Maltos Diaz's 17-yard field goal earns Alouettes 30-27 OT win over Ticats

Montreal Alouettes' quarterback Davis Alexander (10) makes the throw against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during first half CFL football action in Hamilton on Thursday, June 4, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Barry Gray

HAMILTON — Defensive back Robert Kennedy III figured pretty prominently in the Montreal Alouettes’ 30-27 overtime win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Thursday night.

Kennedy registered a key pick-six in the third quarter that cut Montreal’s deficit to 24-17. Then in overtime, he forced Keric Wheatfall to fumble near the sideline on Hamilton’s opening possession, allowing teammate Kabion Ento to push the ball out of bounds and end the threat.

Jose Maltos Diaz capped Montreal’s first overtime possession with the game-winning 17-yard boot to kick off the CFL regular season. Maltos Diaz forced overtime with a 29-yard field goal on the final play of regulation, capping an amazing 56-yard, 13-play drive that saw the Alouettes convert three third-down situations.

“I think that (pick-six) just changed the whole complexion of the game,” said Montreal head coach Jason Maas. “All of the momentum was with them and all of a sudden it was with us for a moment and we scratched and clawed to get it into overtime.

“And then in overtime, Robert makes a great play on the ball and Ento is there to knock it out. The defence was very opportunistic but again that happens when you’re playing hard and competing … when opportunities come you’ve got to make those plays.”

The five-foot-10, 183-pound Kennedy is in his second season with Montreal after appearing in eight regular-season contests last year. As he corralled Wheatfall in overtime, Kennedy said he was thinking how he could make a big play.

“I was just trying to get him down,” he said. “And then I just tried to punch for the ball and that’s what happened.”

Kennedy spent two weeks on Hamilton’s practice roster in 2024 after being released by the NFL’s San Diego Chargers. However, he holds no animosity toward the Ticats for releasing him.

“I was not myself at all, I was a completely different person at the time dealing with depression and a bunch of stuff after I got cut from the NFL,” he said. “They didn’t even see the best of me but today they clearly did.

“I actually appreciate Hamilton for everything they did because if that didn’t happen, a big fire probably wouldn’t be lit under me.”

Montreal starter Davis Alexander extended his CFL record to begin a career to 12-0. Alexander finished 25-of-35 passing for 336 yards and two touchdowns but the Alouettes did him no favours with 11 penalties for 118 yards.

Alexander made just seven regular-season starts last year due to a hamstring injury. He returned to lead Montreal into the Grey Cup but aggravated the ailment in the Alouettes’ 25-17 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

And that defeat is why the 12-0 record means nothing to Davis.

“No because we lost the Grey Cup,” Davis said. “Our defence was unbelievable.

“They’re a resilient group as you saw. They never gave in, never flinched.”

Tyler Snead had nine catches for 163 yards and a touchdown for Montreal.

Hamilton only had two penalties for 30 yards. Bo Levi Mitchell was 34-of-39 passing for 307 yards and an interception as the Ticats haven’t won to start a season since 2019.

“I felt like it was one that got away from us, quite honestly,” said Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovvich. “And they won the turnover battle which leads to this outcome.”

Wheatfall had six catches for 46 yards in his Ticats debut, signing with Hamilton after two seasons in Winnipeg.

“I thought he played a good game until that last play,” Milanovich said. “And he’s got to learn from it.

“I assume he’ll never make that mistake again.”

Alexander made it 24-24 with a six-yard TD pass to Tyson Philpot at 2:50 of the fourth. But Marc Liegghio put Hamilton ahead 27-24 with a 37-yard field goal at 6:39.

Jake Dolegala, Wheatfall and Ante Litre had Hamilton’s touchdowns. Liegghio added two field goals and three converts.

Maltos Diaz had three field goals and three converts.

Kennedy pulled Montreal to within 24-17 with his 54-yard pick-six at 14:43 of the third, stepping in front of Mitchell’s pass to Myron Mitchell.

Wheatfall’s five-yard run at 7:45 put Hamilton ahead 24-10 as the Ticats scored on their first possession of the second half. It came after Montreal announced that running back Travis Thies, receiver Cole Spieker and centre Justin Lawrence — all starters — wouldn’t return due to first-half injuries.

Litre’s one-yard TD run to end the second gave Hamilton a 17-10 halftime lead.

Montreal had 10 first-half penalties for 113 yards. But Alexander’s 70-yard completion to Snead on second-and-20 set up Maltos Diaz’s 19-yard field goal that made it 10-10 at 13:13.

Alexander’s 35-yard scoring strike to Snead at 4:02 pulled Montreal to within 10-7.

Liegghio’s 28-yard field goal at 1:02 gave Hamilton a 10-0 advantage.

Dolegala’s one-yard TD run at 4:21 of the first opened the scoring. Hamilton’s eight-play, 78-yard scoring march was aided by three Montreal penalties, including a 48-yard pass interference call on Lorenzo Burns.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press