Latest news with #DavisAlexander
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Elks face strong Alouettes squad in season home-opener
Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford throws the ball against the B.C. Lions during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025. It's early in the Canadian Football League season, and the Edmonton Elks have played just one game and already taken a bye week, but another sizable challenge awaits the new-look Commonwealth Stadium inhabitants. The Montreal Alouettes look primed for domination from their perch atop the East Division – again, it's early – given their sterling team statistics through two weeks of the 2025 CFL campaign. They come calling on the Elks Thursday night (7 p.m.) at Commonwealth Stadium, almost two weeks after Edmonton lost their season-opening game to the B.C. Lions. With the pigskin, the 2-0 Als rank: 2nd in average yards rushing (131) behind Winnipeg (201); Tied for 2nd in first downs (44); 3rd in average yards per play (7.27); and 4th in net offence (average 396 yards) behind Winnipeg (438), B.C. (428) and Calgary (400). The Als are seventh in average passing yards (274.5), but the Elks are last in that category (178 yards). Through two games, starting Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander has thrown for 549 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, and completing 42 of 58 of his passes (72%) for a 99.0 passer rating. Alouettes vs. Argonauts Montreal Alouettes defensive back Tiawan Mullen (32) tackles Toronto Argonauts wide receiver DaVaris Daniels (80) during first half CFL action in Montreal on Friday, June 6, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press) But it's on defence where the Als are dominant through two weeks of the schedule. Without the football, they rank: 1st in offensive points allowed per game (13.5); 1st in net offence against (255.5 yards); 1st in yards per play (5.21); 1st in rushing yards against (37); and 2nd to the Lions is passing yards allowed per game (241.5). The Elks, meanwhile, have just one week of statistics to show for the season so far thanks to its bye last week. And in their lone game so far – a 31-14 Lions' win over them in Week 1 on June 7 – the Elks struggled to find their footing on both sides of the ball, especially as the game went on. Lions vs. Elks Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford (2) is stopped by B.C. Lions' Mathieu Betts (90) and Kemoko Turay (58) during the second half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (ETHAN CAIRNS/THE CANADIAN PRESS) B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns in the West Division showdown at Vancouver's B.C. Place Stadium, while the Lions' offence feasted on the Elks' defence, collecting 446 yards in net offence – a stat that puts Edmonton last in the nine-team circuit in that category – on 324 yards passing and 124 yards rushing. Offensively, Elks quarterback Tre Ford threw for 178 yards and an interception, and added 54 yards rushing of his team's 87. Both Elks touchdowns came from short-yardage plunges by backup QB Cody Fajardo. By game's end, the Elks put up 248 yards in net offence. One of Elks head coach Mark Killam's primary concerns lies on the defensive side, telling media on Wednesday 'finishing has got to be front and centre' for the unit against the Alouettes given its time spent on the field vs. the Lions two weeks ago. 'We played a good first half, but we were on the field for a long time, some long drives – seven-, eight-, 10-play drives in the second half,' Killam, who's in his first year guiding the Elks, said after the pre-game walk-through at Commonwealth Stadium. 'We've got to get off the field.' Lions vs. Elks Edmonton Elks' Leonard Johnson (32) stops B.C. Lions' Jermaine Jackson (13) during the second half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (ETHAN CAIRNS/THE CANADIAN PRESS) With the ball, Elks offensive lineman Mark Korte said establishing the rush early is something players are focused on to try to establish a rhythm. He said the run game wasn't 'staying on schedule on first down' and was therefore unable to 'consistently run the ball well early in the game, so then it gets harder for a play-caller to come back to it.' 'When you run early and it doesn't go well, then throughout the course of the game, it can get difficult,' said the 28-year-old Korte, a seven-year CFL veteran and Spruce Grove native. 'One of our points of emphasis is being able to run the ball well early, be on schedule on first down, getting us into second and manageable situations. 