Redblacks dominate, Harris throws 3 TDs in 32-4 win over Alouettes

Alec Gearty

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Redblacks dominate, Harris throws 3 TDs in 32-4 win over Alouettes image

The Ottawa Redblacks defense may have forced the Montreal Alouettes coaching staff to make a crucial change going forward.

Alouettes quarterback Darian Durant continued to struggle as the Redblacks defeated Montreal, 43-4, on Thursday night.

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Entering Thursday’s contest, Durant and Montreal had lost two straight. Durant had thrown three touchdowns and interceptions apiece in the two games, and his latest appearance didn’t help his cause to remain as a starter.

Durant had moderately paced the Alouettes’ offense, but throughout the first half the Redblacks swarmed the quarterback at every chance. It wasn’t until there was 42 seconds left in the first half when the Montreal offense showed life as B.J. Cunningham dashed across the middle of the field for a 56-yard catch. The play set up an opportunity for the Alouettes to add three points, but the kick was wide left.

Ottawa’s defense held Montreal to minimal yardage. Durant had just 70 passing yards, and runningback Tyrell Sutton ran for three yards on four carries.

While the sub-par performance would have had many coaches looking for a change, Montreal coach Jacques Chapdelaine was still hopeful. That was until Redblacks’ Antoine Pruneau intercepted Durant in the third quarter.

It was the last that the crowd would see Durant on Thursday. Drew Willy came on in relief but was just as ineffective.

Ottawa defenders got a hold of both Alouette quarterbacks on five different occasions — four came against Willy. The decision to move to Willy was presumably to give life to a depleated offense but with the team at the midway point of the season, Chapdelanie is faced with an dilemma of which quarterback to end the season with.

Harris puts on a strong showing

Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris is in the midst of his best season in the CFL since 2015 — his last season in Toronto where he threw 33 touchdowns. With a year under his belt in Ottawa, Harris is starting to translate that success for the Redblacks.

Harris threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns against Montreal. Harris has thrown at least two touchdowns in nine of the Redblacks’ 11 games this season and is starting to distance the gap between himself and the other quarterbacks. He sits first in touchdown passes with 22 and has thrown roughly 3,351 yards. 

While it took some time for Harris to maneuver the Alouettes’ defense, the 31-year-old seemingly broke through. Harris’ performance was highlighted by a 42-yard-catch by Greg Ellingson, where the latter broke free down the sideline to put Ottawa up 30-4.

Alec Gearty