Alouettes 25 - 26 Blue Bombers
Final
  for this game

Winnipeg shocks Montreal, pulls into first-place tie

Oct 22, 2011 - 10:56 PM Winnipeg, MB (Sports Network) - Chris Garrett ran for a one-yard touchdown with 1:02 remaining, vaulting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers over the Montreal Alouettes, 26-25.

Garrett finished with 57 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as the Blue Bombers (10-6) scored 16 unanswered fourth-quarter points to pull into a first place tie with the Alouettes in the CFL East.

With the victory, Winnipeg, which got 236 passing yards and a touchdown from Buck Pierce, secured a home game in the upcoming playoffs.

Anthony Calvillo completed 14-of-37 passes for 199 yards for the Alouettes (10-6), but tossed three interceptions at windy Canad Inns Stadium.

Montreal trailed 10-9 at the half, but dominated the third quarter, scoring 16 unanswered points to take a 25-10 lead.

Sean Whyte began the barrage with field goals of 36 and 12 yards. Paul Woldu then intercepted Pierce in Winnipeg territory and Brandon Whitaker capitalized with a four-yard touchdown run.

Whyte added a 29-yard field goal to make it a 25-10 game, but the Blue Bombers answered with 16 unanswered points of their own.

Justin Palardy hit a 15-yard field goal on Winnipeg's opening drive of the fourth quarter. He then missed a 20-yarder, but Calvillo was intercepted by Jonathan Hefney on the Alouettes' next play from scrimmage and Garrett's two- yard touchdown plunge made it a 25-20 game with seven minutes left.

The Winnipeg defense continued to hold and the Blue Bombers took over following a Montreal punt with 1:22 remaining, poised to grab the decisive advantage.

Garrett's winning touchdown scamper was set up by a pass interference call on Chip Cox in the end zone, which moved the ball from the Montreal 17-yard line to the one.

Following Garrett's run, the Alouettes moved the ball to midfield before running out of time, sealing the Bombers' win.

"We had a lot of spark," said Garrett. "Special teams, defense...they gave us great field position. A lot of good guys made a lot of good plays."

Calvillo was intercepted by Jovon Johnson on the Alouettes' opening drive and the Blue Bombers capitalized with a four-play, 62-yard drive which was capped by Greg Carr's seven-yard touchdown reception. Garrett reeled off a 24-yard run during the drive and Terrence Edwards had a 30-yard reception, as Winnipeg grabbed a 7-0 lead.

On the Alouettes' next play from scrimmage, Calvillo was again intercepted -- this time by Ian Logan -- but Palardy failed to add to the Bombers' lead, missing a 35-yard field goal.

Meanwhile, Whyte was good on field goals of 37, 34 and 26 yards, but Winnipeg was able to add three singles to hold a 10-9 lead at the half.

Game Notes

The Blue Bombers took the season series, 2-1...Whitaker finished with 109 yards and 15 carries.






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