Gray Cup Preview: What you might want to learn about Alouettes vs. Roughriders

It is the heartland of the CFL versus a area that has its personal deep love for the sport.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders, in some ways the CFL’s flagship franchise, face a Montreal Alouettes crew representing the booming Quebec soccer scene within the 112th Gray Cup on Sunday in Winnipeg.

It is the primary Gray Cup between the 2 squads because the Alouettes beat the Roughriders back-to-back in 2009 and ’10 by a mixed 4 factors. The primary of these video games featured the well-known 13-men-on-the-field name on Saskatchewan on a missed subject aim, giving the Alouettes the additional probability they wanted to win the title. These two video games are the one earlier Gray Cups between the Als and Roughriders.

The Roughriders (12-6 within the common season) have been the category of the league many of the season, whereas the Alouettes (10-8) caught hearth late to earn a well-deserved berth within the Cup.

Here is a capsule take a look at this 12 months’s recreation:

Sunday, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.

The Roughriders have been favoured by 3.5 factors at BetMGM, as of Saturday. The underdog has received the final 4 Gray Cups.

The forecast requires a excessive of -2 C with winds low at 8 km/h at kickoff. Precipitation shouldn’t be anticipated. In different phrases, almost good Gray Cup climate.

The Alouettes try to win their second Gray Cup prior to now three years underneath common supervisor Danny Maciocia and head coach Jason Maas. The East is trying to win a fourth Gray Cup in a row (the Toronto Argonauts received in 2022 and ’24) for the primary time since 1967-70. The Als have received the Gray Cup eight instances.

The Roughriders are on a 12-year Gray Cup drought, having final received it at house in 2013. They’re searching for their fifth championship total.

Longtime Toronto rockers Our Woman Peace have the pre-game present earlier than nation artist Catie St. Germain of Niverville, Man., sings the anthem

American rapper mgk, previously often known as Machine Gun Kelly, is the halftime act.

The groups break up the two-game season sequence, although Alouettes star quarterback Davis Alexander was injured for each video games.

The Roughriders crushed the Alouettes 34-6 on Aug. 2 in Montreal, with McLeod Bethel-Thompson beginning at QB for the house aspect.

Roughriders QB Trevor Harris threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, whereas Bethel-Thompson was restricted to 126 yards whereas tossing one interception.

However on Sept. 13, the Als pulled off a giant 48-31 upset in Regina, snapping a five-game shedding streak and starting a season-defining five-game win streak.

Bethel-Thompson threw for a whopping 379 yards and three touchdowns. Canadian receiver Tyson Philpot was his massive weapon, catching 9 passes for 238 yards and two TDs. Als working again Stevie Scott III added 125 yards on 19 carries.

The Alouettes are within the post-season for the sixth 12 months in a row, advancing to at the very least the East remaining the previous 4 years, beginning that stretch in 2022 with Harris as their QB1.

The Roughriders are making their second playoff look in a row after reaching the West remaining in 2024. Saskatchewan breaks Winnipeg’s five-season stretch of representing the West within the Gray Cup.

Davis Alexander (Montreal) vs. Trevor Harris (Saskatchewan)

Alexander carries his outstanding 13-0 document as a starter into the Gray Cup. He was 4-0 final 12 months rather than an injured Cody Fajardo, convincing the Als to make Alexander their No. 1 this 12 months after transport Fajardo to Edmonton.

The fleet-footed Alexander, 27, actually has appeared the half, however the concern has been his well being. He began solely seven video games this season due to a nagging hamstring damage, and he aggravated it final week towards Hamilton within the East remaining. Alexander completed the sport and led the Als on a walk-off field-goal drive, however he was restricted. He says he is feeling a lot better this week, however we actually will not understand how shut Alexander is to 100 per cent till he tries to maneuver from the pocket. The Als want him to have the ability to transfer properly to have their greatest probability.

Harris, 39, has performed for 5 groups since becoming a member of the CFL as an Argonaut in 2012. Whereas by no means one of many two or three marquee quarterbacks within the league, he is usually offered a steadying presence and really stable play. He will get the ball out fast and spreads it round to harmful targets like Samuel Emilus, Ajou Ajou and Dohnte Meyers. Harris has received two Gray Cup rings, however has by no means began and received within the championship contest. His lone Gray Cup begin was a 2018 loss with the Ottawa Redblacks towards the Calgary Stampeders.

Harris may nonetheless be an Alouette if not for some possession woes earlier than Peladeau purchased the crew in 2023. He opted to signal with the Roughriders for that season, resulting in his best success, together with a career-best 73.6-per-cent completion proportion, this 12 months. He’s 21-11 within the common season as a starter for Saskatchewan.

