By Canadian Press

Adams Jr. throws for 211 yards and two TDs, Alouettes down Elks 30-13 in season debut

Aug 14, 2021 | 8:13 PM

EDMONTON — Vernon Adams Jr. passed for 211 yards and two touchdowns as the Montreal Alouettes started their Canadian Football League season on solid footing, humbling the Edmonton Elks 30-13 on Saturday.

Montreal (1-0) began the 2021 CFL campaign with a bye week.

The Elks remained winless at 0-2 after losing their season debut 16-12 to Ottawa in their home opener last week. They failed to record a touchdown in that contest.

Edmonton made it to a first-and-goal situation on its opening drive Saturday, but ended up accepting a 10-yard Sean Whyte field goal.

Montreal surged ahead on the final play of the first quarter as Jake Wieneke made a diving catch on an Adams pass for a 42-yard touchdown reception.

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

2h ago

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

2h ago

Election 2024

Birch Hills staff won't share election decision

3h ago

The Elks struggled in the red zone again early in the second as quarterback Trevor Harris bobbled the snap on an unsuccessful third-and-one attempt at the Montreal eight.

The Als made it 10-3 with six minutes left in the first half on a 23-yard David Cote field goal that was set up by a 54-yard passing play to B.J. Cunningham.

Montreal added to its lead a couple minutes later as Mario Alford found a seam along the sidelines and blazed 85 yards for a punt return touchdown. The visitors then made it 20-3 at the mid-mark on a 47-yard Cote field goal.

Whyte chipped back with a 37-yard field goal late in the third.

Cote responded with his third field goal of the game, a 42-yarder.

The Alouettes added to the pounding with a 14-yard Adams TD pass to Cunningham with five minutes left in the final frame.

Edmonton got its first touchdown of the season with 1:21 remaining in the fourth as Shai Ross reeled in a 10-yard pass from Harris.

The Elks begin a three-game road trip in B.C. against the Lions on Thursday, while the Alouettes cap off a two-game trip to Alberta in Calgary next Friday.

Notes: The last time the two teams met was a memorable one as Edmonton travelled to Montreal for the 2019 East semifinal. Harris passed for a jaw-dropping 421 yards as Edmonton recorded a 37-29 win… Making his Alouettes debut was defensive tackle Almondo Sewell, who spent the last nine seasons with Edmonton. Sewell, who made waves this week by questioning Harris’ durability, is a seven-time West Division All-Star and a six-time CFL All-Star, recording 284 total tackles and 60 sacks during his time with Edmonton… The announced attendance was 25,116.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2021.

The Canadian Press