Ottawa scores 17 unanswered third-quarter points to pull away in preseason Week 2 action at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium

The Ottawa RedBlacks turned a close preseason contest into a convincing victory with a dominant third quarter, defeating the Montreal Alouettes 23-7 on Saturday afternoon. DeVonte Dedmon’s spectacular 70-yard punt return touchdown set the tone early, while Ottawa’s offense came alive in the second half to secure their second preseason win.

Game Flow and Scoring

Montreal struck first with a single point on a punt late in the opening quarter, but Ottawa answered immediately with Dedmon’s electrifying punt return for six points. The teams traded field goals in the third quarter before Ottawa exploded for 14 points in the final 3:47 of the period, including a 23-yard rushing touchdown by Jaylen Samuels and a 14-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Crum to Sam Schnee.

The RedBlacks’ third-quarter surge turned a 9-4 lead into a commanding 23-4 advantage, effectively putting the game away. Montreal managed only a late field goal in the fourth quarter to reach their final total of seven points.

Offensive Standouts

Ottawa RedBlacks Offense

Passing Leaders:

• Dustin Crum: 5/4, 22 yards, 1 TD, 153.8 efficiency rating
• Matthew Shiltz: 11/8, 72 yards, 90.0 efficiency rating
• Dru Brown: 14/8, 65 yards, 69.0 efficiency rating

Rushing Leaders:

• Jaylen Samuels: 2 carries, 26 yards (13.0 avg), 1 TD
• William Stanback: 4 carries, 9 yards (2.3 avg)

Receiving Leaders:

• Sam Schnee: 4 targets, 4 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD
• Geno Lewis: 4 targets, 3 catches, 24 yards
• Latreal Jones: 3 targets, 3 catches, 17 yards

Montreal Alouettes Offense

Passing Leaders:

• James Morgan: 12/7, 60 yards, 71.5 efficiency rating
• Davis Alexander: 18/11, 69 yards, 69.0 efficiency rating
• McLeod Bethel-Thompson: 10/4, 70 yards, 22.9 efficiency rating (1 INT)

Rushing Leaders:

• Stevie Scott III: 3 carries, 30 yards (10.0 avg)
• Jonathan Senecal: 1 carry, 12 yards (12.0 avg)
• Travis Theis: 3 carries, 10 yards (3.3 avg)

Receiving Leaders:

• Jalen Wayne: 8 targets, 3 catches, 32 yards
• Jose Barbon: 2 targets, 1 catch, 30 yards
• Cole Spieker: 4 targets, 3 catches, 27 yards

Defensive Impact Players

Ottawa RedBlacks Defense

Top Tacklers:

• Craig James: 4 total tackles
• Davion Taylor: 4 total tackles (1 solo, 3 assists)
• Shakur Brown: 4 total tackles (2 solo, 2 assists)

Turnover Leaders:

• Amari Henderson: 1 interception, 16 yards
• Jake Heimlicher: 1 fumble recovery

Montreal Alouettes Defense

Top Tacklers:

• Tiawan Mullen: 4 total tackles (4 solo), 1 quarterback sack
• Marc-Antoine Dequoy: 2 total tackles
• Lorenzo Burns: 2 total tackles

Sack Leaders:

• Kori Roberson Jr.: 1 sack, 7 yards
• Trevon Mason: 1 sack

Key Game Statistics

Ottawa controlled most statistical categories, demonstrating their superiority on both sides of the ball:

• Total Offense: Ottawa 196 yards vs Montreal 247 yards
• First Downs: Montreal 14 vs Ottawa 11
• Passing: Montreal 206 yards vs Ottawa 165 yards
• Rushing: Montreal 60 yards vs Ottawa 40 yards
• Turnovers: Montreal 5 vs Ottawa 0
• Time of Possession: Ottawa 30:42 vs Montreal 29:18

The Deciding Factors

While Montreal actually outgained Ottawa in total yardage, the Alouettes’ five turnovers proved to be the decisive factor. Montreal lost one fumble, threw one interception, and turned the ball over on downs three times, constantly stalling promising drives.

Ottawa’s special teams also made the difference, with Dedmon’s punt return touchdown providing the game’s most explosive play. The RedBlacks’ defense capitalized on Montreal’s mistakes while their offense efficiently converted short fields into points.

Montreal’s struggles were compounded by 10 penalties for 96 yards compared to Ottawa’s eight penalties for 90 yards, indicating a lack of discipline that hurt their chances throughout the contest.

The Third Quarter Explosion

Ottawa’s third quarter was a masterclass in capitalizing on opportunities. After Lewis Ward connected on a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead to 9-1, the RedBlacks scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions. Samuels broke free for his 23-yard scoring run, then Crum found Schnee in the corner of the end zone for the 14-yard touchdown strike that put the game out of reach.

The 17-point third quarter completely changed the complexion of what had been a defensive struggle through the first two periods.

Looking Ahead

For Ottawa, this dominant performance showcases their depth across multiple position groups. The RedBlacks got contributions from three different quarterbacks and demonstrated the explosive playmaking ability that could serve them well when the regular season begins. Their defense forced multiple turnovers and showed the opportunistic nature needed for success.

Montreal will need to address their turnover issues and offensive consistency as they prepare for their final preseason game. While the Alouettes moved the ball effectively at times, their inability to protect the football and finish drives in scoring territory proved costly. The young quarterbacks showed flashes of potential that the coaching staff can build upon.

Both teams will use this preseason experience to fine-tune their rosters and systems before the 2025 CFL season kicks off June 5th.