The Montreal Alouettes scored in the first play of Thursday’s game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders en route to handing the Riders their first loss of the season.
Chandler Worthy cut and slammed his way through Riders defensemen for an 88-yard kickoff return touchdown. It was the second-fastest touchdown to start a game in Canadian Football League history.
Trevor Harris started the game in place of starter Vernon Adams Jr., who tested positive for COVID-19 before the game. In the second quarter, Harris found Kaion Julien-Grant for a 70-yard touchdown, extending Montreal’s lead to 20-3.
The Montreal defense fired Riders quarterbacks a total of eight times as the Riders offense struggled to get things done. Cody Fajardo completed 17 of 28 pass attempts for 191 yards and a pair of interceptions, including a pick six from Marc-Antoine Dequoy, who caught a fly ball that deflected off a falling Duke Williams for the score.
Fajardo would be taken out of the game with less than two minutes left in the final quarter, with Mason Fine finding Williams in the back of an end zone for a touchdown.
Williams caught four passes for 101 yards on his return to the lineup, plus the late touchdown.
On the ground, Frankie Hickson led the rushing offense with 27 yards on six carries.
Jamal Morrow, one of the best players last week against Edmonton, carried the ball four times for 14 yards.
Jumper wide receiver Shaq Evans left the game with an apparent ankle injury.
The Riders drop to 2-1 on the year while Montreal improves to 1-2 in the 37-13 victory.
The Alouettes and the Riders will meet for a second time at Mosaic Stadium on July 2. Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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