Minus most starters, Ottawa Redblacks fall to Montreal Alouettes in CFL pre-season finale

Montreal Alouettes linebacker Christian McFarland tackles Ottawa Redblacks running back Elijah Collins during first half CFL pre-season action in Ottawa, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Spencer Colby /The Canadian PressArticle content

For much of the Ottawa Redblacks’ pre-season finale at TD Place, it looked like the highlight of the night would stand as the lightning storm — which included high winds and toonie-sized hail pellets — that delayed the start of the game by almost an hour.

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The excitement meter spiked a couple of times, but overall, CFL followers in the nation’s capital have to be happy the regular season kicks off with the Redblacks’ visit to Saskatchewan on Thursday for a game against the Roughriders.

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The Redblacks sat most starters to take a look at players on the bubble, and the results were predictable in a sloppy 24-16 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night.

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A severe thunder and rain storm headed toward Ottawa Friday evening. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

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Ottawa’s 1-1 preseason includes a 23-7 win in Montreal last week.

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Former Redblacks quarterback Caleb Evans had an easy time moving the ball against his old team in early, limited action, completing eight of 11 pass attempts for 111 yards and running for a touchdown to help the Alouettes to a 17-7 halftime lead.

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The Ottawa points to that point were scored on a one-yard keeper play by quarterback Matt Shiltz, who started the game and completed just two-of-two passes, including a 31-yarder to Andre Miller, in one quarter of work.

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While the depth chart tentatively has the more experienced Shiltz as the backup to No. 1 QB Dru Brown, the offence didn’t find any rhythm of note until the Nos. 3 and 4 names on the list, Dustin Crum and Tyrie Adams, split the final 45 minutes.

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Did they do enough to influence head coach Bob Dyce’s decision on the next man up should Brown go down?

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Only time will tell.

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“Tonight’s not the only evaluation,” Dyce said after the game, referring to the three QBs as “very talented guys who have a solid handle on the offence”, which on this night was playing behind and surrounded by depth players or men that will soon be looking for work elsewhere. “We’ve been evaluating these guys for a number of weeks now. It’s a very close competition amongst the three, and it’s going to be like the whole roster … there’s going to be some tough decisions that have to be made.”

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The Redblacks will finalize that roster on Saturday, and while Shiltz, Crum and Adams will remain in Ottawa, only two of them will be dressed for Thursday’s game.

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Against the Alouettes, Crum completed eight of 13 passes for 96 yards and reminded one and all he can run with the ball, even if he is a little quick to do so, as the Redblacks’ leading rusher with seven carries for 43 yards.