'I think that's big for us.' Lions vs. Elks Edmonton Elks' quarterback Cody Fajardo, top, tries to score a touchdown against the B.C. Lions during the second half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (ETHAN CAIRNS/THE CANADIAN PRESS) Full-sized fire truck returns for home-opener They're going large. Large fire truck, that is. The Elks are bringing back the original, full-sized version of the team-hued fire truck that drives on the track around the field after touchdowns. A smaller version of the truck had been used the last few seasons, which Evan Daum, the Elks' vice-president of marketing and fan experience, said had been used since 2019. He said the original one 'has been refurbished, so it's historically accurate in terms of what it looks like, and we've made some mechanical upgrades so it's a little bit easier to drive.' 'We know how much the fans enjoy it,' Daum told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday. 'We're looking forward to coming out and having some firefighters on there doing their thing.' Also on tap for Thursday's opener are pyrotechnics, including in places around the stadium they haven't before been used, an in-house band, more Kids Zone features and an enhanced tailgating experience that includes upgrades to the beer garden, better seating and more signage, Daum said. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Dave Mitchell
CTV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Alexander helps Alouettes top Redblacks 39-18; Montreal continues dominance in Ottawa
Montreal Alouettes' Sean Thomas Erlington (21) tries to leap past Ottawa Redblacks' Jovan Santos-Knox (5) during first half CFL football action in Ottawa on Friday, June 13, 2025. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) Davis Alexander was solid going 23-for-32 for 344 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Montreal Alouettes took control early and never looked back in a 39-18 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday. Montreal (2-0-0) extended its winning streak at TD Place to 11 games. Matt Shiltz, who got the start for the injured Dru Brown at quarterback for Ottawa, was 22-for-32 for 205 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Redblacks receiver Eugene Lewis's streak of consecutive games with a touchdown came to an end, ending his bid to tie Terry Evanshen's record of 10 straight games. The Alouettes started the fourth quarter with a 50-yard field goal early in the fourth, but it was a Wesley Sutton interception on the ensuing play that he ran back for a 45-yard touchdown that put the game out of reach, 36-18. Jose Maltos added a 19-yard field goal to close out the scoring. Ottawa (0-2-0) did its best to keep pace in the second half but struggled. It started the half well with CJ Coldon intercepting Alexander, setting the Redblacks up at the 36-yard line. Three plays later, Dustin Crum punched it in from the one to cut the deficit to 19-10. Montreal conceded a rouge on the ensuing kickoff, making it 19-11. The Alouettes answered midway through the third, as Alexander connected with James Letcher Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 26-11. But Ottawa kept fighting. Shiltz found Bralon Addison in the end zone for a nine-yard score late in the quarter, narrowing the gap to 26-18. Montreal took a commanding 19-3 lead into halftime. Montreal opened the scoring with a field goal on its first drive, and kicker Maltos stayed perfect, hitting four in total — from 30, 16, 27 and 49 yards — including one on the final play of the half. Ottawa had a golden opportunity early after recovering a Montreal fumble at the 26-yard line. The Redblacks drove to the one but were stuffed twice and turned the ball over on downs. Lewis Ward hit a 25-yard field goal to make it 6-3, but Montreal responded immediately. Alexander connected with Tyler Snead for a 69-yard gain, and a major foul by Robert Priester set up Caleb Evans for a one-yard quarterback sneak. UP NEXT Alouettes: Visit the Edmonton Eskimos Thursday, June 19.. Redblacks: Visit the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, June 21. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Early-season growing pains glaring for some clubs in Week 1
The CFL season is already a week old, but for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the fun is just getting started. As Week 1 unfolded, the Bombers found themselves as the lone club on the sidelines, a consequence of the CFL's nine-team structure, leaving the Blue and Gold as the odd men out. Winnipeg's last Week 1 bye was back in 2017, well before their current, impressive streak of five straight Grey Cup appearances began. Inside the locker room, opinions on the early break were decidedly mixed. 'I don't like it, especially with the camp we had, you want to come out and play right away,' said offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld. 'It's a chance to get your body right,' added defensive end Willie Jefferson. MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson likes the Week 1 bye week, saying 'it's a chance to get your body right' before the season kicks off. MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson likes the Week 1 bye week, saying 'it's a chance to get your body right' before the season kicks off. 