Danny Maciocia didn't step on the field Saturday, but his work played a huge role in the Montreal Alouettes' 27-12 win over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL East semifinal.
The Alouettes general manager's pre-season and mid-season moves paid off in a big way as Montreal advanced to next week's division final in Toronto against the powerhouse Argonauts.
The player of the game was linebacker Darnell Sankey, signed by the Alouettes in September after he asked for his release from the XFL. The league's leading tackler in Calgary in 2021 and Saskatchewan in 2022, Sankey had an interception, two sacks and a game-high eight defensive tackles on Saturday.
Maciocia, remember, was working for an ownerless team during the free-agency period in February -- Pierre Karl Peladeau bought the Als later in the winter. As such, Maciocia really couldn't make competitive offers to the top free agents. But the GM rolled up his sleeves, brought over fired Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas as his head coach and put together a roster that performed far better than projected -- many felt the Als would be the worst team in the league.
The Alouettes finished 11-7 in the regular season and have now won a CFL-best six games in a row.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo threw touchdown passes to Austin Mack and Jake Harty on Saturday. All three were signed by Maciocia this off-season, with Fajardo and Harty joining their old OC from Saskatchewan.
Early in the season, Maciocia inked longtime sack specialist Shawn Lemon after he was released by the B.C. Lions. Lemon came through with two sacks and five defensive tackles in the playoff opener as the Als downed Hamilton for the fourth time in as many meetings this year and for the second East semifinal in a row.
Maciocia had every right to smile after this one.
Here are some other takeaways from the East semifinal.
Not Much Bo
The Ticats said before the game they'd use both of their top quarterbacks -- starter Matthew Shiltz and veteran backup Bo Levi Mitchell.
They did follow the script, but waited an awfully long time to go to the latter pivot as Mitchell entered with less than seven minutes left and the Ticats trailing by 12.
Shiltz cooled off considerably after a six-for-six start. While it wasn't all Shiltz's fault, one could have made a case to make a switch at halftime with Hamilton trailing 14-6.
A comeback wasn't in the cards for Mitchell, who completed one of four passes for six yards with one interception. A two-time CFL most outstanding player, Mitchell, 33, has an uncertain future after being the Ticats' marquee off-season signing this year.
Meanwhile, league-leading receiver Tim White didn't make one catch on the afternoon, which can't be how Ticats offensive play-caller Scott Milanovich drew it up.
The Ticats had two good drives to start the game, but scored just three points. After that, Shiltz wasn't the same player.
The loss means the Ticats will not have a chance to play at home in the Grey Cup on Nov. 19 at Tim Hortons Field.
The off-season could bring questions on whether president of football operations/head coach Orlondo Steinauer stays in the latter role. Milanovich, who took over as the de facto offensive coordinator in August, is being mentioned as a head coaching candidate for Saskatchewan -- so Hamilton may want to promote him to avoid that possibility.
Turnovers Loom Large
The Alouettes won the turnover battle 2-0 in the first half -- with the first probably keeping Ticats points off the board and the other leading directly to the lone touchdown in the opening 30 minutes.
The first giveaway came on the opening drive of the game, a promising march that ended when receiver Kiondre Smith fumbled inside the Alouettes' 30-yard line.
Then, late in the second quarter, Shiltz's pass was tipped by Mustafa Johnson and picked off by Sankey.
On the very next play, Fajardo lobbed it to a wide-open Mack for a 30-yard score to put the Alouettes up 14-6.
Butler Limited
The Ticats had good success with star running back James Butler early in the game. He got the ball on five of the Ticats' first six first downs (four runs, one passing play) -- and often put the team in second-and-manageable situations.
But Hamilton went away from that strategy. After those five touches, Butler got the ball just once more in the first half.
The Ticats started to move the ball again with Butler as the featured player in the third quarter. He finished with 83 yards on 13 carries, but it's a lot harder to stay on the ground when playing from behind.
Hamilton needed big games from Butler and White to have a chance. That didn't happen.
Seen This Before
Once again, Ticats linebacker Chris Edwards was involved in after-the-play shenanigans.
With the outcome determined and less than a minute left, Edwards threw Harty down to the field after the whistle, causing a huge skirmish and leading to multiple players coming off the bench. Edwards was ejected for the play.
After a game earlier this year against Montreal, Edwards faked a handshake to Mack and then shoved him to the ground.
Edwards' act is getting old.
Up Next
It's a rematch of last year's East final, won 34-27 by the Argos in Toronto.
The Argos went 3-0 against the Alouettes this season and clinched the division title with six games left in the season.
Toronto will be a heavy favourite.
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