By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal -Earlier this week, it was suggested by CFL pundits across Canada that Ben Cahoon’s 37-year old body was finally catching up with him. If that’s the case, then following this afternoon’s performance at Percival Molson Stadium, Cahoon’s body has some serious ground to cover.
In front of a boisterous 92nd consecutive sellout crowd, Cahoon caught six passes for 85 yards as the Als kept both their home and divisional records perfect, en route to a 33-14 win over the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Playing in his 200th game as an Alouette, Cahoon erased all doubts directed his way in the win, as the 12-year veteran recorded his best outing since registering 103 yards on eight catches in a matchup against the Argonauts in early August.
His good friend and teammate, Anthony Calvillo was no slouch either.
Calvillo completed 70 per cent of his passes for 338 yards and a touchdown, accumulating his best yards total since the same game in Toronto, where he threw for 395 yards and a staggering completion percentage of 81.4.
The 20,202 on hand were treated to a classic AC outing, one that started with the Als surprisingly trailing the Bombers in the first quarter. Calvillo capped off a four-play 67-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to the CFL’s co-touchdown leader, Avon Cobourne for his 10th major of the season to give the Als an 11-7 lead.
Leading the league
Cobourne tied former Alouette Jeremaine Copeland for the league’s TD lead midway through the second frame with a one-yard touchdown run. That play came after Winnipeg was called for a pass interference penalty in the end zone, giving the Als a new set of downs on the one-yard line also giving Cobourne an easy six points.
The “other AC” concluded his afternoon with five receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown and 15 carries for 80 yards and a score, en route to being named the Ernest Player of the Game.
Als kicker Damon Duval also put together another very strong outing, finishing the day a perfect 5-5 in field goals – his longest coming from 33 yards out. Duval’s five field goals now gives him 30 on the season.
Montreal’s defence was once again superb, causing four turnovers on the afternoon.
Diamond Ferri, Jerald Brown and Billy Parker all had interceptions, while John Bowman forced and recovered a fumble in addition to sacking Bombers quarterback Michael Bishop twice.
Bishop’s went 9-19 with an interception before being pulled in favour of the newly-acquired Casey Bramlet. Bramlet threw two interceptions of his own before Bishop was reinserted into the ball game.
In a twist, almost immediately following the game, the Bombers traded receivers Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin to the Calgary Stampeders along with a third-round draft pick in 2010 and a negotiation list player for receivers Jabari Arthur and Titus Ryan, defensive lineman Odell Willis and a pair of 2010 picks.
The Als will visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. (RDSHD, TSNHD, CKAC SPORTS, CJAD 800 AM)
Notes
Calvillo passed for over 300 yards for a fifth time this season… The Alouettes played in front of a 92nd-straight sellout crowd at Percival Molson Stadium… The win is the Als’ 15th over the Bombers in 19 games in Montreal since 1996.
