{"id":305572,"date":"2025-11-25T08:53:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T08:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/305572\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T08:53:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T08:53:24","slug":"3-keys-to-victory-for-montreal-saskatchewan-in-the-112th-grey-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/305572\/","title":{"rendered":"3 keys to victory for Montreal, Saskatchewan in the 112th Grey Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s finally here.<\/p>\n<p>The 112th Grey Cup goes Sunday at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n<p>For the West Division champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, it\u2019s their first trip to the big game since 2013 when they captured the 101st Grey Cup. As for the East Division champion Montreal Alouettes, it\u2019s their second Grey Cup appearance in three years. And this trip has plenty of similarities to their 2023 triumph, starting with a red-hot run down the stretch.<\/p>\n<p>With next to nothing separating these two teams, let\u2019s dig in with three keys for both teams.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-2780408 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/112th-Grey-Cup-Logo-EN.png\" alt=\"112th GREY CUP\" width=\"168\" height=\"131\" data-uw-rm-alt-original=\"\" data-uw-rm-alt=\"CT\"\/>112th GREY CUP<br \/>\u00bb Depth Charts: <a href=\"https:\/\/static.cfl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/GREY-CUP-MONTREAL-DEPTH-CHART.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">MTL<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/static.cfl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025-Positional-Chart-Grey-Cup-112-vs-MTL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">SSK<\/a><br \/>\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/static.cfl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025-CFL-Gm-Notes-95-Mtl-vs-Ssk-GC.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Game Notes: Alouettes vs. Roughriders<\/a><br \/>\u00bb\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-the-112th-grey-cup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-uw-rm-brl=\"PR\" data-uw-original-href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/everything-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-the-112th-grey-cup\/\" aria-label=\"Everything you need to know ahead of the 112th Grey Cup - open in a new tab\" data-uw-rm-ext-link=\"\" data-uw-original->Everything you need to know ahead of the 112th Grey Cup<\/a><br \/>\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2025\/11\/12\/cfl-injury-reports-112th-grey-cup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Injury Reports: Stay up to date<\/a><br \/>\u00bb\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/plus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-uw-rm-brl=\"PR\" data-uw-original-href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/plus\" aria-label=\"Sign up and watch CFL games on CFL+ in the U.S. and Internationally - open in a new tab\" data-uw-rm-ext-link=\"\" data-uw-original->Sign up and watch CFL games on CFL+ in the U.S. and Internationally<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>MONTREAL ALOUETTES<\/p>\n<p>1. GET TO TREVOR HARRIS<\/p>\n<p>This is one of the matchups to watch: Montreal\u2019s devastating defensive front against Saskatchewan\u2019s great offensive line. One thing the Alouettes need to avoid is allowing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/trevor-harris\/156305\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Trevor Harris\">Trevor Harris<\/a> time to spread the ball and pick apart the second and third layers. And that\u2019s where this Montreal defensive line enters the chat.<\/p>\n<p>After co-leading the league with 45 sacks during the regular season, the Als have racked up three more in two playoff games. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/mustafa-johnson\/166231\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Mustafa Johnson\">Mustafa Johnson<\/a> has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury but is listed as a game-time decision for Sunday. One of the league\u2019s most disruptive defensive tackles, having Johnson join the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/isaac-adeyemi-berglund\/165728\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund\">Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund<\/a> and Tyrice Beverette would be huge in keeping Harris off balance.<\/p>\n<p>2. LEAN ON THAT LEG<\/p>\n<p>Points should be at a premium in this matchup, which makes kicker Jos\u00e9 Maltos-D\u00ecaz that much more of an asset for Montreal. With a game winner among six field goals already under his belt this post-season, Maltos Diaz has picked up where he left off. After all, he led the league with 58 field goals and finished third with an 89.2 per cent accuracy rate during the regular season. Opting to go for a long three here and there could make a huge difference for the Als.<\/p>\n<p>3. GET STEVIE SCOTT III INVOLVED EARLY<\/p>\n<p>Dealing with a hamstring injury, it remains to be seen how limited <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/davis-alexander\/165844\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Davis Alexander\">Davis Alexander<\/a> will be in his mobility. Knowing that may be a factor, Stevie Scott III\u2019s work at running back becomes even more important. Scott thrashed Winnipeg for 133 yards and two touchdowns in the Eastern Semi-Final before going for 48 last weekend.<\/p>\n<p>And don\u2019t forget, Scott racked up 125 rushing yards in Montreal\u2019s week 15 win over the Riders.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS<\/p>\n<p>1. ESTABLISH AJ OUELLETTE<\/p>\n<p>AJ Ouellette busted off a 12-yard run on Sask\u2019s first play from scrimmage in last weekend\u2019s Western Final. It set the tone immediately and ensured one of the league\u2019s best tailbacks was involved start to finish. In the end, Ouellette finished with 113 rushing yards on 17 carries and was a huge factor in the Roughriders\u2019 win.<\/p>\n<p>With razor-thin margins in this matchup, getting Ouellette meaningfully involved from the start could pay huge dividends.<\/p>\n<p>2. PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS<\/p>\n<p>Under head coach Corey Mace, Saskatchewan has established a defensive identity based on two pillars: stopping the run and forcing turnovers. In the biggest game of the year, relying on those strengths again is the way to go. The league\u2019s number one run defence all year held BC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/james-butler\/164855\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"James Butler\">James Butler<\/a> to just 58 yards in the Western Final. And, after inducing 41 turnovers during the regular season, the Riders forced one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a> interception last weekend.<\/p>\n<p>3. SPREAD IT AROUND<\/p>\n<p>Saskatchewan has ruled out receivers KeeSean Johnson and Joe Robustelli for Sunday\u2019s big game, which is unfortunate. But quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/trevor-harris\/156305\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Trevor Harris\">Trevor Harris<\/a> is one of the best at spreading the ball around. And that\u2019s even more significant with this deep group of receivers.<\/p>\n<p>Both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/mitchell-picton\/163187\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Mitchell Picton\">Mitchell Picton<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/ajou-ajou\/168833\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Ajou Ajou\">Ajou Ajou<\/a> will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2025\/11\/15\/ajou-picton-stay-ready-as-riders-shuffle-receivers-for-112th-grey-cup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">return to the lineup<\/a>, which bolsters a dangerous group including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/kian-schaffer-baker\/165755\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Kian Schaffer-Baker\">Kian Schaffer-Baker<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/samuel-emilus\/166979\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Samuel Emilus\">Samuel Emilus<\/a>, and Dohnte Meyers. Six receivers saw five or more targets in the Western Final, and all six came away with at least three receptions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s finally here. The 112th Grey Cup goes Sunday at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg. For the West&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":305573,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-305572","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cfl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-canadian-football-league","11":"tag-canadianfootballleague","12":"tag-cfl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=305572"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305572\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/305573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=305572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=305572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=305572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}