Lewis’ 2 touchdown catches and a pass help Alouettes to a much-needed victory

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Eugene Lewis will have to wait another week to hit the 1,000-yard plateau. And he’s still a little behind Winnipeg’s Kenny Lawler in his quest to become the league’s top receiver.

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But Lewis’s ability to run on the road, an attribute that has attracted little attention during his four seasons with the Alouettes, could be what sets him apart from other elite CFL receivers.

Lewis caught two touchdown passes in the first half, covering 14 and 10 yards, in Montreal’s 28-14 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers reserve team (the visitors did not dress starting quarterback Zach Collaros , along with many others) on Saturday afternoon at Molson Stadium.

Both Lewis scores were similar. The only thing that differentiated them was that one was trapped along the left side line of the end zone and the other on the right side. Both were exquisite receptions by Lewis and both were thrown by quarterback Trevor Harris to places where only Lewis could have made the receptions.

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“I think that’s something I’ve been working on for the past few years, since I’ve been here,” said Lewis, who caught six passes for 51 yards. “Finding out how to run routes in the CFL is different from what happens in the south. I’m just trying to make the defensive back feel as uncomfortable as possible. Just find ways to open up. “

Lewis, a former high school quarterback, also completed a 35-yard midfield option pass to catcher Quan Bray in the fourth quarter, setting up an eight-yard touchdown strike from Harris to Reggie White Jr. two plays. after. It was White’s second touchdown in as many games, while Lewis’s nine trips to the end zone tied him with Jake Wieneke as the team leader.

“Is there anyone better?” said Harris, who appears to have discovered a modicum of chemistry with Lewis since his acquisition of Edmonton last month. “It has been great. Hopefully, we have four games left and I’m going to lean on him ”.

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Harris, making his second consecutive start, was effective, if unspectacular. He completed 18 of 25 passes for 144 yards along with three touchdowns. More importantly, he didn’t deliver the ball after being intercepted twice in the fourth quarter at Winnipeg during a 31-21 loss on Nov. 6.

And Harris ended the Alouettes’ two-game losing streak while raising the team’s home record to 3-3.

“We won,” Harris said. “Obviously there will be things to clean up and improve, but it is the second week of work on this offense with the (starters). I still have a lot to learn. I will keep connecting and improving.

“I don’t really care about my (passing) numbers. I’m here to manage the game … and to win games, no matter what it looks like. We just want to win games. “

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The victory improved Montreal’s record to 7-6. A win on Friday night, at home to Ottawa in the regular season finale, would give the team a winning record for the second straight season under head coach Khari Jones.

The Alouettes know they will face Hamilton in the Eastern Division semifinal. What remains to be determined is the site of the game. Montreal can still finish second if it defeats the Redblacks, combined with a Tiger-Cats loss at home to Saskatchewan on Saturday afternoon. Otherwise, Montreal must travel to Tim Hortons Field, where he won in overtime earlier this season.

“We want to play here,” Jones said unequivocally. “If we have that opportunity we want to play at home. We love to play here. We love our local people. This is where we want to be. We will definitely play (Ottawa) to win and see what happens after that. The most important thing is to play a solid and complete game. “

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With the Bombers (11-2), who had their nine-game winning streak halted, having long secured first place in the West Division, head coach Mike O’Shea did not dress numerous offensive and defensive starters.

The Als’ massive defense made life miserable for quarterback Sean McGuire, making his first professional start. McGuire completed just 11 of 26 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted four times, just three in the fourth quarter when Montreal edged Winnipeg 11-7. Heading into the game, the Bombers had outscored their opponents 116-6 in the final period.

Winnipeg was limited to 12 first downs and 217 yards of net offense.

While there is no question that Montreal benefited from playing a makeshift roster for the Bombers, Jones nevertheless praised his team.

“I don’t care what they looked like or who they lined up,” Jones said. “I think we play football pretty well in every way. Boys were flying around. The defense did what it was supposed to do and we put the ball in the end zone. It was a solid game. “

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