Maltos Diaz sends Alouettes to Grey Cup with game-winning kick over Ticats

There is no way Davis Alexander will miss the Gray Cup.

Jose Maltos Diaz's 45-yard field goal on the final play of the game gave Montreal a thrilling 19-16 victory in the East Division final over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday. Alouettes starter Davis Alexander improved to 13-0 (11-0 regular season, 2-0 playoffs) as a CFL starter.

But in the second half, Alexander tweaked his left hamstring. As Hamilton drove up for Mark Liggio's 23-yard field goal that tied the game 13-13 at 13:13 of the fourth, Alexander was riding an exercise bike down the sideline and rubbing his leg.

Alexander did not run on Montreal's final seven-play, 36-yard drive. He missed time twice this season with a hamstring injury, limiting him to just seven regular-season games in his first campaign as the Alouettes' starter.

“I told Maas [Als head coach Jason Maas] right away that I may have tweaked it a little,” Alexander said. “I think he said he was going to get McLeod [backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson] was ready, and I just said, “There's no way you're taking me out of the game,” and that was that conversation.

“I can't help but play [in Grey Cup]. It's unreal, it's an incredible feeling, but there's still more work to be done.”

Montreal will face Saskatchewan in the Gray Cup on Nov. 16 in Winnipeg after the Roughriders defeated the BC Lions 24-21 in the West semi-finals. The Alouettes will be seeking a second championship after winning in 2023.

When Alexander made a strong statement that he was staying in the game, Maas challenged his young player to the starting line-up.

“I said, ‘OK, then be smart,’” Maas said. “The other thing I told Davis was to trust, trust everyone and not do it yourself, be smart about things, and I think he did that.”

Alexander continues his magical run

Alexander completed 19 of 26 passes for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while rushing seven times for a team-high 64 yards. More importantly, Alexander has the opportunity to continue his magical run by winning a championship in his first season as Montreal's starter.

Alexander's 11-0 regular season record is the best start to a career in CFL history, and he said he could see it.

“I can because I know how hard I work and how bad I want it,” he said. “When a team gives you the keys and shows their confidence, you better do everything in your power to make sure you don't let them down.

“I can believe it because I care about football more than anything in this world except my family and they know it because they are the same. It’s something special, but I think it would make it even more special if we had another one.”

Montreal's victory was its first this season over Hamilton, which won both regular-season games while Alexander was sidelined. After finishing atop the East Division with an 11-7 record ahead of the Alouettes (10-8), the Ticats made their first East Division final since 2019.

“I think it wasn't until the last field goal that anyone on our sideline thought we were going to find a way to win,” Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich said. “I’m disappointed for our players, I’m disappointed for our fans. There is no doubt that our guys gave everything they had.

“I thought it was playoff football. It's a fight between two teams and we just lost.”

Hamilton starter Beau Levi Mitchell completed 29 of 36 passes for 269 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Kenny Lawler had nine catches for 117 yards — both game highs — while Greg Bell rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries, also a game high.

“I was just disappointed in the team,” said Mitchell, who led the CFL in passing yards (5,296) and touchdowns. [career-best 36]. “I just wish we could do more.”

Excellent defenders

Both teams excelled defensively. Hamilton linebacker Braxton Hill had 12 tackles and one special teams tackle, while Montreal's Darnell Sankey had 10 tackles.

“I had a feeling it was going to be a low-scoring game,” Alexander said. “I think they have a really good defense, a pretty good scheme for us to be honest, and I know how good our defense is.

“I asked our guys for 25 [points]25 was my magic number because I knew how good our defense was. Nineteen was enough.”

Tyler Snead scored a goal against Montreal. Maltos Diaz made four field goals and converted.

Shemar Bridges scored a touchdown on Hamilton. Liggio added three field goals and converted.

Mitchell's three-yard touchdown pass to Bridges at 11:19 of the third cut Montreal's lead to 13-10. Mitchell completed eight of eight passes for 69 yards on a 77-yard possession over 10 plays.

Alexander hit Snead 48 yards for the first touchdown of the game at 4:42, capping an eight-play, 63-yard march to open the second half.

Maltos Diaz's 36-yard field goal at 14:56 of the second half gave Montreal a 6–3 halftime lead as the kickers accounted for all the scoring in the first half. Diaz's punt came after Liggio kicked a 29-yard field goal at 14:22 to make it 3-3.

But Hamilton was his own worst enemy in the half, thanks in part to five misses for 81 yards (compared to one miss for 10 yards in Montreal). Two totaling 25 yards (unnecessary roughness, unwanted conduct) came on a Jordan Murray tackle and negated Greg Bell's 13-yard run to the Montreal 22-yard line as the Ticats ultimately settled for a Liegio field goal.

And in the first quarter, Wesley Sutton's interception gave Montreal possession at the four-yard line. Additionally, Maltos Diaz's 29-yard field goal to open the scoring at 6:48 was driven by a 41-yard interference run by White.

“I think the penalties hurt us in the first half,” Milanovic said. “That’s what we didn’t do, a lot of those things didn’t help.

“We missed a couple of opportunities, but I need to watch the film honestly to be able to tell you exactly what happened in all of this.”