Chapdelaine launches Als coaching career with impressive win
Jacques Chapdelaine has passed his first test as the Alouettes’ interim head coach.
Chapdelaine, coaching his initial game in professional football, launched his career with an impressive 38-11 victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday afternoon before a capacity crowd of 23,420 at Molson Stadium.
Chapdelaine, who replaced general manager Jim Popp almost two weeks ago, helped the Als end a four-game losing streak, improving their record to 4-9. They’re still last in the East Division, but remain within striking distance of Ottawa and Hamilton. Both teams have six victories.
Toronto, meanwhile, suffered its third consecutive defeat and is now 5-9. The Argos were 4-2 one-third through the schedule, but have now lost seven of their last eight while dealing with the loss of injured starting quarterback Ricky Ray.
Chapdelaine has an extensive Canadian Football League record as an offensive coordinator. Calling Montreal’s plays, having replaced Anthony Calvillo in that capacity, the Als pushed the ball downfield and showed imagination for one of the rare times this season.
The first glimpse of what the Chapdelaine-run offence might look like came in the opening seconds of the game.
The Als struck quickly on their opening possession, requiring only two plays to cover 63 yards to get into the end zone. It began with a diving 48-yard catch by Kenny Stafford to the Toronto 15. On the next play, Rakeem Cato found Samuel Giguère in the back of the end zone for a touchdown at 4:14.
Giguère beat Aaron Berry on the play.
Not a bad way to start for the Als’ new interim head coach.
Later in the quarter, the Argos’ Diontae Spencer returned a punt 42 yards. But two plays later, Toronto running-back Brandon Whitaker, a former Alouette, fumbled after being hit by Kyries Hebert. The ball was recovered by rookie cornerback Ramon Taylor at the Montreal 22.
There was no additional scoring in the opening quarter.
The second period began with a 41-yard field goal by Toronto’s Lirim Hajrullahu after 14 seconds.
Stefan Logan returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards, running over one of his blockers in the process. But although the Als had the ball on the Toronto 35, they failed to capitalize. Cato was hit for an eight-yard loss before a pass to Nik Lewis resulted in a seven-yard loss.
The Argos took over possession deep in their own territory, but managed to methodically move downfield, all the way to the Als’ 51-yard line. But two plays later, quarterback Drew Willy, making his first start for Toronto following last month’s trade from Winnipeg, overthrew his intended receiver. The pass was intercepted by defensive-back Jovon Johnson.
The Als then generated a sevenplay, 68-yard drive. Following a pass to Tyrell Sutton, combined with a Toronto face-mask penalty, Cato found B.J. Cunningham twice consecutively for gains of a total of 28 yards.
The Als eventually got the ball down to the Toronto 8. Cato found Lewis at the back of the end zone for a spectacular one-handed catch. He was ruled out of bounds. The Als challenged the call, but were unsuccessful.
It didn’t matter. On the next play, Stafford was open in the end zone for a touchdown at 10:50. He beat Marcus Alford on the play for his first touchdown this season and a 14-3 lead.
A 31-yard catch by Tori Gurley got the Argos into scoring position, and the visitors eventually advanced the ball to the Montreal 21. But the Argos failed to pick up another first down and settled for Hajrullahu’s 22-yard field goal at 13:13. Hebert made a nice tackle on Anthony Coombs on second down to force the field goal.
Following a high snap that sailed over Cato’s head, resulting in a 24yard loss, the Als were forced to concede a safety before halftime, Anthony Fera opting against punting out of his end zone.
The teams went to their dressing rooms with the Als nursing a 14-8 halftime lead.
The Als took the second-half kickoff and got into scoring position immediately, thanks in part to a face-mask penalty against the Argos along with a 17-yard pass to Lewis. But they failed to generate a first down from the Toronto 20 and settled for Fera’s 25-yard field goal at 3:53, increasing their lead to 17-8.
Later in the quarter, Montreal drove 63 yards in five plays. Sutton ran for 14 yards. Then, on the next play and despite taking a hit, Cato found a wide open Duron Carter for a 31-yard gain to the Toronto 10-yard line.
After Sutton gained six, Cato connected with Stafford in the end zone for his second touchdown of the game at 7:18. Stafford beat Devin Smith on the play, increasing the Als’ lead to 24-8.
Hajrullahu kicked a 36-yard field goal at 11:59, reducing the deficit to 24-11.
But Montreal went 75 yards in seven plays to close out the quarter and put a nail in the Argos’ coffin on this dreary afternoon.
Cato gained 15 yards on a bootleg. Following a pass interference call against Toronto, Cato ran for nine yards. Sutton gained 19 to the Argos’ 11. After Cato was hit for a fouryard loss, he found Cunningham over the middle for a touchdown on the final play of the period and an insurmountable 20-point advantage.
Giguère scored on a one-yard run, following a fumble recovery by Alan-Michael Cash, to complete the scoring.
The Als entertain the Edmonton Eskimos on Thanksgiving Monday.