Jason Maas (Montreal) vs. Corey Mace (Saskatchewan)

Maas, 49, made the uncommon bounce from shedding his job as Roughriders offensive co-ordinator in 2022 to being named head coach of one other crew lower than two months later.

Maciocia, who was searching for a head coach after ending the 2022 season teaching following the firing of Khari Jones, appears to have nailed the rent.

Maas, a former quarterback, saved the crew afloat via 4 completely different beginning quarterbacks this season, and has the crew enjoying its greatest soccer on the proper time. Montreal has received its previous seven video games with any that means — its common season-ending loss to Winnipeg meant nothing within the standings. Defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe has led a unit that ranks proper up there with Saskatchewan as greatest within the league.

Mace, 39, was employed to guide the Roughriders previous to 2024 after a really profitable two-year run as Argos defensive co-ordinator. GM Jeremy O’Day, who desperately wanted a great rent after the crew struggled badly underneath Craig Dickenson the earlier two years, needs to be proud of the outcomes.

Mace, a former defensive lineman, has been a stabilizing drive for the Roughriders. The native of Port Moody, B.C., has mixed with spectacular offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller, a Regina native, to make the Roughriders a really well-balanced crew.

Princess Auto Stadium, opened in 2013, hosts its second Gray Cup.

Edmonton beat Ottawa 26-20 within the 2015 recreation on the stadium.

The Blue Bombers have been an enormous off-field success for the CFL, promoting out their whole house schedule this season. Their followers deserve a terrific Gray Cup, although the house crew is not in it.

The Roughriders have began rapidly repeatedly lately, however have not been in a position to preserve the momentum. This 12 months was a special story.

Saskatchewan’s lone loss within the first half of the season was a bizarre house recreation versus Calgary pushed again a day, after an extended delay and eventual postponement due to poor air high quality.

The Roughriders have been in agency management of the West at 10-2 after sweeping Winnipeg within the annual Labour Day sequence.

An enormous key was having Harris wholesome. He began 16 of 18 video games, with just one miss due to damage. In the meantime, Mace’s defence allowed the fewest factors within the league.

The Roughriders rallied late final week to beat the B.C. Lions 24-21 in an exhilarating West remaining.

The Alouettes have been 7-0 with Alexander and 3-8 with out him. They have been helped by enjoying in a weak East Division, and truly remained within the hunt for prime spot till the ultimate week.

Bethel-Thompson, Caleb Evans and James Morgan all began video games at QB with Alexander sidelined.

On defence, the Als have a harmful move rush and a pair studs at linebacker in Darnell Sankey and Tyrice Beverette.

The Als beat the visiting Blue Bombers within the East semifinal earlier than Jose Maltos Diaz drilled a 45-yard walk-off subject aim for a 19-16 win in Hamilton within the East remaining.

Saskatchewan RB A.J. Ouellette

Some of the bodily working backs within the CFL, Ouellette was second within the league in dashing yards this season. The Ohio product received a Gray Cup with the Argos in 2022. With prime Roughriders receiver KeeSean Johnson (knee) dominated out, Saskatchewan wants a giant day from Ouellette.

Montreal WR Tyson Philpot

The son of former B.C. Lions star working again Cory Philpot, Tyson is without doubt one of the most proficient U Sports activities merchandise (College of Calgary) within the league. He is had some damage issues, however the 2022 first-round decide generally is a game-breaker, as seen in Regina earlier this 12 months.

Saskatchewan HB Rolan Milligan Jr.

Milligan is one in every of 5 Roughriders defensive gamers to earn CFL All-Professional honours this 12 months. He was named the CFL’s prime defensive participant final 12 months. Saskatchewan was second within the league in interceptions. Defensive again Tevaughn Campbell tied for the league lead with six.

Montreal LB Darnell Sankey

Sankey was third within the league with 101 tackles this season. He signed with the Als halfway via 2023 after a stint within the XFL and was a key a part of Montreal’s Gray Cup run. Sankey has been a CFL East all-star the previous two years.

The Alouettes have received the Gray Cup of their previous three appearances, whereas the Roughriders are 4-15 of their previous 19 showings within the championship recreation … Six of the final 9 Gray Cups have seen the successful crew rally from a deficit within the fourth quarter … Each groups defend the quarterback (tied for second in sacks allowed) and get after the QB (Montreal tied for first in sacks, Saskatchewan was third).

The Alouettes have been one of many few groups to search out methods to harm the Roughriders defence, and that was with out Alexander.

Montreal has a deep group of receivers and Alexander can do harm along with his arm and ft.

If Alexander is ready to use his ft successfully, the Als can rating sufficient factors to offer the underdog one other Gray Cup win.

Alouettes 28, Roughriders 20