Overworked Alouettes look to even their record while Lions hope to bounce back

MONTREAL — Quarterback Kevin Glenn says playing three games in 11 days can be looked at either as a burden or an opportunity for the Montreal Alouettes.

And if the Alouettes (2-3) can end that gruelling run with a win Thursday night over the visiting B.C. Lions (3-2), it could turn their season around.

“It’s a character builder,” said Glenn. “If someone tells you that you can’t do something, you want to go out and do well.

“If we can get a win it’d be nice to say we played three games in 11 days and still won.”

It started with a 30-17 loss in Toronto on July 25, but after only three days of rest, the Alouettes rebounded with a 41-3 home win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Six days later, they face a B.C. team playing its third straight road game.

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“It’s tough, I wouldn’t wish it on anybody, especially in this sport where you’re running into each other with equipment on,” said Glenn. “It’s just one of those things you have to do.

“You try to prepare for these things in the off-season. We’re also getting three (pay) cheques in 11 days. Look at the positives.”

The Alouettes could do no wrong against the struggling Roughriders as they ran up points while the defence stoned the Saskatchewan attack. It ended a three-game losing run following their season-opening victory in Winnipeg.

Montreal’s wins have come against arguably the CFL’s two weakest clubs. B.C. has lost two of its last three games but is still considered one of the league’s better squads.

Last week, B.C. led Calgary 41-26 with under five minutes to play before dropping a 44-41 overtime decision to the West Division-leading Stampeders. Quarterback Jonathan Jennings was picked off twice late in the game.

It was also a costly contest for injuries as defensive linemen David Menard, Craig Roh and Mic’hael Brooks all went down for B.C., as did former Alouettes safety Mike Edem. Linemen Andrew Hudson and Bryant Turner Jr. as well as defensive back Anthony Gaitor and linebacker Nehemie Kankolongo could move into the lineup.

“It’s a very good opportunity to try to get a win against a good team,” said Glenn. “Regardless of a team’s win-loss record, in this league every team is good.

“But to get a win against a team like B.C that has had some success, will be a good test for us.”

The game features two of the league’s top pass rushers. The Lions’ Alex Brazzie leads the CFL with five sacks, one ahead of Montreal’s John Bowman.

Bowman, whose career looked to be over last summer when he was made a healthy scratch by former coach Tom Higgins, signed a contract extension this week through the 2017 season.

“It’s a token of their appreciation for me, saying ‘You don’t have to retire,’ ” said 34-year-old Bowman, who is playing his 11th season, all with Montreal.

The New York native led the CFL with 19 sacks last year and is the Alouettes’ all-time leader with 106.

Teammate Alan-Michael Cash sneaked into the media scrum and asked “How much do you have left in the tank?” To which a laughing Bowman said “There’s some gas left. Premium.”

He’ll need it against a big and efficient offensive line that has the Lions leading the league with 99.6 rushing yards per game.

“We feel we’re headed towards being a winning team,” said Bowman. “The difference between a good team and a great team is consistency and we’re trying to build that here.”

A concern for Montreal is kicker Boris Bede, who was good on 90 per cent of his field-goal attempts in 2015 but has made just 6-for-14 this year. Coach Jim Popp wants to stick with the strong-footed Bede nonetheless.

“He’ll get out of it,” said Popp. “I think it’s mental.

“He’s overthinking it. Once he bangs one through early he’ll get on a roll.”

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press