\u2019s first play from scrimmage on the next possession, and Marc-Antoine Dequoy<\/a> recovered the ball, setting up Alexander on Winnipeg\u2019s 27-yard line.<\/p>\n Montreal cashed in on the turnover with six points. Scott III scored his second touchdown of the contest, taking the hand off and, with the help from his teammates, pushed the pile across the goal line for the score. With the completed convert, the Alouettes increased their lead to 39-30 with 8:49 left in the game.<\/p>\n Collaros went deep on the ensuing drive, connecting with Wheatfall for a 53-yard gain, bringing the Bombers down to Montreal\u2019s 12-yard line. They added another field goal to their score, with Castillo connecting on his 16-yard attempt. The Als held a 39-33 lead with 6:59 left in the contest.<\/p>\n With the clock ticking down close to the three minute warning, the Bombers were trying to move the chains. Montreal\u2019s defence was, once again, up for the task, holding Collaros and co. to a two-and-out.<\/p>\n On the ensuing possession, the Alouettes moved the chains down into Winnipeg territory. With a minute left on the clock, Maltos-Diaz connected on his 12-yard field goal to all but seal the deal for the Als.<\/p>\n![\"2023](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Playoff-Logo-Final-800x600.png\"){kind=logo}
2025 GREY CUP PLAYOFFS
\u00bb Depth Charts: WPG<\/a>\u00a0| MTL<\/a>
\u00bb 3 players that stood out in Montreal\u2019s Eastern Semi-Final victory<\/a>
\u00bb 3 stats that defined Montreal\u2019s Eastern Semi-Final win<\/a>
\u00bb Game Tracker: Eastern Semi-Final by the numbers<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Sign up and watch CFL games on CFL+ in the U.S. and Internationally<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n