MONTREAL - Davis Alexander was carving up the Toronto defence and Tyson Philpot was making highlight-reel catches. Yet the play that swung Friday night’s contest came on special teams.
Save New subscriber benefit! Copied to clipboard A gifted article has been claimed. Out of gifts for the month Unfortunately you've used all of your gifts this month. Your counter will reset on the first day of next month. Share this article paywall-free Email Copy Link Copy article link Email Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Share on Whatsapp Share on BlueSky Share on Threads Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander (10) runs with the ball during first half CFL football action against the Toronto Argonauts, in Montreal on Friday, June 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
New for subscribers! Gift this article to friends and family for free. Got it! flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: pubinfo.section: cms.site.custom.site_domain : thespec.com sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/hamilton_spectator bHasMigratedAvatar : false firstAuthor.avatar : By Daniel Rainbird The Canadian Press MONTREAL - Davis Alexander was carving up the Toronto defence and Tyson Philpot was making highlight-reel catches. Yet the play that swung Friday night’s contest came on special teams.
Micah Awe’s blocked punt resulted in a crucial touchdown late in a back-and-forth game as the Montreal Alouettes downed the Argonauts 37-30 in their CFL home opener.
“A huge play, when we needed it the most,” Alouettes coach Jason Maas said. “He came out with the biggest play, in my opinion, of the night, and it was just awesome to see. I can’t say enough great things about him.”
Awe, a nine-season veteran, led the CFL in tackles as a linebacker with the B.C. Lions last season but has been used in a special-teams role with the Alouettes because of the league’s Canadian ratio rules.
The 32-year-old from Arlington, Texas, gave the Alouettes a 30-23 lead with 2:49 remaining when he leapt in front of John Haggerty III’s attempted punt before Arthur Hamlin recovered the loose ball in the end zone.
“We did the same play the play before, and I missed it by a little,” Awe said. “So I went to (special teams coach Byron Archambault) and said, ‘Next time we do it, I’m going to do a little bit different.’
“It’s about learning from your experience. It wasn’t the first try, it was the second. It might not be the second, it might be the third, the fourth. It doesn’t matter, keep going.”
Alexander threw for two touchdowns and 441 yards on 30-of-42 passing as Montreal (2-0) rallied for another comeback victory after beating Hamilton 30-27 in overtime last week.
He improved to 13-0 in regular-season starts, extending his CFL record to begin a career. His only loss came in last year’s Grey Cup.
“We lost the Grey Cup,” Alexander said. “So what is it, 15-1? That’s the way I would call it.”
“I tell Davis every time, we’re gonna make that record untouchable,” added Philpot. “He’s the best in the league, he proves it day in, day out.”
Philpot had nine catches for 193 yards — including 136 in the first half — and two touchdowns before an announced 21,106 at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
But even he highlighted Awe’s play over any others.
“That’s electric. That’s three-phase football right there,” Philpot said. “We talk about it as a group: Offence, defence, special teams. And you can’t play special teams on this team if you’re going to be lackadaisical, and that’s a prime example of it.”
Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly finished 28-of-46 passing for 445 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in his first game following a 580-day layoff.
The former CFL outstanding player missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a severe leg injury in the East final on Nov. 9, 2024, in Montreal.
“Getting back to it, it definitely felt like a long time,” Kelly said. “I was definitely a little nervous today, just not knowing what the outcome was gonna be, but just to be back in this place was good.
“And I thought we did some good things on offence, but we gotta clean a lot of things up.”
Kevin Mital made seven receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown for Toronto (0-1) in head coach Mike Miller’s first game in charge.
Toronto had gained a 20-14 lead on the second play from scrimmage after halftime, with Kelly hitting Mital at the Montreal 20-yard line. Mital then ran the ball in for a 63-yard major, dodging a tackle from Hamlin on the way.
The Alouettes took a 24-23 lead with 10:13 remaining in the fourth quarter when short-yardage QB Dustin Crum rushed for a one-yard TD, capping a seven-play drive that included four Alexander passes to Jerreth Sterns.
Argos linebacker Adarius Pickett thought his group would respond from there. Then Awe flipped the script.
“We stayed in it, we was up for a good portion of the game. That was a turning point,” he said. “That can’t happen. Got young dudes on that special team situation, we was doing real well, on point, all game. But you have a big play at the end.”
Philpot then scored on a 56-yard catch-and-run TD as the Alouettes took a commanding 37-23 lead with 1:13 left on the clock before Tyler Kahmann cut the lead to 37-30 with a nine-yard TD catch in the dying seconds.
The Alouettes wasted little time scoring in the first half, reaching the end zone on their third play from scrimmage when Alexander — on a flea flicker with running back Travis Theis — launched a 45-yard pass deep to Philpot just 1:44 into the game.
It was one of many highlight-reel plays from Philpot, who also wrapped his arms around DaShaun Amos’ helmet for a 23-yard reception in the second quarter. Philpot, however, also committed a fumble before the Argos tied the game 13-13 with 1:18 remaining in the first half.
Argonauts: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, June 20.
Alouettes: Visit the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, June 20.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2026.
