By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal – Another matchup versus an East Division team, another win for the Alouettes.
Quarterback Anthony Calvillo completed 36 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns, while the Alouette defence forced three turnovers as the Alouettes picked up their sixth win against an East Division and remained perfect against their divisional counterparts on the season, in a 45-18 victory over the Toronto Argonauts at Percival Molson Stadium.
Calvillo was brilliant, completing all three of his scores to different receivers and running one in himself from eight yards out.
Calvillo went to work following a lackluster first quarter for both teams, marching the offence 65 yards downfield on seven plays and connecting with receiver Jamel Richardson for a 10-yard score to put the Als up 7-0.
After that, kicker Damon Duval – who had missed on his first two attempts –found his leg and split the uprights from 30 yards out to give the Als a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter.
Four minutes later, Toronto kicker Mike Vanderjagt finally got the Boatmen on the board with a 34-yard chip shot to bring the Argos within a touchdown, but with the first half winding down, Calvillo found Kerry Watkins in the end zone for his eighth TD catch of the year.
The second half began with a Vanderjagt field goal to cut the Als lead to 11 before Montreal re-extended its lead to 18 after Calvillo hit Brian Bratton in the end zone for his sixth score of the season.
It’s been a season to forget for Argonauts head coach Rich Stubler, after what many believed to be the solution to their offensive woes by handing Kerry Joseph the full-time starting role as a result of the Michael Bishop trade, scoring still continues to be a problem for Toronto.
“I’m a little disappointed,” said a disheartened Joseph following Sunday’s loss. “We just never found our rhythm.”
For Montreal, however, everything was clicking and as Calvillo had his best game of the season – and one of the best of his career, completing his second-highest total of passes in a single game and the most in his career as an Alouette. In fact, you’d have to go back to his days with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for a higher total as he completed 37 passes against the Alouettes in a 1997 game.
“We’re just continuing to build as a team, we have a lot of weapons that enable us to spread the ball around the field,” said Calvillo.
It is safe to say that Calvillo is enjoying a much better season compared to his last. Interestingly enough, last season saw the Alouettes struggle against teams in the East Division going 5-5-0. Their divisional performance this year, however, is the reason why Calvillo and the Alouettes are sitting atop the East.
“We have a lot of guys who can step into various roles and it’s giving us options,” said Calvillo, explaining his team’s top-level play this year.
With star running back Avon Cobourne on the sidelines, second-string back Mike Imoh found himself next to Calvillo in the backfield for the most part of the game and took advantage of his opportunity by rushing for 75 yards on 12 carries.
The Alouettes next travel to Calgary on Friday, Sept. 12 to meet the Stampeders at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium (10 p.m. (est), RDS, TSN, CKAC SPORTS, CJAD).
