ALS USE 4TH QUARTER SURGE TO DESTROY ESKIMOS

The Edmonton Eskimos gave the host Montreal Alouettes a tough game for three quarters, before the home team exploded for 31 fourth quarter points en route to a 50-16 victory at Molson Stadium.  The Als offense looked sluggish until the final period, but poured it on to remain undefeated at 2-0 on the young season.  Edmonton dropped to 1-1 with the setback.

It looked like a potential ‘sweat’ for sports bettors who backed Montreal heading into the fourth, as the home team held a 19-9 lead as -7 favorites.  Totals players who took the UNDER 53 also had to feel good about their prospects following a third quarter in which Edmonton outscored the Als 3-0.  After the smoke cleared from Montreal’s fourth quarter outburst they had covered the pointspread with ease and pushed the score well OVER the posted total.

Montreal may have also found a new star wide receiver in S.J. Green.  Green had languished on the Als’ practice squad for the last two seasons but was forced into service on Thursday night due to an injury to star slotback Jamal Richardson.  Green responded with 5 catches for 113 yards and started Montreal’s final period onslaught with a touchdown catch.   Green had turned down an opportunity to play for Toronto in hopes he’d get a chance to play in an Alouettes uniform and he talked about the experience after the game:

"It was very frustrating, a very humbling experience for me having to sit and wait two years on the practice squad knowing that I could play and contribute. I waited my turn and made the best of the opportunity I received."

It was the first time Montreal had broken the 50 point barrier in over five years, and they demonstrated a good deal of versatility in the process.  The Als had 2 passing touchdowns, 2 rushing touchdowns, a punt return and interception return for touchdowns along with 2 field goals and 2 ‘singles’.  QB Anthony Cavallo passed for 343 yards on 24 of 32 passing with two TD passes.  Cavallo also rushed for another touchdown.  After the contest, Cavallo gave most of the credit to his team’s defense and special teams:

"The game was close up until that fourth quarter, and then all of a sudden there's a special teams touchdown, then we score a touchdown and the defence as well. Things just kind of fell in place in that fourth quarter for us, but it definitely wasn't easy. The score may show it, but it wasn't easy."

Eskimos’ head coach Richie Hall didn’t take any solace from the relatively tight first three quarters:

"From start to finish we didn't play as well as we're capable of playing, and after a while we sucked out there. That's not us. We got our butts kicked."

Montreal travels to Saskatchewan a week from Saturday for a game with the Roughriders and looking to remain perfect on the season.  Edmonton will host the BC Lions next Thursday and both teams will get another look at each other when they play a July 30^th rematch on the Eskimos’ home turf