Montreal Alouettes clinch home playoff game with win over Redblacks

Photo: Montreal Alouettes

The Montreal Alouettes will host a playoff game at Percival Molson Stadium for the third straight year, clinching at least second place in the East Division with a 24-12 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday afternoon.

Montreal surged out to a 20-6 lead by half-time, thanks in part to an early pick-six from Dionte Ruffin. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 16-of-27 passes for 226 yards and scored the team’s only offensive touchdown on the ground. The Redblacks out-gained their rivals by 75 yards of net offence after pulling QB Dru Brown in favour of Jeremiah Masoli, but lost three turnovers in the process.

The Alouettes needed a win against Ottawa and a loss by the Toronto Argonauts to secure a home playoff date. The Boatmen obliged, falling 33-31 to Hamilton. Montreal is now three games above Ottawa in the race for first place, while sitting nine points ahead of Toronto. The Redblacks could have clinched a playoff spot with a victory but came up short for a second consecutive week.

Percival Molson has hosted the East Semi-Final in both of the last two seasons but hasn’t hosted the East Final since 2012. The Alouettes (11-2-1) will take the next step toward that goal when they visit the Argonauts (7-7) on Saturday, September 28.