It wasn’t all the time fairly, however the Toronto Argonauts discovered their footing late and lead the Montreal Alouettes 21-16 at half time of the Jap Ultimate.
Chad Kelly struggled early, however rallied the workforce for a landing within the dying seconds of the primary half. The drive was capped off with a protracted landing go down the sideline to Damonte Coxie.
Kelly completed the primary half having accomplished six of 13 passes for 94 yards, a landing and two interceptions.
It was the defence and particular groups protecting the Argonauts round early, as they benefitted from a Janarion Grant punt return and a Benjie Franklin interception for touchdowns. Montreal coughed up 4 turnovers within the first half.
Cody Fajardo has thrown for 106 yards and a landing to steer the Alouettes.
Kaion Julien-Grant has the lone landing catch for the Alouettes.
In determined want of a spark with the offence enjoying flat for the primary half, Grant burst onto the scene late within the second quarter, scooping up a punt and returning it 71 yards to chop the Argos’ deficit to 16-14.
Montreal native Sean Thomas-Erlington burst for the lengthy play of the sport for the Alouettes, taking a run up the center for 38 yards halfway by way of the second quarter.
Two performs later, Fajardo discovered Julien-Grant behind the top zone for an eight-yard landing, giving the Alouettes their first lead of the sport, 13-7.
Darnell Sankey jumped a brief Kelly throw on the second play of their drive following the Alouettes’ landing – their second interception of the sport. Montreal turned the interception into one other Jose Maltos subject aim; his first of the sport gave Montreal a 16-7 lead.
The Argonauts adopted up their pick-six landing with a pair of two-and-outs because the offence has struggled to make any significant progress towards the Alouettes’ top-ranked defence.
Defences dominated the matchup within the first quarter, and Montreal acquired their second factors on the board opening the second quarter with a second subject aim from Jose Maltos – this from 36 yards out.
Trailing for the primary time, the Alouettes discovered their footing on offence late within the first quarter. Walter Fletcher burst just a few lengthy runs, and a dropped go ultimately zone necessitated a 38-yard subject aim from Maltos to chop the Alouettes’ deficit to 7-3.
The third turnover of the sport by the Alouettes was gold for the Argonauts: Franklin intercepted a tipped go by Fajardo and took it 23 yards for the sport’s opening landing.
Walter Fletcher exploded by way of the center for a achieve of greater than 20 yards on the second drive of the sport for Montreal, however Mark Milton punched the ball out from behind and the Argonauts recovered to flip possession with either side searching for their first rating.
This sport is a rematch of final yr’s East Ultimate, the place the Alouettes thumped the Argonauts 38-17 en rout to a Gray Cup title.
After throwing 4 interceptions within the loss final yr, Kelly began this one off on the flawed foot, lofting a deep go to no obvious goal that was intercepted by the Alouettes’ Najee Murray on Toronto’s opening drive.
Makai Polk salvaged the interception by forcing a fumble on the return that the Argonauts recovered.
The winner of this sport will journey to Vancouver to play within the 111th Gray Cup subsequent week.
You possibly can watch the second half LIVE on TSN1/4/5, TSN.ca and the TSN App.
