The Montreal Alouettes traveled to Steeltown for the East Final on Saturday afternoon and defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19-16 in front of a sold-out crowd.
Undefeated quarterback Davis Alexander leads the charge and will look to keep his record perfect in the Gray Cup next week in Winnipeg.
Davis, ok
This wasn't Davis Alexander's best game. He hasn't looked as comfortable as he has in previous starts, and his stat line reflects that: 19 of 26 on pass attempts for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He missed a couple of reads and, by his own admission, played a dirty game.
However, when it mattered most, even while injured, he orchestrated the winning race with clutch throws under pressure. He was patient in his readings and took advantage of what Hamilton's defense gave him.
When they needed it most, they called Rambo!!
Less than a minute left.
🗓️: Eastern final RIGHT NOW
🇨🇦: TSN, STV, TSN2, RDS
🌎: CFL+#GCPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/bgCXsYmnuG— CFL (@CFL) November 8, 2025
Alexander's second throw to Charleston Rambo was a perfect example. On second-and-10 with just under a minute left, the passer made his first two reads, didn't like what he saw, checked the ball and let the receiver work his magic.
Rambo forced linebacker Devin Veresuk to fumble for 19 yards, setting up Jose Maltos Diaz's game-winning field goal three plays later. Sometimes your job as a defender is to put the team on your back. Sometimes your job is to let others play.
Injury
Alouette fans held their breath in the fourth quarter when Alexander grabbed his hamstring after a tackle by Devin Veresuk while running out of the pocket. Everyone knew his hamstring had not fully healed – he had missed eleven games this year – although it had not been an issue in recent games.
Saturday was different. Alexander had to run more often to move the chains. Head coach Jason Maas admitted his defense could have been smarter in the first three quarters but praised his poise afterward.
After the game, Alexander confirmed that he had injured his hamstring, but said that it was not as bad as at the beginning of the season. He told Maas about this, prompting the coach to prepare backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
“I told him you can’t take me out of the game,” Alexander said. “That was a conversation right there. I know we lie about injuries all the time, but this isn't as bad as the last two.”
Jose, Jose, Jose
Jose Maltos Diaz was on the practice squad the last time the Alouettes reached the Gray Cup in 2023. This time he had a chance to hit the game winner – and he didn't miss. His historic season continues in storybook style.
“I felt calm before the impact,” he said. 3DownNation in Spanish. “I worked so hard for this. My practice gave me this opportunity. It's like a dream. Two years ago I was on the training list and now I'm in the starting lineup. It's like a dream.”
Early defensive battle
The game started like a boxing match: the teams felt each other in the first quarter. The defense held strong with key stops in the second. From Montreal's point of view, playing against the wind, it was a small victory, although they lost the battle early on.
Alexander showed flashes with his feet, but was unable to deploy the drives as usual. Receivers struggled to get the ball open, and Hamilton was ready for Montreal's rare deep drives. Alexander had to go through his progress, which often led to punts.
“I thought we were okay in the first half,” he said. “It was definitely a positional battle. We started a lot of attacks deep in our end. I had a feeling it was going to be a low-scoring game.”
Standing tall
The Alouette defense made a big impact in the first half, limiting Bo Levi Mitchell to minimal yardage and throwing an interception once. Noel Thorpe's unit did not have an advantageous field position, but they held strong.
The only problem was allowing two or three first downs before leaving the field, which consistently anchored Montreal's offense.
Only one touchdown was allowed in the second half, and the team forced Hamilton to tie the game, giving the offense more than enough time to take it all.
Target
For the first time this season, Kabion Ento became the clear target of Bo Levi Mitchell. It paid off early on, with Ento missing a few tackles and giving Hamilton's receivers too much space in one-on-one situations. Shemar Bridges beat him in the end zone for the Tiger-Cats' only touchdown.
Ento has been reliable since joining the Alouettes in 2023 and has earned the respect of opponents who have rarely challenged him. Mitchell broke that trend and tested him. Defender responded in the fourth quarter with a key knockdown against Tim White.
En-Theis-performance
The wild card for Montreal was the return of Travis Theis.
The team's Most Outstanding Rookie candidate was recently sidelined with an ankle injury, although he has been dynamic at times this year as a running back and returner.
The University of South Dakota product contributed both in the running game and as a receiver, recording 18 rushing yards and 52 receiving yards. His presence was crucial, especially with Stevie Scott III still hampered by a leg injury.
Losing the battle
This game focused on field position, an aspect of the game that is crucial, although not always the most exciting.
It's rare to see the Alouettes lose this battle, but that's exactly what happened for almost the entire half. Montreal's offensives invariably began deep in their own territory. Alexander and the offense managed a few first downs but were unable to turn the field over.
Hamilton applied pressure throughout the half but was unable to capitalize on a touchdown. Scott Milanovich's drive ended with a field goal, which the Alouettes recovered with a quick attack before halftime.
Further
The Alouettes reached the Gray Cup for the second time in three years. After defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Hamilton in 2023, the team will now look to defeat the BC Lions or Saskatchewan Roughriders at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 16th.
