Pipkin looks encouraging, but Alouettes' defence falters again
Alouettes produced a season-high in points but it wasn't enough as they lost their sixth consecutive game.
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EDMONTON — Antonio Pipkin didn’t embarrass himself in his first Canadian Football League start for the Alouettes.
But, unfortunately for Montreal, its defence put in another underwhelming performance.
The end result was a 40-24 victory by the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday night before 29,702 Commonwealth Stadium spectators.
The Eskimos improved to 6-3, while the Als slumped to 1-8 as they reached the halfway mark of the regular season. Montreal has now lost six consecutive games.
Pipkin, who was with the Als last season but only played briefly in the final game of the year, was replacing the injured Johnny Manziel, who was placed under the league’s concussion protocol last Wednesday.
Pipkin became the fifth different starter — and sixth quarterback overall — to be used this season. He also became the team’s 15th different starter since Anthony Calvillo was concussed in 2013.
In keeping with their tradition, the Als’ defence allowed a score on the opening possession — but at least it was a field goal, not a touchdown.
Sean Whyte, a former Alouette, opened the scoring with a 38-yard field goal at 4:35.
The Als, conversely, on their opening possession were limited to one first down before being forced to punt.
The Eskimos went 96 yards and required only six plays on their next series, moving down the field with remarkable ease.
The drive began with a 21-yard pass to Duke Williams. Als cornerback Joe Rankin was called for a face-mask penalty before quarterback Mike Reilly carried on two consecutive plays, gaining another first down.
Tailback Shaquille Cooper, making his first start of the season for the injured C.J. Gable, ran off-tackle for a 24-yard gain to the Montreal 11. On the next play, he caught a swing pass from Reilly. Open on the play, Cooper waltzed into the end zone for the touchdown at 9:31 and a 10-0 lead.
The Eskimos, for some strange reason, attempted an onside kickoff immediately following the score, but failed to recover. That gave the Als the ball at the Edmonton 53.
Pipkin connected with Eugene Lewis for a 40-yard passing play to the Eskimos 13. Two plays later, following a nine-yard gain by Tyrell Sutton, Lewis’s end-around produced the Als’ first touchdown on a four-yard run at 11:58, narrowing the deficit to 10-7.
Reilly completed all but one of his 10 passes in the opening quarter for 86 yards.
The home team was driving again to begin the second quarter, thanks to a 23-yard pass to Bryant Mitchell and another of 17 yards to Derel Walker. That moved the ball to the Montreal 11.
Cooper fumbled on the next play, the ball recovered by Woody Baron. But Edmonton head coach Jason Maas successfully challenged the play, and Cooper was ruled down by contact.
On the next play, Reilly connected with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Williams, although he appeared to push off against linebacker Chip Cox on the play. The score, coming at 4:37, increased the Eskimos’ lead to 17-7.
William Stanback returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards, providing the Als with instant field position at the Edmonton 42.
Pipkin passed 14 yards to Adarius Bowman, who spent the majority of his career with Edmonton. Two plays later, he found B.J. Cunningham for a 21-yard completion despite a tight window.
Pipkin then scored on a one-yard run at 6:57, reducing the deficit to 17-14.
But Edmonton responded immediately, generating a 12-play, 81-yard drive.
Reilly completed four consecutive passes to Kenny Stafford, a former Alouette, Cooper and a pair to Mitchell. A draw play to Cooper was good for 10 yards.
Reilly was sacked on three consecutive plays, but on two of them, the Als were penalized for objectionable conduct. With the ball at the Montreal 13, Reilly was under pressure again. He threw a prayer up into the end zone that somehow was caught by Mitchell for a touchdown. Mitchell beat defensive-back T.J. Heath on the play at 12:33.
Edmonton pulled ahead, 24-14.
The Als might have generated something on their next possession. However, Cunningham dropped a pass and another long attempt sailed through the hands of T.J. Graham.
Whyte added a 49-yard field goal just before halftime, sending the teams to their dressing rooms with the Eskimos leading, 27-14 — but not before Bowman and Edmonton cornerback Mercy Maston were disqualified for exchanging punches with seven seconds remaining.
Reilly passed for 290 yards in the half, while the Als took nine penalties for 94 yards.
The third quarter was uneventful. Whyte kicked a 35-yard field goal at 6:28 before Bede added a single on a 64-yard punt, making the score 30-15 heading into the final period.
Whyte added a 20-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter before Bede responded with a 32-yard kick at 4:47.
With about eight minutes remaining, Sutton was removed from the field. It appeared as though he suffered a serious injury to his left knee.
Not longer after he was removed, Reilly scored on a one-yard run at 8:43.
The Als made the score somewhat more respectable, Pipkin connecting with Cunningham for a 22-yard touchdown at 9:54.
Montreal’s next game is at home, Friday night, against the Toronto Argonauts. The Als haven’t won a game at Molson Stadium since Aug. 11, 2017.
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