Alouettes defeat Blue Bombers to advance to the Grey Cup

Davis Alexander threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns while Tyrice Beverette forced a crucial late fumble to lift the Montreal Alouettes past the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 in the CFL’s East Division final on Saturday, according to sportsnet.ca.

Montreal Advances to the Grey Cup After Defeating Winnipeg

The victory sends the Alouettes back to the championship game following a loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season. Montreal advanced to the East final with a league-best 14-4 record. They will travel to Calgary for the Grey Cup on Nov. 15 at McMahon Stadium, where they will face the winner of the West Division final between the Edmonton Elks and B.C. Lions.

Following a sequence of five consecutive Grey Cup appearances spanning 2019 to 2024, Winnipeg suffered a defeat against Montreal for the second straight year. The Bombers finished fourth in the West with a 9-9 record and crossed over to the East. As noted by sportsnet.ca, they became the sixth crossover team to reach a division final, but none of the previous 14 crossover teams have advanced to the Grey Cup.

Zach Collaros Returns from Injury to Lead Winnipeg Attack

In his comeback from injury for Winnipeg, veteran quarterback Zach Collaros completed 21 of 27 passes for 228 yards. Collaros was a game-time decision after hurting his ribs in the regular-season finale and missing Winnipeg’s 25-22 East semifinal victory over Toronto, as reported by citynews.ca. Bombers coach Mike O’Shea ultimately started Collaros over Dru Brown.

Playing in front of a sellout crowd of 23,035 on a windy, 7 C afternoon at Percival Molson Stadium, star Canadian running back Brady Oliveira recorded 105 rushing yards on 14 carries. Tyson Philpot made nine receptions for 129 yards for Montreal, and kicker Jose Maltos Diaz converted four of four field goal attempts. Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo was three for four, with Montreal securing the victory on his late missed attempt.

Late Turnover Seals the Victory

With Winnipeg trailing by three points, Collaros advanced the Bombers to Montreal’s 34-yard line before Beverette altered the course of the game. Beverette sacked the quarterback to force a fumble and recovered the ball himself with 3:50 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Alexander capped an eight-play drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Snead with 1.11 left on the clock.

Winnipeg had cut Montreal’s lead to 26-20 early in the fourth quarter when Bryce Perkins punched in a one-yard touchdown run. Following a 10-yard penalty against the Alouettes for having too many players on the field, Castillo kicked a field goal to bring the score to 26-23 with 10:18 left.

Frequently Asked Questions About the East Final

Who will the Montreal Alouettes face in the Grey Cup?

The Alouettes will face the winner of the West Division final between the Edmonton Elks and B.C. Lions.

When and where is the 2026 Grey Cup scheduled?

The championship game takes place on Nov. 15 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.

How did Winnipeg reach the East Division final?

Winnipeg finished fourth in the West Division with a 9-9 record and crossed over to the East, defeating the Toronto Argonauts 25-22 in the East semifinal before falling to Montreal.