By Canadian Press

Alouettes hold off Argonauts in 38-33 regular-season finale victory

Oct 29, 2022 | 2:31 PM

TORONTO — Cole Spieker caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown to lead the Montreal Alouettes to a 38-33 win against the Toronto Argonauts in the regular-season finale on Saturday.

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.

The Argos and Alouettes had already clinched first and second in the CFL’s East Division entering the game.

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.

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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.

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.

Davis completed 13 of 14 passes for 166 yards, two touchdowns and an interception before being relieved by Davis Alexander late in the first half.

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.

RUSHING 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.

UP NEXT

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.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2022.

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press