Alouettes look for second win, while ball-hungry Bombers go for fourth in a row

MONTREAL — Kevin Glenn has done a good job of avoiding interceptions this season, but he’ll be facing the hungriest ball hawks in the CFL when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit Percival Molson Stadium on Friday night.

The Bombers forced 12 turnovers in their last two games, including five picks in their last outing, a 34-17 win in Toronto on Aug. 12. And cornerback Johnny Adams, who co-led the CFL last season with six interceptions, is set to return from a hamstring injury for his first action of the season.

“They’ve done a great job of getting the ball back to their offence, so we have to protect the ball,” Glenn said Thursday. “They’re playing well and their front seven helps the back end play the way they want. If we protect the ball, we’ll be all right.”

Glenn, who has allowed only five picks in seven starts, is coming off his best game of the season. Held without a touchdown two weeks ago by Edmonton, the Montreal offence scored six in a 43-19 victory in Ottawa last week, including five touchdown passes by one of the CFL players of the week.

Getting consistent production on attack has been a challenge for Montreal this season. After opening the season with a 22-14 win in Winnipeg, they were held to 17 points or fewer in their next three games. Then they broke out with a 41-3 win over Saskatchewan only to score 18 and 14 points in their next two games respectively.

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Now the Alouettes (3-5) hope to win two in a row for the first time this season.

“When I say duplicate it, I’m not talking about throwing five touchdown passes, I’m taking about winning games, however we do it,” said Glenn.

Coach Jim Popp feels he has the talent to do it.

“A few weeks ago we had one just like (the Ottawa game) against Saskatchewan,” he said. “Two very hard fought games in between that we didn’t win and then we came back and have another.

“A lot of things went well for us. We certainly have the ability to do that. But you can’t just sit there and think it’s going to happen. You’ve got to understand why it happened and hopefully come back with another strong game.”

And for a second game in a row, Montreal will face a team coming off a bye-week. They hope that will cool off the Bombers (4-4), who have won three in a row since Matt Nichols replaced Drew Willy as the starting quarterback. Winnipeg has also won its last three road games going back to a 28-24 victory in Hamilton in the third week of the season.

The Bombers lead the CFL in turnover ratio at plus-12, including 11 fumble recoveries and 14 interceptions, led by league-leader Maurice Leggett’s four and three from Kevin Fogg. Edmonton is next at plus-7 while the Alouettes are the only other team with a positive number at plus-2.

Montreal will have a pair of offensive weapons back from the injury list. Tyrell Sutton, who led the CFL in rushing last season with 1,059 yards in 15 games, is likely to share the carries with his replacement Brandon Rutley at least for his first game back. And slotback Kenny Stafford is set to return.

Also, an arbitrator has yet to render a decision on receiver Duron Carter’s appeal of a one-game suspension, so the Alouettes will have their top passing threat in the lineup.

Winnipeg coach Mike O’Shea opted not to bring Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith back from injuries, perhaps partly because Clarence Denmark has been solid since his return to the club. But Quincey McDuffie is back after missing a game to replace the injured Terrence Frederik.

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press