The Montreal Alouettes are Grey Cup-bound after pulling off one of the largest playoff upsets in CFL history, defeating the first-place Toronto Argonauts by a score of 38-17.
Toronto was favoured by 10.5 points in front of a record-setting crowd of 26,500 at BMO Field, having beaten the Alouettes three times in the regular season. However, a 101-yard pick-six from Montreal safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy on the game’s opening drive gave the visitors an early lead that they never relinquished.
CFL all-star quarterback Chad Kelly finished the game 21-of-36 passing for 246 yards and one touchdown but was responsible for nine turnovers, throwing four interceptions — including two returned for touchdowns –, fumbling once, and turning it over on downs four times. The high-powered Argos offence did not find the endzone until the fourth quarter, with a 105-yard kickoff return touchdown from James Letcher Jr. taking the wind out of any comeback attempt.
Toronto posted a 16-2 record this season, tying the record for the winningest season in CFL history previously held by the 1989 Edmonton Football Team. That team was also famously upset in the Division Final by the 9-9 Saskatchewan Roughriders, who went on to capture the Grey Cup.
This upset marked the first victory for the 11-7 Alouettes against a team above them in the standings this season. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 18-of-25 passes for just 175 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, as the defence and special teams logged a complete performance in the win.
The 110th Grey Cup is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 19 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont.
