Redblacks fall to Alouettes to finish their 2019 season

The Redblacks put up a strong fight in their last game of 2019, but the end result was all-too familiar. Ottawa fell to the Montreal Alouettes 42-32 to closeout the 2019 regular season on an 11-game losing streak and with the worst record in the CFL.

Dominique Davis saw his first game action at quarterback since the end of September. He played well in a virtually mistake-free first half. Davis went 16/18 for 155 yards. Will Ardnt took over from there, completing 17 passes for 161 yards.

Between Davis and Arndt leading the way, the Redblacks offence scored their most points since week two of the CFL season all the way back in June. It was their third quarterback that put points on the board for Ottawa however. Jonathon Jennings scored all three Redblacks touchdowns with three separate short-yardage quarterback sneaks.

Despite a season in which Brad Sinopoli’s receiving numbers dipped in almost every measurable way, he finished the season strong with a vintage Sinopoli performance. The Canadian receiver caught eight of the 10 passes thrown his way for 100 yards.

With nothing tangible to gain in the standings, Montreal played their starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to open the game.

Adams threw two touchdowns and just three incompletions. Matt Shiltz entered the game and threw a touchdown as well. Montreal quarterbacks threw a combined 29 passes and only missed seven completions for a stellar completion percentage of over 80 per cent.

Jarveon Williams started at running back for the Alouettes, racked-up 69 yards and scored his first career touchdown in the victory.

Ottawa had the ball and a chance to tie or win the game with under a minute remaining but Ardnt threw a ball too high for Jerminic Smith on the drive’s first play. The pass was intercepted by Najee Murray and returned for a touchdown to ice the game.

With the win, Montreal clinched their first winning season (9-7) since 2012. They will host the Edmonton Eskimos next week in the Eastern Semi-Final, the first round of the CFL playoffs.

Quick Notes:

  • Ottawa went 1-2 against Montreal this season
  • During the game, Ottawa announced that it had re-signed five Canadian players (and impending free agents) to two-year extensions. The players were Brad Sinopoli, JP Bolduc, Alex Mateas, Nigel Romick, and Brendan Gillanders
  • Alouettes’ kicker Boris Bede scored three kickoff singles in the game, tying a CFL record
  • From last year’s 11-7 team to this year’s 3-15 team, it was the biggest drop-off in wins between two seasons for an Ottawa team in 50 years
  • Montreal receiver Dante Abshner got the opportunity to start and put up career numbers on the outside (7 catches, 81 yards and a touchdown)

The Redblacks have a ton of needs to address this offseason as they attempt to recover from a devastating 2019. Chief among those questions is a need for a new starting quarterback as Dominique Davis, Jonathon Jennings, and Will Ardnt all failed to produce consistently with the opportunities given to them.

R Nation will have to wait for answers in terms of the direction of the organization moving forward in the weeks and months to come. One thing is certain though: 2019 was a season Redblacks fans will want to forget.