'I don't know. It could be a gift and a curse,' said running back Brady Oliveira. After an intense training camp, sitting idle for Week 1 would undoubtedly feel strange, particularly for those new to the CFL. Many players admitted they enjoyed watching the games, noting that Week 1 can be a bit sloppy. They hoped to capitalize on the added time to dissect film, aiming to avoid those early-season growing pains when they welcome the B.C. Lions to Princess Auto Stadium Thursday night. While a bit unusual, Week 1 byes are likely here to stay for the foreseeable future, until the CFL can finally secure a 10th team. The league has made this a clear mission in recent years, with significant efforts focused on bringing a franchise to Atlantic Canada, ultimately aiming for a true coast-to-coast presence across the three-down loop. For now, that might feel like a pipe dream. But much like East Coast weather, if expansion talk is quiet now, just wait fifteen minutes — there's always something new brewing in this beautifully chaotic league. With that in mind, let's dive into the league's top stories from the week that was in the latest edition of CFL Rundown. 1) The Montreal Alouettes, the top-ranked team in my early season power rankings, certainly didn't disappoint. Up against a Toronto Argonauts team missing their star quarterback, the Alouettes looked dominant in all three phases. The Davis Alexander era officially began, and the young pivot looked calm and collected throughout the game. Christopher Katsarov / THE CANADIAN PRESS Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander led Montreal to a dominant season-opening win against the Toronto Argonauts on Friday. Christopher Katsarov / THE CANADIAN PRESS Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander led Montreal to a dominant season-opening win against the Toronto Argonauts on Friday. Alexander didn't have to do too much, tossing for just over 200 yards in the victory. When a defence plays that well and special teams are that effective, sometimes a quarterback simply needs to get out of his own way. 2) The Saskatchewan Roughriders earned a convincing win over the visiting Ottawa Redblacks, but at first blush it appeared they suffered the greatest loss on the night. Running back A.J. Ouellette left the game late in the first quarter with a head injury, immediately casting serious doubt on his status for Week 2. However, as the Riders returned to practice this week, Ouellette was already working with the first-team offence after clearing concussion protocol. This is good news for the 29-year-old, who has struggled to stay healthy since arriving in Regina at the start of last season. Saskatchewan signed free agent Ka'Deem Carey as a backup, so it's certainly something to monitor over the weekend. 3) Heading into the 2025 campaign, one question loomed large on everyone's mind: would Nathan Rourke return to his dominating form from 2022? Well, if Week 1 was any indication, he's certainly going to do some damage this year. While the Lions offence had a slow start, Rourke came alive in the second half, leading his team to four straight touchdown drives. Rourke finished 27-for-36 passing for 324 yards and three touchdowns, along with five runs totalling 54 rushing yards. Rourke also appears to have found a new favourite target, connecting with Stanley Berryhill III for six catches, 105 yards and two TDs. 4) You can't say the same about Edmonton Elks QB Tre Ford, who struggled against the Lions in what was his first Week 1 start of his career. Ford has been given the keys to the franchise after years of parachuting into action only when the Elks were already out of playoff contention. It's still too early for definitive statements, but the early signs point to a player who can make highlight-reel plays yet struggles with routine passes. In other words, he makes the hard plays look easy and the easy plays look hard. There's still time to grow for the Canadian kid and one game won't decide the rest of the season. But if Edmonton wants to snap a years-long playoff drought, they need more from their leader behind centre. 5) Vernon Adams Jr. sure looked good in his debut in Calgary, leading the Stampeders to a win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He got off to a hot start, collecting more than 100 of his 284 total passing yards on the opening drive. Despite the Stamps putting up 38 points, Adams was without a throwing touchdown, as running back Dedrick Mills punched in a hat trick of scores to become the CFL's early touchdown leader. Adams was a major off-season pickup for Calgary, valued both for his ability on the field and his character in the locker room. So far, so good in Cowtown, where the Stamps look to make it back to the playoffs after missing out last season for the first time in 20 years. 