Cole Spieker caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown to lead the Montreal Alouettes to a 38-33 win against the Argonauts in the regular-season finale on Saturday at BMO Field in Toronto.
Spieker, who hauled in a 53-yard first-quarter touchdown, caught a critical first-down pass to keep a late-game drive alive for Montreal (9-9). Alouettes running back Jeshrun Antwi fumbled a couple of plays later at the Toronto four-yard line, but Montreal’s defence held on for the victory.
Toronto (11-7) forced an Alouettes safety early in the fourth quarter to pull within five points.
Toronto, which trailed by seven after the first half, pulled even at 28-28 when Jeremiah Haydel ran the opening second-half kickoff 87 yards down the sideline in front of the Argos’ bench for a major.
Montreal’s Jabari Ellis blocked and recovered John Haggerty’s punt attempt for a touchdown just under four minutes later. Argos kicker Boris Bede and his counterpart David Cote traded field goals of 19 and 41 yards, respectively, as the Alouettes took a 38-31 edge after three quarters.
WATCH | Montreal’s special teams deliver:
Both teams had huge special teams plays, but Montreal outlasted Toronto for the tight victory.
The Alouettes jumped out to a 14-0 lead on a 53-yard pass from backup quarterback Dominique Davis to Spieker and then a one-yard plunge by Davis.
Davis started in place of 36-year-old Trevor Harris, one of many Alouettes and Argos regulars who rested.
Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson also did not play.
Dejon Brissett of Mississauga, Ont., scored his first career touchdown with a 27-yard reception for Toronto with 4:03 remaining in the first quarter. Montreal answered with 58 seconds left as Davis hit Kaion Julien-Grant for a 31-yard score and a 21-7 advantage.
A Shaq Richardson interception led to a 19-yard touchdown pass from Chad Kelly to Juwan Brescacin for the Argos early in the second quarter.
Alexander’s TD on a QB sneak was countered with a one-yard run from Kelly to cut Montreal’s lead to 28-21 at the half.
Davis breaks franchise record
Davis set an Alouettes franchise record for rushing touchdowns for a quarterback in a season, rumbling in for his 13th in the first quarter.
Vernon Adams Jr. set the previous mark of 12 in 2019.
The Alouettes meet the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East semifinal in Montreal on Nov. 6. The winner travels to Toronto to face the Argos in the East final on Nov. 13.
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