Game Summary

The Montreal Alouettes opened their home schedule at Molson Stadium on the campus of McGill University against the 1997 Western Division Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders. This game marked the first time that a regular season Alouettes game has been played at the stadium since October 1972. Last year’s Most Outstanding Canadian player from the Eastern Division, SB Jock Climie, got Montreal on the board early hauling in an 11-yard Tracy Ham pass at 4:10. K Terry Baker’s convert gave the Als the early 7-point advantage. Saskatchewan answered back when wide-out Shannon Baker caught a 67-yard TD pass from QB Reggie Slack 49 seconds into the second quarter pulling the Green ’Riders to within one. K Paul McCallum’s convert the tied the score at 7. Montreal recaptured the lead when Baker’s 23-yard FG at 4:44 of the opening stanza split the uprights. This was followed by a 19-yard TD strike by Ham to newly acquired WR Mac Cody at 8:49. Baker added his second convert of the game and the lead was increased to 17-7. Baker then missed a 27-yard FG attempt scoring a 41-yard single giving Montreal an 18-7 halftime lead. Baker opened the second half scoring with a 54-yard punting single at 2:39. McCallum go the ’Rider back on the board at 5:37 with a 40-yard FG cutting the lead to 19-10. Saskatchewan continued to press and at 11:50 Slack found WR Curtis Mayfield in the end zone for a 41-yard TD reception. McCallum’s convert was good and the Alouettes’ lead was cut to just 2. K Wayne Lammle opened the fourth quarter scoring at 34-seconds with a 54-yard punting single bringing Saskatchewan to within 1 point. However, Montreal added to their lead at 4:35 of the final frame when WR Eddie Brown caught a 15-yard TD pass at 4:35. Baker’s convert increased the Montreal advantage to 26-18. Saskatchewan continued to fight back and at 12:30, Slack called his own number plunging in from 1-yard out. The two-point convert attempt failed. Terry Baker added another single making the final 30-24 Montreal.