The Montreal Alouettes hope to be in a celebratory mood before and after Thursday night’s game against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks.

The Alouettes (2-0) will raise last season’s Grey Cup banner at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium before their regular-season home debut vs. the Redblacks (1-0).

“I’ll probably get chills, might get a little emotional,” Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo said. “But to tell you the truth, once the ball’s kicked, it’s football at the end of the day. It’ll be an exciting start to the game, but hopefully we give the fans something more exciting at the end.”

Fajardo completed 20 passes and threw for two touchdowns in each of the Alouettes’ two road victories to start the season.

Walter Fletcher scored a pair of touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the Alouettes’ 23-20 win over the Edmonton Elks last Friday.

“Running the ball is great, but if you can’t protect the quarterback, which is Cody, then you won’t play,” Fletcher said. “I’ve always had speed but being able to withstand a full season and being able to protect was key.”

Montreal will look to continue its recent success vs. Ottawa, as the Alouettes outscored the Redblacks 105-54 in winning all four games between the teams last season.

Ottawa coach Bob Dyce isn’t interested in last year’s results or Montreal’s planned pregame celebration.

“That’s not the stuff that we focus on. We focus on ourselves,” Dyce said. “Montreal just happens to be the opponent this week. They just happen to be having their banner night, none of those things are going to dictate what happens on the field.”

Dru Brown gained a measure of revenge vs. his former team by throwing for 238 yards and a touchdown in the Redblacks’ 23-19 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last Thursday.

Ottawa needs to tidy up a few things, however. The Redblacks were flagged for nine penalties for 105 yards.

–Field Level Media