Alouettes outscore Roughriders in CFL opener

Football is back on the NFL Network for the 2010 season. Well the CFL season is. Die hard global football fans witnessed a CFL opener shootout between the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders that featured two overtimes. This game was the third highest scoring game in CFL history.  The Roughriders won a hard fought come from behind victory 54-51 over the Alouettes.  This game was a rematch last season’s Grey Cup Championship where the Alouttes won.

The Alouttes jumped out 24-10 lead at halftime and then upped its lead to 33-12 in the third quarter. The highlight of the game was when rookie KR/PR Tim MayPray returned a missed field goal into a 125-yard touchdown. Only in the CFL football fans where you will see an unbelievable return like that. But give credit to the Roughriders for showing some heart  in rallying from 21 points. Saskatchewan’s quarterback Darian Durant was on point as he went 30-of-44 passing for 478 yards and five touchdowns. Weston “The CFL’s Wes Walker” Dressler led all receivers with 10 catches for 154 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Alouettes’ quarterback Anthony Calvillo played great as well as he completed 28 of 42 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns. Two of his touchdown passes were to Kerry Watkins and two to S.J. Green.

The Roughriders comeback began began when Durant connected with Prechae Rodriguez for a 43-yard touchdown. The comeback continued when Rob Bagg scored on an 87-yard pass. Then later Wes Cates’ scored on a 10-yard run.

Avon Cobourne’s scored on a one-yard run which put the Alouettes back on top just for a short period of time. Then the Roughriders turned a gamble on third-and-10 into an Andy Fantuz touchdown pass to even up the score again. There was a controversial penalty in the first overtime which occurred when Saskatchewan was leading 48-40. Montreal failed to convert on third down, but when the “too many men on the field” penalty was called, the Alouettes were again given another chance to score in which they scored a touchdown and also the two-point conversion to tie the game at 48-48. Fans definitely check out You-tube for what is so far the catch of the year by S.J. Green. He made an absolutely superb  one hand catch in the back of the end-zone.

In the second overtime period, Montreal had the ball first, but had to settle for a field goal. On the ensuing Saskatchewan drive, Darian Durant completed two passes to Weston Dressler, including a the game winning three-yard touchdown pass.