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Blue Bombers hold off Alouettes

Sep 18, 2011 - 11:05 PM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Buck Pierce threw for two touchdowns and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers survived a late push from the Montreal Alouettes to take a 25-23 win.

Pierce went 20-for-29 with 312 yards and an interception while Terrence Edwards and Greg Carr each caught a touchdown for the Blue Bombers (8-3), who were coming off consecutive losses to Saskatchewan.

"We were licking our chops all week," said Pierce. "We knew we could take advantage of our opportunities, which we did, and made the big plays early on."

Anthony Calvillo threw for two scores and was 22-for-39 with 258 yards for the Alouettes (6-5), who have lost three of their last four games.

"I'm very disappointed in how I played today throughout the game," said Calvillo. "I missed a couple of guys but I thought my reads were OK. We didn't get it going until the fourth quarter and by then it was too late."

Pierce's nine-yard score to Carr just over five minutes into the first quarter gave Winnipeg the lead and Fred Reid made it a 14-0 game on a 47-yard rushing touchdown later in the first quarter.

Sean Whyte hit field goals of 39 and 26 yards for Montreal and Calvillo hit Brian Bratton on a 13-yard score.

Whyte later added a single to tie the game, but Justin Palardy connected on a 46-yard field goal in the final seconds of the half to give the Blue Bombers a 17-14 lead at the break.

A single from Mike Renaud and 39-yard touchdown catch from Edwards in the third quarter gave the Blue Bombers a 25-14 lead.

White hit a 15-yard field goal early in the fourth and Calvillo found Jamel Richardson in the end zone for an 11-yard score with just under three minutes to play, but the two-point conversion failed and Winnipeg was able to keep Montreal from putting up any more points.

Game Notes

Reid finished with 84 yards on 13 carries...Winnipeg plays at Toronto next Saturday...Montreal plays at Edmonton on Friday.