MONTREAL — Davis Alexander and the Montreal Alouettes are heading back to the Grey Cup.
Alexander threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns, while Tyrice Beverette forced a pivotal late fumble to lift the Alouettes past the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 in the CFL’s East Division final on Saturday.
The Alouettes return to the championship game after losing to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season as Alexander battled through a nagging hamstring injury.
Most outstanding Canadian Tyson Philpot made nine receptions for 129 yards for the Alouettes, who advanced to the East final with a CFL-best 14-4 record this season.
They’ll travel to Calgary for the Grey Cup on Nov. 15 at McMahon Stadium, where they’ll face the winner of Saturday’s West Division final between the Edmonton Elks and B.C. Lions.
Veteran quarterback Zach Collaros completed 21 of 27 passes for 228 yards in his return from injury for Winnipeg, which fell to Montreal for the second consecutive year after making five straight Grey Cup appearances from 2019 to 2024.
Collaros was a game-time decision after hurting his ribs in the Bombers’ regular-season finale and missing Winnipeg’s 25-22 East semifinal victory over Toronto. After a week of apparent QB mind games, Bombers coach Mike O’Shea ultimately started Collaros over Dru Brown.
Star Canadian running back Brady Oliveira finished with 105 rushing yards on 14 carries before a sellout crowd of 23,035 on a windy, 7 C afternoon at Percival Molson Stadium.
Winnipeg crossed over to the East after finishing fourth in the West with a 9-9 record this season. The Bombers became the sixth crossover team to reach a division final, but none of the previous 14 crossover teams have advanced to the Grey Cup.
Montreal kicker Jose Maltos Diaz converted 4-of-4 field goals. Winnipeg’s Sergio Castillo was 3-for-4 — with Montreal securing the victory on his missed attempt.
Collaros led the Bombers to Montreal’s 34-yard line with Winnipeg trailing by three points when Beverette swung the momentum, sacking the quarterback to force a fumble and recover the ball himself with 3:50 remaining.
On the ensuing possession, Alexander capped an eight-play drive with a 21-yard TD throw to Tyler Snead, who slid in the end zone to make the catch with 1:11 left on the clock.
Winnipeg had cut Montreal’s lead to 26-20 to start the fourth quarter as Bryce Perkins punched in a one-yard TD. The Bombers successfully overturned an incomplete pass earlier in the drive before Collaros made a pair of completions to Nic Demski.
Castillo then hit a field goal to make it 26-23 with 10:18 remaining after the Alouettes, who went two-and-out on the previous drive, were penalized 10 yards for having too many players on the field.
The Alouettes built a 23-10 lead in a dragged-out first half of penalties and coaches’ challenges.
Alexander, named the league’s outstanding player Thursday, launched a 48-yard deep ball to Charleston Rambo to the Winnipeg three-yard line, then Stevie Scott III rushed up the middle for a touchdown to put Montreal ahead 10-0 with 3:37 left in the first quarter.
In the second, Oliveira fumbled at the Winnipeg 55 as Mustafa Johnson punched the ball loose for Murray to recover. Officials ruled Winnipeg ball until Alouettes coach Jason Maas challenged and successfully overturned the call.
Alexander then connected with Philpot on a pair of completions to set up Maltos’ second field goal.
The Bombers put their first points on the board with 5:37 remaining in the half when Castillo hit a field goal following a big return from Trey Vaval and a couple of gains on the ground from Oliveira.
Montreal quickly answered as Alexander found Philpot for a 32-yard gain before completing an eight-yard toss to offensive lineman Donny Ventrelli, giving the Alouettes a 20-3 lead with 2:30 left in the half.
Another major Vaval return, followed by three consecutive Collaros passes to Tim White, set up a one-yard TD for Perkins one minute later.
Alexander’s 52-yard bomb to Rambo gave the Alouettes three shots at a touchdown in the dying seconds of the half, but Montreal settled for a field goal after a failed pass interference challenge.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2026.
Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press