Argonauts, Alouettes face off in regular-season finale with minimal stakes

The Montreal Alouettes and host Toronto Argonauts have little to play for when they conclude the regular season on Friday with their second matchup of the campaign.

Montreal (13-4) previously clinched first place in the East Division and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Toronto (9-8) finished second in the East and will play a first-round playoff game next week.

The Alouettes defeated Toronto 37-30 in Week 2 -- which was Montreal's second game and the Argonauts' first of the season.

That was a wild contest in which Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander passed for 441 yards and two touchdowns and Toronto's Chad Kelly threw for 445 yards and three touchdowns.

Kelly (knee) has been ruled out of the regular-season finale after getting banged up in Toronto's 40-39 loss last week to the Ottawa Redblacks. That was Ottawa's first win of the season.

Nick Arbuckle passed for 315 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in relief but he'll be held out against Montreal to make sure he's healthy in case he's needed for a playoff start.

"As a competitor, you always want to play," Arbuckle told reporters. "You practice all year long for opportunities to play, but at the end of the day, you also got to understand what's best for the team and what's best for the long run of success for the team."

Tucker Horn and Luis Perez have each gotten work in practice but it'll be Horn who is called upon to make his first career start, Toronto's official depth chart announced on Thursday.

"I've always believed if a guy's been working and has earned that time and we are able to do that (we should), because these guys work really hard, they prepare, they push, and they're pros," Toronto coach Mike Miller said of the opportunity. "So, where there's an opportunity to do that, I like to do that."

Alexander was held out of Montreal's 16-12 loss to the host Saskatchewan Roughriders last week. Dustin Crum started in his place, throwing for 185 yards and one TD, and he'll get the start once again against Toronto, per the team's depth chart.

Star receivers Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead both sat out with shoulder injuries against Saskatchewan and both players are listed as doubtful to play against Toronto.

Defensive back Wesley Sutton was pleased with the effort in the loss to the Roughriders, who were playing all their starters and clinched a playoff spot with the victory.

"We knew the situation and the circumstances we were fighting against," Sutton said. "We didn't really have anything to play for outside of pride and the love of the game. I think we definitely showed that. They had every starter out there. They were fighting for everything."

--Field Level Media