Cobourne late TD run helps Alouettes get past Lions

Sep 14, 2009 - 2:30 AM MONTREAL (CP) - Avon Cobourne's 12-yard touchdown run in the final minute allowed the Montreal Alouettes to rebound from a mistake-filled second half and post a 28-24 victory over the B.C. Lions on Sunday afternoon.

The win avenged Montreal's controversial 19-12 loss in Vancouver last week, when a last-minute Cobourne touchdown was called back due to a mixup among officials that the league admitted was a mistake.

And it denied Lions coach Wally Buono a chance to become the winningest coach in CFL history. He remains tied with Don Matthews, both having 231 career victories.

A 56-yard pass from Anthony Calvillo to Kerry Watkins set up Cobourne's touchdown with 50 seconds to play.

Calvillo and Jamel Richardson also had TDs for Montreal (8-2), which looked in control of the game until two mistakes in the second half resulted in 14 points for the Lions.

B.C. (4-6) converted the Montreal turnovers into touchdowns by O'Neil Wilson and Ryan Grice-Mullen. Geroy Simon also had a TD catch to put the Lions ahead with 7:44 left to play.

With B.C. trailing 13-3 in the opening minute of the second half, Aaron Hunt sacked Calvillo and caused a fumble, which was recovered at the 19-yard line by Jeremy Gibbs. On the Lions' next play, Jackson hit former Alouette O'Neill in the end zone to make it a three-point game.

Montreal marched back in eight plays and Calvillo ran the ball in from the nine-yard line.

The next two Lions possessions ended in turnovers - an interception in his first CFL start by De'Audra Dix and a turnover on downs - but Montreal was not able to make them count.

Then Larry Taylor dropped a punt and B.C.'s Jason Arakgi recovered at the Montreal 17-yard line. Three plays later, Grice-Mullen scored on a one-yard run at 3:37 of the fourth.

On their next possession, Jarious Jackson hit Simon with a 43-yard TD pass to put the Lions in front for the first time.

Montreal got a punt single back, the stunned the home crowd of 20,202 with their last-minute comeback.

The first 23 minutes of play were a succession of dropped passes and other mistakes.

Calvillo went downfield on his first play from scrimmage and was picked off by Dante Marsh. On Montreal's next possession, the offence gave the ball up on downs at the B.C. 50-yard line.

But the Lions also laboured to move the ball. After Rolly Lumbala let a sure touchdown slip through his fingers, Whyte missed a 24-yard field goal try that went off the upright.

Calvillo got his confidence back in the second as he completed five straight passes, capped by a two-yard TD pass to Richardson.

Another march set up Duval's 19-yard boot, but B.C. countered with a drive that produced Whyte's 33-yard field goal. The Alouettes answered with a 25-yard kick on the final play of the half for a 13-3 lead.

NOTES - The number 92 was painted in the east end zone in honour of former star quarterback Sam Etcheverry, who died last week of cancer. A pre-game moment of silence was also held. At halftime, the Alouettes honoured former defensive lineman Glen Weir, who will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame later this month. . . It was Montreal's 100th game at Percival Molson Stadium since returning there in 1998 . . . Montreal slotback Ben Cahoon caught a pass in a 119th straight game to tie former Eskimo Craig Ellis for the third-longest streak all-time. Right behind is Simon, who had a reception in a 116th straight game. . . The 20-second clock did not work, so plays were timed by an on-field official.