Roughriders’ Game 2 v. Montréal Alouettes (7/9/11):

On Saturday afternoon, the (0-1) Riders hosted powerhouse Montréal Alouettes at Mosaic before another sold-out Sea of Green on a spectacular day on the prairie. The Als won the toss and Tim Maypray returned the ball to the Als’ 50. But Anthony Calvillo attempted two passes that fell incomplete and Sean Whyte punted away with the Riders taking over at their 16. Darian Durant hit Weston Dressler on the right sideline for five but missed on his next pass, so Eddie Johnson punted away from the goal line. Maypray returned Johnson’s punt to the Riders’ 49. On first down, Calvillo connected with Brandon London at the 35 and then to Brandon Whitaker at the 25. On the next play, Calvillo hit Brian Bratton over the middle for the touchdown. The Riders’ secondary is definitely suspect. The Riders’ Tristan Jackson had a spectacular return, taking the ball all the way back to the Als’ 23. From the 19, Wes Cates carried up the middle and into the end zone to tie the score at seven. The Als started out their next drive at the 25. On second down, Calvillo hit Jamel Richardson for 9. Calvillo then took it up the gut for the first down. From the 49, Calvillo connected with SJ Green over the middle at the 25 for a first down. Calvillo was then intercepted by Craig Butler (picked Richardson’s pocket) at the 6. The Als challenged the ruling on the field but it was upheld on review. Durant then found Jason Clermont over the middle for a first down. After two incompletions, Johnson punted away and the Als took over at their 42. From there, Calvillo connected with Richardson on the left flat for 35 yards. Richardson then picked up another first down on a hitch n’ go. Calvillo then connected with Bratton over the middle inside the 5. From there, Calvillo hit Whitaker on the left flat for the go-ahead score.

The Riders opened the second quarter with the ball and Durant connected with Dressler for 21 at the left sideline. On the next play, Durant hit Efrem Hill for another first down. Cates then picked up another first down in the left slot. On second down, Dressler picked up a first down at the 16 and then Getzlaf gained 7. After Cates plunged into the line for 2, Neil Hughes carried up the middle for 2. From the 7, Cates carried to the 1. On second down, Hughes banged up the middle and into the end zone and the Riders tied the score 14-14. Johnson’s kickoff hit the goalpost. The Als started out at the 25 and benefitted from a pass interference call that put the ball at the 40. McPherson sneaked for a first down at midfield. A face-mask penalty against the Riders’ Romero put the ball at the 30. On second down, Calvillo connected with London on the right flat at the 14. The drive stalled there and Whyte knocked in a 21-yard field goal to give the Als a 17-14 lead. Late in the quarter, Clermont picked up a first down on the right sideline and then Durant hit Dressler on the right flank at the 44. On second-and-7 , Durant’s pass intended for Dressler was broken up by Dwight Anderson, so the Riders had to settle for a game-tying chip shot by Eddie Johnson. From the 35, the Als went two n’ out on their next drive and after DeAngelis’ punt, the Riders took over at their 41. Durant threw two incompletions and Johnson punted away with a minute left in the half. The Als couldn’t advance the ball and punted out with the Riders taking over at their 30 inside 30 seconds. Cates picked up 10 on second down as John Bowman appeared to have suffered a knee injury and needed help getting off the field. Durant took one more shot down the field but his pass was dropped by Nunn and that ended the first half.

The Riders kicked off to start the second half and the Als returned the ball to their 42. A penalty on first down sent them back five but Calvillo escaped a sack and hit Brandon Whitaker over the middle for 14. On second down, Calvillo snuck up the middle for the first down. The Riders rush then sacked Calvillo for a 10-yard loss. Whyte then punted away with the Riders taking over deep in their territory. Durant quickly picked up a first down on an 11-yard run. On second and 10, Durant overthrew Dressler and Johnson punted away. A “no yards” penalty against the Riders put the ball at midfield. Calvillo then found Richardson over the middle for a first down. A penalty then negated a long gainer to SJ Green. Calvillo then connected with Brandon London for 18 on the right sideline and then Whitaker carried up the middle for a first down. Whitaker then got laid out by Jerrell Freeman on a screen pass. Whitaker needed help getting off the field. From the 25, Calvillo connected with Richardson on an inside slant for the touchdown and the Als took a 24-17 lead. DeAngelis’ kickoff went through the end zone and the Als picked up another point. After the Riders went two n’ out, the Als started out their next drive at the 25. From there, Bratton took a pass at the 50. Richardson then made a nice grab inside Riders’ territory. From the 42, Green made a reception at the 29. Calvillo then completed his 12th pass in a row to Green at the 10. Richardson then gained 9 and Calvillo then flipped a quick outlet pass to Bratton and the Als went up 32-17.

Moving into the fourth quarter, the Riders had the ball at their 28. A penalty moved the ball back 10 yards. The Als were hit with a roughing the passer call that moved the ball out to the 40. Cates carried for 12 and then Dressler took a pass and moved the ball into the Als’ territory. From there, Johnson’s punt went into the end zone and the Als conceded the point. The Als started out their next drive with 11:00 left on the clock. Calvillo connected with Richardson for a first down. From midfield, Calvillo hit Tim Maypray on a crossing route and Maypray took it to the house to make it 39-18. It was Calvillo’s 394th career touchdown pass, tying Damon Allen for the most in CFL history. The Riders’ Brandon West returned the ball to midfield. From there, Durant connected on two quick hitters to the 25. On first down, Chris Getzlaf made a spectacular diving catch of Durant’s pass and the Riders were back in the game. There was some pushing and shoving following the kickoff and the Als went two n’ out on their next drive. Whyte shanked the punt and the Riders took over at the Als’ 51. On first down, Dressler was wide open but he dropped the pass. On the next play, Durant found Nunn on a left slant at the 24. Durant then scrambled for 7 but his next pass fell incomplete. On third down, the Riders went for it but Durant’s pass was tipped away by Billy Parker. The Als went two n’ out on their next drive, but the clock was working against the Riders as it was inside three minutes when they took over at their 53. Cates then grabbed a pass over the middle for a first down. Durant was then sacked by Bowman for a 9-yard loss. Dressler then picked up 15 on a quick hitter but it was third and 4 from the 40. Durant attempted to connect with Dressler but his pass was knockes away by Anderson. With less than two minutes remaining, Calvillo was content to stick to the ground and Dahrran Diedrick picked up a first down on a rush off left tackle. As the clock wound down, the Als faked a punt at midfield and the Riders took over with eight seconds left. On the final play of the game, Durant hit Dressler with a short gainer and that was that. For the first time in ages, the Riders have started out the new year at 0-2. Final score: Montréal 39, Saskatchewan 25.