6) As mentioned, it's not the time for definitive statements, with Week 1 often proving to be a bit of a crapshoot as clubs try to smooth out early wrinkles. But the Ticats fanbase must have a here-we-go-again feeling following the loss to Calgary. Larry MacDougal / THE CANADIAN PRESS The Hamilton Tiger-Cats were supposed to have improved in the off-season, but the club had no semblance of a run game against the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday. Larry MacDougal / THE CANADIAN PRESS The Hamilton Tiger-Cats were supposed to have improved in the off-season, but the club had no semblance of a run game against the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday. Hamilton was supposed to be improved this season, building on their league-leading offence and bolstering their talent on defence. None of that looked evident this past week, especially on offence, where 35-year-old Bo Levi Mitchell attempted 50 passes and the Ticats had no semblance of a run game. Things don't get any easier this week with Saskatchewan coming to town. 7) I'm going to end this column on a somber note. First, I want to extend my best wishes to Ticats general manager — and former Bombers assistant GM — Ted Goveia as he continues his battle with cancer. Ted is a CFL lifer, and the more we see of him around the league, the better. Also, last week, we received the devastating news of the death of Milt Stegall's son, Chase, a 20-year-old student-athlete who played on the soccer team at DePaul University. Anyone who has had a chance to meet Milt, a Blue Bomber legend, knows what a special human being he is. No one has more fun, or smiles more on the job than Milt, and my heart breaks for him and his family. I wish them nothing but the best as they navigate this incredibly difficult time. The support from Winnipeg and the broader CFL community has been incredible. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Jeff HamiltonMultimedia producer Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University's journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff. Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Alexander, defence lead Alouettes past Argonauts 28-10 to open CFL season
Davis Alexander is off to a winning start as the face of the Montreal Alouettes. Davis Alexander is off to a winning start as the face of the Montreal Alouettes. Alexander threw for one touchdown and 205 yards in a steady outing as Montreal defeated the Toronto Argonauts 28-10 to open its CFL season Friday. 'That's the start of the DA era right now,' receiver Tyson Philpot said. The Alouettes chose a younger Alexander over 2023 Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo in a bold move this past off-season. Alexander began last year as a third-stringer but led the Alouettes to five wins — including four as a starter — while Fajardo missed time. Now Fajardo is in Edmonton, and Alexander is still winning. The 26-year-old quarterback, who also threw an interception, completed 19 of 26 passing attempts and totalled 50 yards on four rushes to improve to 5-0 as a starter in the CFL. 'There's no pressure on this,' he said. 'We got the best defence in the league. I got playmakers all around me. Offensive line was amazing. Our run game was amazing. There's no pressure.' Montreal earned its revenge after the visiting Argonauts defeated the Alouettes 30-28 in last year's East Division final en route to their 19th Grey Cup title. Philpot caught one touchdown pass, Issac Adeyemi-Berglund returned a fumble into the end zone, and Caleb Evans rushed for a major on a warm, hazy night as prairie wildfire smoke drifted into Quebec. The Alouettes' defence held the Argos to just 34 rushing yards, and Alexandre Gagné tied a CFL single-game record with seven special teams tackles before 21,480 at Molson Stadium. 'We talked about setting the tone in all three phases tonight,' Alouettes head coach Jason Maas said. 'I love the way our defence played all night, physical, and they do what they do. 'Gagne had seven special teams tackles, so any time you got a guy doing that, you know you're doing some really good things.' Veteran QB Nick Arbuckle, last year's unexpected Grey Cup MVP, threw for one touchdown, two interceptions and 273 yards on 20-for-32 completions for Toronto (0-1). The Argonauts lineup featured 13 different starters compared to last year's championship game. 'It was a sloppy game, felt like a pre-season game,' Argos coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. 'We made some decent plays, did some decent things, but we didn't execute at a high level.' Toronto also kicked off a second consecutive season without starting QB Chad Kelly, who broke his tibia and fibula late in last year's East final. Montreal kicker Jose Maltos went 2-for-3 with a rouge. Toronto's Lirim Hajrullahu went 1-for-1 on a 45-yard field goal. Montreal took a 15-3 lead heading into halftime when Adeyemi-Berglund returned a fumble 17 yards into the end zone after Shawn Oakman laid out Arbuckle with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. The play stood after review — instead of being ruled an incomplete pass — despite the fact Arbuckle released the ball before Oakman's hit. The league ruled that Arbuckle did not have a throwing motion before the ball left his hands. 