Injury-ravaged Alouettes, QB Bethel-Thompson regroup after 'embarrassing' loss

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Only a week ago, after passing for 280 yards at Calgary, quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was hailed as a hero.

But at home against Saskatchewan on Saturday, the veteran couldn’t lead the Alouettes to a touchdown, passed for only 126 yards, was intercepted, fumbled once and now has his doubters after a miserable performance.

Montreal has a 1-3 record with Bethel-Thompson as the starter and continues to struggle without Davis Alexander, who is on the six-game injured list (hamstring).

“That’s the way it is with that position,” general manager Danny Maciocia told The Gazette Tuesday, before the team’s practice at Stade Hébert. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Anthony Calvillo or you’re McLeod Bethel-Thompson. That’s just the way it is. … Offensively, we didn’t play well enough. It’s not just the quarterback. The quarterback definitely can play better and we offensively can play better.

“I’m stating the obvious when I say we didn’t play well. We got what we deserved. When you don’t play well, that’s what happens.”

The Als were held to 12 first downs, including two that came off pass-interference penalties. They generated only 169 yards of net offence and controlled the ball for barely more than 23 minutes. The Als’ only scoring came off two long Jose Maltos field goals, and their deepest possession was to the Roughriders’ 46.

“We couldn’t really get into a rhythm,” said receiver Tyler Snead, one of the team’s few offensive bright lights, with seven catches for 88 yards — including an 18-yard reception, Montreal’s longest offensive play. “We struggled on offence, but that’s us as a whole.

“I thought (Bethel-Thompson) played good,” Snead added. “They gave us some tough looks out there. It might have thrown him off a little bit. I thought he did a good job trying to find zones and make plays happen. It just wasn’t our night as a group. It wasn’t on one guy. All 12 of us could have done a better job executing and not shooting ourselves in the foot.”

While the Als lead the CFL in field goals, with 25, scoring touchdowns is what wins games. And with 15 offensive touchdowns, the Als are tied for last overall in the league with Ottawa and Winnipeg. They’re averaging 23 points per game on offence and have 10 passing touchdowns through eight games, ahead of only Edmonton and Ottawa.

“We didn’t execute and play well,” head coach Jason Maas said after the game. “That was frustrating. Football can be a game of momentum, and we just never got any on our side. That’s how our night went. We have to move on. Ultimately, you’re going to have a game like this every now and then. You have to be able to respond.”

Seeking a spark, Maas replaced Bethel-Thompson with Caleb Evans late in the third quarter. The move also came after Bethel-Thompson was hit hard by Shane Ray and fumbled. Bethel-Thompson returned with fewer than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

“Twelve guys weren’t good enough on that field, all at once, and we didn’t execute,” Maas said. “I include the coaches, too. We’ve got to be better with the plan and helping them.”

Coming off a short week and preparing to host Edmonton Friday night, it appears the Als will continue with Bethel-Thompson behind centre. However, if his performances don’t improve, he might force management’s hand.

“I know that was not who I was out there,” he said. “I can play much better. I don’t worry about that. We played absolutely terrible, myself included. That was a bad performance. It can’t happen.

“A game like this tests your manhood. That was a gut-check for sure. That was an embarrassing performance.”

The Als, already ravaged by injuries this season, lost safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy and centre Justin Lawrence during the game. Montreal added four defensive players on Tuesday, including defensive backs Ciante Evans and Brandin Dandridge.

Evans returns to Montreal for a third time after playing here in 2019 and ‘23, when the team won the Grey Cup. In 110 career games, he has 19 interceptions and three forced fumbles. He spent last season with B.C.

Dandridge spent five seasons with Ottawa. In 40 games, he has 11 interceptions, four forced fumbles and two touchdowns.

It appears Evans or Dandridge will start this week since Dionté Ruffin wasn’t at practice on Tuesday.