Once-spoiled Alouettes' fans expressed both hope and frustration heading into the team's next battle in Winnipeg Friday.
The Als were, at least, sniffing around a victory right to the very end of a 16-11 loss in Saskatchewan Saturday.
One fan criticized Coach Tom Higgins’ decision to go for a one point conversion late in the game when a two-point convert could have tied the score at 12 late in the fourth quarter. “I’ve never witnessed a terrible coach but a good man as Tom Higgins,” wrote one fan on a CFL discussion forum.
Another expressed frustration with S.J. Green for taking a penalty which partially nullified a long advance.
But several others saw some light at the end of the tunnel, crediting newly-hired quarterback coach Jeff Garcia for making some tiny steps forward seen in Alex Brink’s performance.
Montreal's Duron Carter kept the sellout crowd of 33,427 in their seats rather than heading for the exits late in the fourth quarter. Carter returned a missed field goal attempt 123 yards for a touchdown with 3:14 remaining and brought the Als to within two at 12-10.
With his offence scuffling, Montreal head coach Tom Higgins elected to kick the single point rather than attempt a two-point convert that could have tied the score.
"There was way too much football left to be played," Higgins explained. "A two-point convert, you're looking at a 50-50 or 60-40 (percentage of success). I chose to take the 99.9 per cent chance in that we were going to score the single point and that we were going to get the football back.
"We weren't going for the tie. We wanted to win this football game."
Instead, the Als dropped their fifth consecutive contest and now sport a 1-6 record. The Riders (5-2) have moved into a tie for third place in the CFL's West Division standings.
Montreal's struggles on offence continued on Saturday. The offence has mustered just one touchdown since Week 3.
Alex Brink started at quarterback in place of the injured Troy Smith and was 19-for-31 passing for 187 yards and one interception. He also posted a team-high 32 yards rushing. Carter caught seven passes for 69 yards, but the Als' offence didn't sniff the end zone on this night.
"You have to score in this league in order to be able to win," Higgins said. "Thank goodness we scored on special teams. Obviously, yes, it is a concern. But you have to feel some sense of relief in the fact that we moved the football. I think we started to press a little in the second half and it wasn't as smooth for Alex as it was in the first half."
Montreal will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, while the Riders will travel to Vancouver to take on the B.C. Lions on Sunday.
-With files from The Canadian Press
