Canadian football news: the Montreal Alouettes lead the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 20 to 3 late in the second quarter of the East Final at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, and Winnipeg’s season is slipping away in Montreal unless the Bombers find an answer before halftime.
By Maplestime Sports Desk | Montreal, Quebec | November 7, 2026
Sources: CFL.ca Game Tracker | Last updated: November 7, 2026, 4:22 p.m. EST
Key Takeaways
- Montreal leads Winnipeg 20 to 3 with 1:51 left in the second quarter of the East Final at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
- Davis Alexander threw an 8 yard touchdown pass to David Ventrelli with 2:30 left in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 17 points.
- Sergio Castillo kicked a 25 yard field goal with 5:35 left in the second quarter for Winnipeg’s first points of the game.
- Zach Collaros started at quarterback for Winnipeg despite the ribs injury that kept him out of the East Semifinal, completing 6 of 9 passes for 30 yards in the first half.
- Montreal has outgained Winnipeg 211 yards to 94, and Brady Oliveira’s lost fumble is the game’s only turnover so far.
How the East Final Reached 20 to 3
Montreal opened the scoring on its first drive, with Jose Maltos Diaz kicking a 40 yard field goal with 12:06 left in the first quarter. Stevie Scott III made it 10 to 0 with a 3 yard touchdown run with 3:37 left in the quarter, and Maltos Diaz added the convert.
Maltos Diaz stretched the lead to 13 to 0 with a 30 yard field goal with 11:15 left in the second quarter. Winnipeg finally answered when Sergio Castillo kicked a 25 yard field goal with 5:35 left in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 13 to 3.
The answer lasted less than three minutes of game time. Davis Alexander found David Ventrelli for an 8 yard touchdown pass with 2:30 left in the second quarter, and Maltos Diaz added the convert to make it 20 to 3. Winnipeg had the ball and was driving late in the half when the score was last checked, with 1:51 left in the second quarter.
Related: Alouettes Lead 13 to 0 in Second Quarter in East Final
Collaros Starts, But Winnipeg’s Offence Is Stuck
Zach Collaros is in at quarterback for Winnipeg, active for the East Final after missing the East Semifinal win over Toronto with a ribs injury he suffered against the B.C. Lions in Week 21. He has completed 6 of 9 passes for 30 yards so far, with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
The numbers tell the story of the first half. Montreal has 211 yards of net offence to Winnipeg’s 94. Montreal has thrown for 188 yards while Winnipeg has thrown for 30. Winnipeg has run for 71 yards to Montreal’s 23, with Brady Oliveira carrying 8 times for 71 yards, but Oliveira also lost a fumble that Montreal recovered, and it stands as the game’s only turnover. Montreal has 10 first downs to Winnipeg’s 6. Winnipeg has been flagged 5 times for 39 yards, Montreal twice for 23 yards.
Davis Alexander has completed 12 of 17 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown for Montreal, and he has had the cleaner pocket and the better field position all afternoon.
What Is at Stake in the Second Half
The winner of the East Final goes to the Grey Cup on November 15. Montreal finished the regular season 14 and 4 and has not lost at home all season, going 9 and 0 at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. Winnipeg finished 9 and 9 and reached this game as the crossover team, beating Toronto 25 to 22 in the East Semifinal last Saturday with Dru Brown starting in place of Collaros.
Winnipeg has come back before. The Bombers trailed Toronto in the semifinal and won it late. But a 17 point gap against a Montreal team that has controlled the line of scrimmage is a different problem, and the Bombers need points on their next drive to keep this game alive into the fourth quarter.
Maplestime will provide updates from the East Final as the game continues.
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Do you think the Bombers can climb out of a 17 point hole in the second half, or is Montreal marching to the Grey Cup? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Canadian following the East Final tonight.
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