Montreal Alouettes Overcome Edmonton Elks in Thrilling Comeback Victory

MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes rallied in the second half to secure a 21-17 victory against the Edmonton Elks at Percival Molson Stadium on Sunday night.

Quarterback Cody Fajardo, making his first start since an injury in Week 6, completed 22 of 34 passes for 336 yards, contributing two touchdowns along with one interception.

Fajardo connected with wide receiver Jake Spieker on both touchdown passes, while Alouettes kicker Boris Bede successfully converted three field goals throughout the match.

This victory allows the Alouettes to strengthen their position at the top of the Canadian Football League (CFL) standings, improving their record to 10-1 for the season. Meanwhile, the Elks fall to 3-8.

Elks quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson put forth a solid effort in the first half, finishing the night with 21 completions from 33 attempts for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

The Alouettes initiated the scoring when Fajardo led a 10-play drive that concluded with a 12-yard field goal from Bede, giving Montreal a 3-0 lead. Following this, Bethel-Thompson guided the Elks to a touchdown, finding former Alouette receiver Eugene Lewis for a six-yard score.

With the Elks leading 7-3 at the end of the first quarter, they added another touchdown via an eight-yard pass from Bethel-Thompson to Kevin Brown early in the second quarter.

Later in the quarter, the Elks earned further points with field goals, extending their advantage to 17-6 by halftime through kicks from both Malto and Bede.

The second half showcased a determined Alouettes team, with Fajardo sparking a 38-yard connection to Spieker on their opening drive. This led to a 33-yard touchdown reception from Spieker, tightening the score to 17-12.

As the game progressed, Fajardo rediscovered Spieker in the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown, allowing the Alouettes to take an 18-17 lead, although again their two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Fajardo’s impressive performance in the third quarter alone resulted in 218 yards passing, while the Elks struggled with a net offense of -2 in the same period.

On the defensive side, Alouettes linebacker Adam Konar led the game with a total of 10 tackles, contributing significantly to the team’s success.

The Als continued to put points on the board in the fourth quarter with a 26-yard field goal from Malto, cementing the final score at 21-17.

Spieker topped the statistical chart with five receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns, significantly impacting the Alouettes’ offensive strategy. Rambo also aided the offense with three receptions for 95 yards, showcasing the team’s depth.

The Elks now have a week to regroup before facing off against the Calgary Stampeders in the Labour Day rivalry game, while the Alouettes will enjoy a bye week before hosting the BC Lions.