Alexander, Philpot shine as Alouettes hold on for 37-35 win over Redblacks

Jake Maier was 27-of-38 passing for 336 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for Ottawa (0-3), which is still searching for its first win under head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie.

Keelan White caught two touchdowns and kicker Brett Lauther was 3-for-3 on field goals as Ottawa found rhythm in the second half after posting just 76 yards of net offence in the first two quarters.

The Redblacks trailed 21-6 at halftime before Maier redeemed himself early in the third quarter, picking apart a disjointed Alouettes’ defence that surrendered 89 points in its first three games combined.

Maier completed a series of passes before finding Justin Hardy on a 29-yard touchdown 4:37 into the second half. That cut the lead to 21-12 after a failed two-point conversion.

He then helped make it 21-18 at 4:15 when he connected with White on a four-yard dime for another major, capping a nine-play, 89-yard drive.

Alexander responded in the fourth quarter with another scramble leading to a touchdown. Under pressure, he moved outside the pocket before connecting with Tyler Snead on a nine-yard toss with 10:57 remaining as Montreal jumped ahead 28-18.

The Redblacks, however, stormed back again as White reached around Alouettes defensive back Faion Hicks for his second touchdown, making it 28-25 at 7:26. Kalil Pimpleton’s 43-yard return helped set up the score.

The Alouettes needed four plays from scrimmage to score again and take a 34-25 lead. Travis Theis ran in a five-yard touchdown following a 31-yard rush from Stevie Scott III with 4:31 left.

After Lauther’s field goal made it a one-score game, Maltos restored the nine-point cushion with a 25-yard kick with 56.4 left on the clock after Alexander — limping from an earlier tackle — went deep up the middle to Snead on a 46-yard heave.

The Redblacks immediately answered again in stunning fashion as Pimpleton returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to make it 37-35 with 42 seconds remaining.

The Alouettes, however, retrieved Ottawa’s onside kick to run out the clock.

The Alouettes opened the scoring at 6:33 in the first quarter when Alexander moved out of the pocket and heaved a 53-yard pass into the end zone for a wide-open Alexander Hollins.

Montreal made it 14-3 at 12:15 in the second quarter after Alexander scrambled again before finding Philpot on a 32-yard throw, pushing the Alouettes to Ottawa’s five-yard line. Crum ultimately scored on a one-yard sneak.

Alexander and Philpot connected again with two minutes left in the first half as Montreal’s wideout made a catch under coverage to set up another score for Crum, giving the Alouettes a 21-6 lead.

Maier led the Redblacks to the Montreal 36 before Alouettes defensive back Wesley Sutton picked off his end-zone throw.

UP NEXT

Redblacks: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday.

Alouettes: Have a bye week, then host the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, July 11.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Alexander, Philpot shine as Alouettes hold on for 37-35 win over Redblacks

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