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Roughriders lose 20-16 to Alouettes after second half collapse

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Alouettes backup Davis Alexander stole the present as Montreal scored 17 straight factors to beat the Roughriders on Thursday evening

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It was a story of two halves for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday evening.

After increase a 16-3 lead within the first half in opposition to the Montreal Alouettes, the Riders have been outscored 17-0 within the second half and in the end misplaced 20-16 of their Week 8 matchup.

Whereas Saskatchewan working again Frankie Hickson — who was making his first begin of the season for the injured A.J. Ouellette — had 117 speeding yards and a landing, it was Alouettes backup quarterback Davis Alexander stealing the present within the victory.

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After Caleb Evans, who was beginning for the Alouettes instead of the injured Cody Fajardo, was ineffective for Montreal within the first half, Alexander got here into the sport within the second half and supplied a direct spark for Montreal as he led the Alouettes on three straight scoring drives.

“We didn’t deal with our greatest this night and that was first half and second half,” Riders’ head coach Corey Mace instructed CKRM postgame. “They make a change at halftime with a backup … we anticipated that however nonetheless we couldn’t capitalize on getting off the sector after we had the alternatives.”

The Riders, in the meantime, failed to attain within the second half as they dropped to 5-2 within the CFL’s West Division standings whereas the Alouettes improved to 6-1 to stay atop the East Division.

“Montreal’s an awesome workforce,” mentioned Hickson, who had 98 speeding yards within the first half. “We’ve bought to return again in tomorrow, work more durable and get higher.”

Saskatchewan’s defence had a powerful first half in opposition to the Alouettes, as Evans accomplished simply 9-of-17 for 91 yards with a fumble however the second half was a special story because the Roughriders had no reply for Alexander, a third-year CFLer who accomplished 15-of-18 passes for 178 yards with two touchdowns to Reggie White.

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“I simply tried to play inside myself,” Alexander instructed TSN postgame. “We had guys making performs far and wide.

“Actually, my job is simply to get it of their fingers after which they make me look nice.”

Shea Patterson — making his fourth begin of the season instead of the injured Trevor Harris — accomplished 21-of-33 passes for 222 yards whereas the Riders held Montreal working again Walter Fletcher to only 16 yards on 5 carries.

After the groups traded area objectives to open the scoring, the Riders compelled the primary turnover as defensive lineman Miles Brown stripped the ball from Evans whereas Lake Korte-Moore recovered the fumble as Saskatchewan took over on Montreal’s 29-yard line.

Just a few performs later, Hickson sprinted 20 yards into the top zone because the Riders went up 10-3.

After one other area objective by Lauther put the Riders up 13-3, a fumble on a punt return by Saskatchewan’s Mario Alford gave the Alouettes nice area place. Nevertheless a sack by Bryan Cox Jr. adopted by a blocked area objective by Anthony Lanier II saved Montreal from including any factors.

Earlier than the half was up, Lauther kicked a 22-yard area objective to provide the Riders a 16-3 lead.

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Within the second half, the 25-year-old Alexander got here into the sport at quarterback and after connecting with White for a three-yard landing go on their first collection to chop the result in 16-10, Alexander went again to White on the subsequent drive for a 31-yard landing go because the Alouettes took a 17-16 lead.

After hitting the crossbar on a 57-yard area objective try within the first half, Lauther then hit the left upright from 53 yards out early within the fourth quarter because the Alouettes continued to remain in entrance.

Montreal kicked a 21-yard area objective on their subsequent drive to go up 20-16 earlier than Saskatchewan was compelled to punt on their subsequent collection with three minutes left.

Following a punt by the Alouettes with 1:28 remaining, Patterson drove right down to the Montreal 30-yard line earlier than turning it over on downs to finish the sport.

“I used to be pleased with the best way all the fellows performed tonight,” mentioned Mace. “It went right down to the top as we suspected.

“We have been shut however that’s solely good in horseshoes and hand grenades.”

The Riders — who dedicated eight penalties for 105 yards within the loss — will now get set to host the Edmonton Elks on Aug. 3 at Mosaic Stadium in Week 9.

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Notice: Previous to the sport, the CFL introduced it has fined Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill for pointless roughness after driving Patterson into the bottom on the ultimate play of final week’s matchup in Regina. The quantity of the superb wasn’t disclosed.

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