The Ottawa Redblacks secured a 27-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in a Canadian Football League pre-season matchup on Friday at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal.
Keelan White emerged as a standout performer for the Redblacks, hauling in a pair of touchdown receptions from quarterback Jake Maier. The first came on a 12-yard strike in the opening half, followed by a four-yard scoring toss that helped build an early advantage. Maier finished the contest completing 10 of 14 pass attempts for 155 yards, while backup Bryson Barnes went a perfect eight for eight for 109 yards and added a nine-yard rushing touchdown of his own.
Paul Geelen contributed to the Ottawa scoring with field goals from 40 and 26 yards, sending the Redblacks into halftime with a 17-4 lead. Cade McDonald chipped in four receptions for 73 yards as the visitors controlled much of the first half.
Montreal managed to get on the board in the opening half when kicker Jose Carlos Maltos connected from 21 yards out after missing a longer 52-yard attempt. Alouettes quarterback Dustin Crum completed 15 of 20 passes for 130 yards but could not generate enough offense to keep pace.
Late in the fourth quarter, Shomari Lawrence scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown for the Alouettes, providing a measure of respectability to the final margin. The game served as an early tune-up for both clubs ahead of the regular season.
According to the report from The Canadian Press, the result marked a solid opening statement for Ottawa's revamped offense under the direction of Maier and Barnes. The Redblacks showed efficiency through the air and on the ground in limited action.
Pre-season games in the CFL often focus on evaluating depth players and refining schemes rather than final scores. Both teams used the contest to test combinations that could carry into the regular campaign.
Additional pre-season action is scheduled for Saturday, with the defending champion Saskatchewan Roughriders hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Edmonton Elks are set to visit the B.C. Lions, while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will host the Toronto Argonauts.
Officials noted that the matchup at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium drew a modest crowd typical for exhibition contests. Players on both sides emphasized the importance of shaking off rust and building chemistry in these early contests.
The Redblacks' ability to score through multiple avenues, including the passing game and special teams, stood out in the box score. Montreal will look to tighten its coverage and red-zone efficiency in upcoming practices.
This pre-season result provides an initial glimpse into roster battles that will continue through the exhibition schedule. Both organizations now turn their attention to preparations for the next set of games.