The Montreal Alouettes will have a new look when they meet the host Ottawa Redblacks for the second time in six days on Saturday afternoon.
This is the third of four meetings between the CFL East Division rivals, who will conclude their series in the Nov. 19 regular season finale in Montreal.
The Alouettes (4-4) swept the first two tilts with the Redblacks (2-7), including a 20-16 come-from-behind victory at home Monday on Canada’s Thanksgiving Day.
Replacing injured starter Vernon Adams Jr., backup quarterback Matt Shiltz led a game-winning drive capped by Cameron Artis-Payne’s 7-yard touchdown run with 42 seconds left.
Shiltz, 28, will make his first start of the season Saturday after Adams landed on the six-game injured list Tuesday with a left shoulder injury that will not require surgery.
“He’s calm, he doesn’t let the situation bother him and it’s great for me because I don’t have to change what I’m doing,” Montreal head coach Khari Jones said of Shiltz. “I had the utmost confidence in him, too. He doesn’t let the moment get too great for him. It’s nice to have a guy who’s been around the league and that has had opportunities and it just felt really comfortable calling the game for him.”
Artis-Payne rushed 21 times for a game-high 122 yards in place of injured starter William Stanback, who was a full participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday after sitting out with a rib injury.
In addition to Adams, Montreal offensive lineman Chris Schleuger (knee) missed practice both days.
Ottawa didn’t score a touchdown Monday, settling for two safeties and four Lewis Ward field goals.
“Obviously we didn’t do enough to win the football game,” Redblacks coach Paul LaPolice said. “We made some mistakes down the stretch that hurt us. They’re a good football team, but we have to do more. We have to find a way to make sure we stay on the field longer and kick more field goals or score more touchdowns.”
For Ottawa, linebacker Dwayne Norman (head, hamstring) and offensive lineman Jamar McGloster (shoulder, hand) missed two straight practices. Defensive lineman Praise Martin-Oguike (ankle) missed Wednesday but returned as a limited participant Thursday.
–Field Level Media
