Early season injury woes, and costly mistakes were the difference for the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Friday night, as they dropped their 2025 home opener to the Montreal Alouettes by a final score of 39-18.
Matt Shiltz threw for 205 yards, and connected on a touchdown pass to Bralon Addison, but three batted balls resulted in interceptions for the Montreal defence. Geno Lewis led the way with 56 receiving yards, but saw his historic nine-game touchdown streak come to an end.
Defensively, Will Fields’ unit put forth a valiant effort in their own right, stymying Davis Alexander and Montreal’s offence for periods of time, but big plays and penalties cost them in the end, despite CJ Coldon notching an interception for the second straight game, and Adarius Pickett pouncing on a Bennett Williams forced fumble.
The two teams exchanged field goals early, but an Ottawa penalty set the Alouettes up on the one-yard line, and Caleb Evans punched in the game’s first touchdown to give Montreal a 13-3 lead.
Jose Maltos kicked three more before the half, and Montreal found themselves up by 16 at the intermission.
The third quarter belonged to the REDBLACKS, scoring 15 points as they tried to claw their way back into the game. Shiltz took a shot for Lewis in the end zone, and despite the ruling on the field being incomplete, a pass interference call set the table for a one-yard Dustin Crum touchdown.
Montreal would surrender a rouge on the ensuing kickoff, but Alexander connected with James Letcher Jr. on that very drive, and he scampered into the end zone to restore a more comfortable lead, at 26-11.
The REDBLACKS made it a one-possession game shortly thereafter, with Shiltz connecting on a perfect pass to Addison in the end zone, and Ward’s PAT bringing the score to 26-18.
Unfortunately for the REDBLACKS, a Wesley Sutton pick-six off of a Shawn Oakman pass deflection would put to rest any hopes of a comeback, and another Maltos field goal late in the game made it a 39-18 final.
Ottawa heads to Calgary in search of their first win of the season in Week 3, facing the Stampeders in a 4:00pm ET kickoff on Saturday, June 21.
