Alouettes edge Stampeders 37-30, remain unbeaten at home

Calgary Stampeders' Benny III Sapp (45) and Montreal Alouettes' Shakespeare Louis (22) look for a catch during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday, July 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes had a lot to be happy about both individually and collectively following their 37-30 win over the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday.

Starting quarterback Davis Alexander surpassed 300 passing yards for the fifth straight game to start the season, while top receiver Tyson Philpot’s 132 yards propelled the Delta, B.C., native to his fourth consecutive 100-plus-yard game.

As a team, the Alouettes scored at least four touchdowns for the second straight game, improving their overall record to 4-1 and running their unbeaten streak at Percival Molson Stadium to three games on the young CFL season.

Nevertheless, there was some frustration in the Alouettes locker room post-game as they lamented their inability to finish off the Stampeders before a last-minute defensive stop.

“When we look at the film, first off, we’re not going to be happy,” said Philpot. “It’s not the win we wanted. A win is a win, but when you are up 14 points, when you’re up 17 points, you’ve got to put the team away.

“Hats off to Calgary. They battled back and played great football.”

Leading 37-23 when the three-minute warning sounded, the Alouettes saw Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. connect with Clark Barnes for a 19-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to seven.

After a quick two-and-out for Montreal, Calgary regained the football with 1:35 remaining. The Stampeders collected three first downs to take the ball all the way to Montreal’s 15-yard line.

However, a broken-up pass by rookie defensive lineman David Perales on third down sealed the win for Montreal in the game’s final moments.

“When our defence had to come up with a play at the end for the whole entire team and for the stadium, they did,” said Alouettes head coach Jason Maas. “That’s what it all comes down to sometimes.”

Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson appreciated his team’s fight to the bitter end, but still left the stadium disappointed in a few other elements of his team’s overall game.

“We kind of lacked details and poise,” said Dickenson. “We try to be a process-driven team. We want to play the right way. Even though we had a lot of heart and a lot of effort, we just weren’t able to get it done.”

Despite his three touchdown passes, Adams completed just 20 of his 36 pass attempts and was sacked three times.

“I need to give my team a better chance early on,” said Adams. “There were a few too many two-and-outs. I think a lot was on me, but we’ll watch the film and get better from it.

“I got to be better. We got to play more Stamps football.”

With the Alouettes already up 3-0 on an early Jose Maltos Diaz field goal, Montreal’s defence set the tone. Perales, making his first CFL start, dropped Adams for an eight-yard loss on just Calgary’s second offensive snap. The Stampeders’ woes continued on their next drive when Adams fumbled after a nine-yard scramble at his own 37-yard line.

Alexander made Calgary pay, hitting Philpot for 30 yards before Tyler Snead found him on a seven-yard touchdown pass on a trick play to make it 10-0.

Calgary answered with Adams’ 20-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett before Calgary kicker Jude McAtamney tied the game with a 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Montreal responded immediately. After a 21-yard completion to Philpot and a roughing-the-passer penalty, Alexander connected with Alexander Hollins for the go-ahead touchdown.

The Alouettes added another before halftime, capping an 84-yard drive with Travis Theis’ seven-yard touchdown run. McAtamney’s 54-yard field goal as time expired cut Montreal’s lead to 11.

A Calgary single and a Maltos Diaz field goal opened the second half before Brissett’s second touchdown of the night capped a 70-yard drive. A missed extra point kept the deficit at eight.

Theis’ 46-yard run then set up Dustin Crum’s one-yard run, restoring Montreal’s two-touchdown lead.

McAtamney and Maltos Diaz traded fourth-quarter field goals before Calgary’s late-game heroics.

With the teams set to renew hostilities next week in Calgary, Maas understands his team will need to make adjustments to end up with another victory.

“There’s going to be a lot of focus on what just happened and transpired to try to get better because we’re going to have to be better to beat them,” said Maas. “Ultimately, a game like this makes you better.”

Up next

Stampeders: Host the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday, July 18.

Alouettes: Visit the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, July 18.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2026.

Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press