The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will feature a quarterback change — albeit temporary — when they visit the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday afternoon.
At 11-1, and with a nine-game winning streak in hand, the Blue Bombers already have clinched the Western Division regular-season title. They hold a three-game lead over second-place Saskatchewan and have a perfect 8-0 record within their division.
This weekend, they will give starting quarterback Zach Collaros a game off to rest. Backup signal-caller Sean McGuire will start in Collaros’ place.
It marks a great opportunity for McGuire, who has completed two of seven passes for 55 yards this season. By comparison, Collaros has thrown for 3,112 yards and 20 TDs.
“I’m excited and working hard every day — excited to get to it,” McGuire said. “The way I try to prepare every single week is to be ready to play and prepare like a starter, prepare alongside Zach. Really, every week I treat it that way, and then when they told me this week, it was, ‘Let’s get to it.’
“However it looks, (I just) want to win the game. Don’t care how it looks, honestly. I just want to win.”
The Alouettes (6-6) hope for a different result as they prepare to face McGuire. Montreal is looking to bounce back from a 31-21 loss on the road against Winnipeg in its last game Nov. 6, which marked the Alouettes’ second straight loss.
However, there is reason for optimism for Montreal, which has clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Division. The Alouettes can grab the No. 2 seed if they win their final two games of the regular season, coupled with Toronto or Hamilton losing their next two.
Otherwise, Montreal is looking at a third seed when the playoffs begin.
Alouettes quarterback Trevor Harris will make his second straight start this weekend against the Blue Bombers. Last week against Winnipeg, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 177 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.
“I thought he did a really good job (last week), and he’s just a smart guy and a good leader,” Alouettes head coach Khari Jones said.
–Field Level Media
