Calvillo, Alouettes tame Roughriders

Oct 9, 2006, 21:00 GMT

Montreal, QC - Anthony Calvillo threw two touchdowns as Montreal gave new head coach Jim Popp a win in his debut with a 35-8 rout of Saskatchewan at Percival Molson Stadium.

Don Matthews resigned as the Alouettes head coach Wednesday with the team saying he left due to health reasons. Popp, who is also the general manager, took over coaching duties for the remainder of the season.

Matthews leaves as the winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 career wins. He also won a record-tying five Grey Cups, including one with Montreal in 2002.

Calvillo went 25-for-35 with 285 yards and an interception and Ben Cahoon had eight catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns for the Alouettes (9-6), who have won two straight after dropping six straight.

With the win, Montreal clinched a spot in the playoffs and is currently in first place in the Eastern Division. The win also clinched first place in the Western Division for British Columbia. Toronto, which has a 9-6 record, beat Edmonton, 28-23.

Kerry Joseph was 15-of-25 for 177 yards, one touchdown and an interception and Yo Murphy had four catches for 62 yards and a score for the Roughriders (7-8), who have dropped two straight and three of their last four.

Montreal took its opening drive of the game 75 yards downfield and on the fifth play of the drive Robert Edwards punched the ball into the end zone from one yard out for a 7-0 lead less than six minutes into the game.

After stopping the Roughriders on their next possession, Chip Cox partially blocked a punt by Luca Congi and Jeff Piercy returned the ball 22 yards to the Saskatchewan 8. On the next play Calvillo connected with Cahoon in the end zone to make it 14-0 with 7:17 left in the first.

Saskatchewan got on the scoreboard when Congi missed a 14-yard field goal to get a single and make it a 14-1 game a little over six minutes into the second.

The Alouettes, though, grabbed a 21-1 lead as Calvillo again connected with Cahoon for a 20-yard touchdown reception with nine seconds left in the half.

The catch gave Cahoon 651 career receptions, which moved him past Tommy Joe Coffey for 10th place on the CFL all-time list.

Congi conceded a pair of safeties in the third quarter to give Montreal a 25-1 lead heading into the final quarter.

Damon Duval connected on a 35-yard field goal a little over five minutes into the fourth quarter and on the first play of the Roughriders ensuing drive Davis Sanchez picked off a pass by Joseph and returned it 43 yards into the end zone to give Montreal a 35-1 lead.

Saskatchewan finally got on the board with 5:20 to play as Joseph connected with Murphy to make it a 35-8 contest.

Game Notes

The last time these teams met Montreal posted a 30-14 win in last year's East Division semifinal.

Montreal is 5-3 at home this year.

Saskatchewan is 2-5 on the road.

Edwards finished with 29 yards on 14 carries.

© 2006 The Sports Network