Offence’s inability to finish drives leads to frustrating loss for Alouettes

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“I really feel like there have been just a few alternatives at present that we did not capitalize on,” quarterback Trevor Harris stated.

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We’ve come to anticipate this from the Alouettes, haven’t we? A staff, it appears, that refuses to take the traditional path to its finish aim, no matter that could be. So why would Monday afternoon be any totally different?

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“I’m fairly pissed off, similar to all people else,” basic supervisor and interim head coach Danny Maciocia stated after watching his staff implode en path to a 24-18 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks at Molson Stadium. “We had many alternatives to get a few touchdowns, which we weren’t capable of do. Finally, if you miss out on these alternatives, it comes again to hang-out you.”

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Earlier than a season-high crowd of 21,824 on Thanksgiving, the Als would have been grateful for just a few extra journeys into the Redblacks’ finish zone. However all they may muster was one landing, late within the second quarter, when Trevor Harris related with Eugene Lewis for a 15-yard rating.

Montreal had repeated journeys into the purple zone, however was pressured to accept 4 David Côté subject targets. To not diminish Côté’s significance to this staff, however he has the best job on the sector. Two of his kicks got here from 14 yards, one other from 16 and, the longest, from the 25.

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“I really feel like there have been just a few alternatives at present that we didn’t capitalize on,” stated Harris, whose statistics had been deceptive. He accomplished 30 of 38 passes for 338 yards — a virtually flawless efficiency.

However Harris continuously was below strain, regardless of not getting sacked, behind an offensive line that was hobbled following the departure of centre Sean Jamieson within the second quarter with a severe knee harm. Harris, at occasions, additionally appeared to have pleased ft, reluctant to get hit — comprehensible at age 36.

Harris fumbled within the third quarter whereas trying to supply a primary down together with his ft — the turnover finally leading to an Ottawa landing. And he was unable to ship when required. The Als drove to the Redblacks’ 19 within the ultimate minute, however with third down and 11.4 seconds remaining, his move to Lewis was too excessive and would have required a one-handed catch.

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“The final play of the sport’s going to bug me,” Harris stated. “I lifted the ball a bit bit. Small little issues like that. Penalties. Not changing second downs. Discipline place. A few small issues which are turning the tide. We simply should execute. We’ve acquired to be higher. We will’t kick the small subject targets. We now have to attain touchdowns. It makes an enormous distinction.”

The Als had been nursing a tenuous 15-7 lead at halftime, but additionally managed the ball for barely greater than 20 minutes. However following the intermission, as is so usually the case, they couldn’t generate any offence within the third quarter, restricted to 4 performs. Montreal’s solely factors within the second half weren’t produced till 9 minutes into the ultimate interval. The Als had been outscored 17-3 within the second half, their time of possession roughly 9 minutes.

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There’s no denying the Als have been on a very good run, having received a season-high three straight and 5 of their final six. Alternatively, a victory would have pushed them over .500 for the primary time this season, together with clinching a house playoff recreation.

As an alternative, Montreal is now 7-8, 4 factors behind first-place Toronto. The Als should win their remaining three video games — together with two towards the Argonauts — and hope Toronto loses subsequent weekend at Edmonton for any shot at capturing the division.

As for the Redblacks, who had been enjoying their first recreation below interim head coach Bob Dyce, they improved to 4-11 — two of these wins coming towards Montreal. Laborious to fathom, contemplating the quantity of one-sided defeats Ottawa has suffered.

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“There are not any gimmes on this league,” Maciocia stated. “You possibly can’t simply present up, pondering the opposite staff’s going to mail it in and provide you with two factors.”

An absence of self-discipline, once more, got here again to hang-out the Als, penalized 9 occasions for 122 yards, though the Redblacks took 119 yards themselves. It ought to make for an fascinating rematch Friday evening in Ottawa.

“When frustration units in, we kind of revert again to our previous methods,” Maciocia admitted. “That’s clearly unacceptable. We simply can’t return to being that staff.”

Within the third quarter, for instance, a Tyrice Beverette fumble restoration was nullified resulting from a roughness penalty towards Micah Awe, additionally responsible of a facemask later.

“That’s a game-changing play proper there,” linebacker Adarius Pickett stated. “If (Jaelon) Acklin breaks the deal with and continues to run, they’re going to name it a landing. They’re not going to cease the play. They by no means blew the whistle, I knocked the ball free, we recovered it. Beverette takes it down the sector and places us in scoring place. That’s a game-changing play.

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“The referees took the sport out of our arms with that play alone.”

Als tailback William Stanback returned after fracturing his ankle within the opening recreation on June 9. However his workload was restricted and he was a non-factor, gaining 20 yards on eight carries. His frustration post-game was apparent.

“We shouldn’t have misplaced that recreation,” he stated. “We all the time put ourselves in conditions the place we play right down to everybody else’s stage.”

Stanback has a degree. However now, he’s additionally supplied Ottawa will bulletin board materials.

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1

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