The Ottawa REDBLACKS will face a division rival for the first time this season when they travel to Percival Molson Memorial Stadium to visit the Montreal Alouettes on Friday evening.
The REDBLACKS (1-1) certainly had the Als’ number last season. Ottawa swept all three games against Montreal, outscoring them 85-34. Ottawa also beat their rivals to the east in a pre-season contest in May.
However, the Alouettes (1-2) are coming in with plenty of confidence, having snapped a 13-game losing streak dating back to August, 2017 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week. The REDBLACKS will be looking to get back on track after falling to the Calgary Stampeders in week three.
STORYLINES
Powell dominating – William Powell has made his presence felt early this season. Powell is third in the league in rushing yards through the first three weeks and his 6.8 yards-per-carry ranks second in the CFL.
Defensive line hungry – Ottawa didn’t record a sack against the Stampeders last week, but the d-line has reason to be licking their chops – Montreal has conceded 11 sacks this season, the most in the league.
Old foes – There are plenty of former Alouettes who now find themselves plying their trade with the REDBLACKS; Kyries Hebert, JC Beaulieu, Michael Klassen and defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe among others.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Alouettes made a plethora of moves both on and off the field in the offseason, starting with their head coach. Mike Sherman is in charge of a professional football team for the first time in well over a decade and recorded his first CFL win last week.
The Montreal quarterback situation is up in the air. Incumbent Drew Willy was knocked out of the game against the ‘Riders, and Jeff Mathews has been taking the majority of snaps at practice this week.
Former REDBLACK Chris Williams has proven to be a solid acquisition for Montreal. The wide out is third in the league in receiving yards with 250 in three games. Running back Tyrell Sutton is looking to return to the form that saw him earn CFL all-star honours back in 2015.
The Als defence is much-improved, with the additions of Joe Burnett and Tommie Campbell. The franchises’ timeless veterans John Bowman and Chip Cox are also back with the team.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Everybody in this league is very capable. [The Alouettes] have a lot of talented, veteran guys, so we have a great amount of respect for them. But at the same time, we always do better when we focus on us and what we’re doing regardless of who we’re playing. We’ll game plan and prepare, but the focus has to be on us and holding up our end of the bargain and playing well.” – HC Rick Campbell
“We’re looking to bounce back. We’re excited to get back on the field and we know that it’s going to be a tough game. We let that one slip away in Calgary and we didn’t play our best. We’re just excited to get back out there and get back to playing the football we know how to play.” – REC Diontae Spencer
GAME INFO
Montreal Alouettes vs. Ottawa REDBLACKS
Week 4 – June 6, 2018
Kickoff – 7:30 p.m.
Percival-Molson Stadium
BROADCAST INFO
TV (EN): TSN | Online: TSN.ca/LIVE / TSN GO
TV (FR): RDS
TV: (Int’l): ESPN3 | BT Sport (UK/Ireland)
Radio (EN): TSN 1200 | TSN1200.ca
Radio (FR): 104,7 FM | FM1047.ca