'I don't know how that wasn't an incomplete pass,' Dinwiddie said. Things only got worse for the Argos as James Letcher Jr. returned a kickoff 67 yards to open the second half. Alexander then ran 12 yards and completed three passes to set up Evans' one-yard QB sneak into the end zone as the Alouettes took a 22-3 lead 4:29 into the third quarter. The Alouettes' starter appeared to injure himself when a Toronto defensive lineman fell on his legs. He rolled around on the field, holding his left knee in pain, but ultimately stood up on his own and returned to play on the next drive. 'He did some really good things throwing the ball down the field,' Maas said of Alexander. 'Did a lot of great things with his legs, some toughness, getting a little bit of a knee issue … but getting back up and then leading us.' Toronto finally scored a touchdown with 10:47 remaining when D'Verick Daniels fought his way into the end zone after catching a pass for 11 yards to cut Montreal's lead to 22-10. The Alouettes went ahead 25-10 after Alexander led a drive to Toronto's 23, leading to a Maltos field goal from 31 yards out. Tyrice Beverette, a nominee for defensive player of the year last season, intercepted Arbuckle's throw with 2:33 left to all but seal the result. 'They're real aggressive, and that's their strength,' Argos receiver Damonte Coxie said. 'Those guys played some good ball today. Good thing it was early in the season, so it's a learning moment and we're going back to the drawing board.' UP NEXT Alouettes: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks next Friday. Argonauts: Host the Calgary Stampeders on June 14. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
National Post
07-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Argonauts fall flat against Alouettes in season opener
MONTREAL — Davis Alexander threw for one touchdown and 205 yards as the Montreal Alouettes defeated the Toronto Argonauts 28-10 to open their Canadian Football League season on Friday. Article content Montreal (1-0) earned its revenge after the visiting Argonauts defeated the Alouettes 30-28 in last year's East Division final en route to their 19th Grey Cup title. Article content Article content Alexander — in his first game since the Alouettes traded '23 Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo — rushed for 50 yards on four attempts to improve to 5-0 as a starter in the CFL. Article content The 26-year-old quarterback also threw one interception on a warm, hazy night as prairie wildfire smoke drifted into Quebec on Friday. Tyson Philpot caught one touchdown pass, Issac Adeyemi-Berglund returned a fumble into the end zone, and Caleb Evans rushed for a major before 21,480 at Molson Stadium. Article content The Alouettes' defence held the Argos to just 34 rushing yards, and Alexandre Gagne tied a CFL single-game record with seven special teams tackles. Article content Veteran QB Nick Arbuckle, last year's unexpected Grey Cup MVP, threw for one touchdown, two interceptions and 273 yards on 20-for-32 completions for Toronto (0-1). The Argonauts lineup featured 13 different starters compared to last year's championship game. Article content Toronto also started a second consecutive season without starting QB Chad Kelly, who broke his tibia and fibula late in last year's East final. Montreal kicker Jose Maltos went 2-for-3 with a rouge. Toronto's Lirim Hajrullahu went 1-for-1 on a 45-yard field goal. Article content Montreal took a 15-3 lead heading into halftime when Adeyemi-Berglund returned a fumble 17 yards into the end zone after Shawn Oakman laid out Arbuckle with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. Article content The play stood after review — instead of being ruled an incomplete pass — despite the fact Arbuckle released the ball before Oakman's hit. The league ruled that Arbuckle did not have a throwing motion before the ball left his hands. Article content Things only got worse for the Argos as James Letcher Jr. returned a kickoff 67 yards to open the second half. Article content Alexander then ran 12 yards and completed three passes to set up Evans' one-yard QB sneak into the end zone as the Alouettes took a 22-3 lead 4:29 into the half. Article content Derek Slywka intercepted Alexander's deep pass with five minutes remaining in the third quarter for his first pick in the CFL. Article content Alexander appeared to injure himself late in the third quarter when a Toronto defensive lineman fell on his legs. He rolled round on the field, holding his left knee in pain, but ultimately stood up on his own and returned to play on the next drive.
