Aug
Cahoon nears milestone
Courtesy Montreal Gazette:
Some of the names have changed in the six years since Ben Cahoon last failed to make a catch for the Alouettes.
On Aug. 15, 2002, Montreal outscored Calgary 38-23, pushing its record to 8-0. Pat Woodcock scored on an 88-yard play that night, while Wayne Shaw returned an interception 39 yards for a score. Even Keith Stokes caught three passes, including a 45-yard TD. Lawrence Phillips was the running back; Terry Baker, the kicker. Don Matthews was in his first season as head coach.
“I remember most games, but I don’t remember that one,” said quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who passed for 296 yards, even displaying incredible mobility, gaining 61 yards on six carries.
Cahoon would be named the Canadian Football League’s outstanding Canadian that season – one during which the Als would end a 25-year drought by capturing the Grey Cup. Cahoon caught a team-leading 75 passes in 2002, but not one against the Stampeders that night.
He had caught at least one pass in 58 consecutive games to that point.
“Obviously, you want to be involved in the game. It has little to do with the streak,” Cahoon said. “I remember thinking: should I go to the coach? But I didn’t. It’s not my style.
“It was Calgary and we were losing. By the third or fourth quarter, I hadn’t caught a pass and wanted to raise my hand.”
That was 99 games ago. In other words, should Cahoon catch at least one pass tonight against the British Columbia Lions at Molson Stadium (7:30 p.m., TSN, RDS), he’ll reach the century mark, continuing to add to the legacy that began in 1998, his rookie season. It also marked Calvillo’s first year in Montreal, following stints at Las Vegas and Hamilton.
“It’s amazing and a great accomplishment,” the quarterback said. “It displays his ability to stay healthy and get open on the field. I’m glad I’ve been able to share it with him. We both got here in ’98, and we’ve seen a lot together.”
While Cahoon’s feat is nowhere near approaching a CFL record – Saskatchewan’s Ray Elgaard caught a pass in 217 consecutive games between 1983-96 and Peter Dalla Riva holds the Als mark of 164 – the accomplishment shouldn’t be diminished. It speaks volumes about the consistency he has displayed.
“It’s the most important part of my game,” said Cahoon, with a modest 34 receptions for 396 yards and three touchdowns as the Als reach the halfway point of the regular schedule. “It’s one of the few things I bring to the table … one of the very few.”
The streak could have ended along the way. Six times, including as recently as Aug. 8, at Winnipeg, Cahoon was held to a single reception.
“It just means I’ve been around for a long time and have been fortunate to play. I’ve been surrounded by some phenomenal teammates who allowed me to get open and do my job. It’s a neat, little thing … 100. It’s a nice, round number. But if we win, I’ll be ecstatic.”
