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Alouettes clinch third straight East Division title, beat Blue Bombers 22-19

Oct 17, 2010 - 11:00 PM MONTREAL (CP) - Anthony Calvillo threw touchdown passes to Jamel Richardson and Ben Cahoon as the Montreal Alouettes clinched their third straight East Division title with a 22-19 win over Winnipeg on Sunday.

Avon Cobourne added 99 rushing yards and 51 receiving yards for the Alouettes (11-4), who can't be caught by the 8-7 Hamilton Tiger Cats in the East standings because they won the season series between the teams.

The loss further dims the unlikely playoff hopes for the Blue Bombers (4-11), who picked up a boost last week from quarterback Steven Jyles.

It was a different story this week, as Jyles threw two interceptions, was sacked four times and completed only 16 passes. One of them was a 72-yard touchdown pass to Terrence Edwards with 1:13 left in regulation.

Jyles threw to Brock Ralph for the two-point convert to make it 22-19, and Montreal went two-and-out to make it interesting at the end.

But Chip Cox stripped Terence Jefers Harris and recovered the fumble to seal the Bombers loss, their seventh this season by four points or fewer.

Winnipeg will now need some help to reach the post-season as the Bombers must pass both the Edmonton Eskimos and B.C. Lions -- both 5-10 -- in order to grab a crossover playoff berth.

Winnipeg is now 0-8 on the road this season and is in danger of matching its winless road record of 1998.

Cahoon moved into sixth place all-time in career receiving yardage when he caught a six-yard pass from Calvillo in the second quarter, passing Ray Elgaard to become the top Canadian on that list.

After making all six of his field goal tries last week and being named the CFL special teams player of the week, Alouettes kicker Colt David had a difficult day. He missed three of his five field goal attempts from 29, 35 and 41 yards, connecting on two chip shots from 21 yards out.

The first half was a battle of ineptitude, with both teams combining for five turnovers and Montreal coming out ahead 12-11.

David missed from 35 yards out before Jyles orchestrated a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 5:12, capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass to Greg Carr at 7:20 of the first.

Tim Maypray muffed the ensuing kickoff, giving Winnipeg a single, but Montreal got that back when David missed again from 29 yards out for another single.

Justin Palardy connected from 40 yards out just before the end of the first to make it 11-2 Winnipeg.

On the last play of the first quarter Winnipeg linebacker Clint Kent forced a fumble when he sacked Calvillo and recovered it himself at the Montreal 16-yard line.

But Jyles threw an interception to Mark Estellein the end zone to squander the turnover, only to have Calvillo throw a pick in the end zone on the next drive.

David finally connected on a 22-yard field goal at 12:13 of the second quarter, and Etienne Boulay picked off a Jyles pass intended for Brock Ralph on Winnipeg's next offensive play. Calvillo capped a seven-play, 56-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Richardson at 14:00 of the second to make it 12-11 Montreal.

Cahoon scored the only points of the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown reception at 6:03, and David kicked his second field goal of the game at 4:30 of the fourth to make it 22-11 Alouettes.

Notes: Head coach Paul LaPolice was on the Blue Bomber sidelines after remaining in Winnipeg an extra day to be with his pregnant wife, who is expecting their second child...Longtime Alouettes centre Bryan Chiu -- the franchise leader in games played with 218 -- was honoured prior to the game. Chiu retired just before the start of training camp, and is now the offensive line coach and co-offensive co-ordinator at Concordia University...A pro scout from the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles was in attendance.