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Whitaker helps Als down Lions

Sep 1, 2012 - 3:38 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Brandon Whitaker scored the go-ahead touchdown in the closing minutes and the Montreal Alouettes held on for a 30-25 win over the British Columbia Lions Friday at Stade Percival-Molson Stadium.

Whitaker's two-yard touchdown run marked his third major of the game and put the Alouettes (6-3) ahead with less than four minutes to go, but the Lions responded with a lengthy drive. They moved to the eight yard line on a 3rd- and-5 completion from Travis Lulay to Arland Bruce with 53 seconds remaining.

The march stalled there as an incomplete pass and a sack by Ventrell Jenkins followed before Billy Parker broke up Lulay's pass in the end zone to seal Montreal's fourth straight win.

"In the end we were in position to win the football game but we came up a play short," said Lulay.

Anthony Calvillo completed 19-of-31 passes for 321 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Whitaker, who finished with 64 receiving yards and 48 yards on the ground.

Brian Bratton caught five passes for 91 yards in the victory.

Lulay finished with 275 yards on 24-of-39 passing and tossed a pair of touchdown strikes to Bruce.

Bruce finished with 76 yards on six catches and Andrew Harris rushed for 56 yards on five carries for the Lions (6-3), who saw their four-game win streak come to an end.

Both of Whitaker's touchdown receptions came in the first half -- of 12 and 28 yards -- and Sean Whyte added a 37-yard field goal for a 17-11 lead at the break.

BC, which got a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lulay to Bruce in the first half, as well as a 46-yard field goal by Paul McCallum and a single, started the third quarter strong.

Tim Brown was the third-quarter catalyst for the Lions. He returned the opening kickoff 61 yards to set up McCallum's 36-yard boot, then took a punt back 56 yards, resulting in a 47-yarder from McCallum and a 17-17 game.

Late in the third, the Alouettes responded with a 72-yard drive and Victor Anderson capped the march by barreling through a bevy of defenders en route to a five-yard major.

The Lions opened the fourth with a single before Lulay capped a 56-yard drive with a short touchdown pass to Bruce for a 25-24 edge.

Whitaker's game-winning major was set up by a pair of long completions by Lulay. First, the quarterback tossed a strike to Bratton behind the defense for 42 yards. He then connected with Eric Deslauriers for 26 yards, and Whitaker found the end zone on the ensuing play.

"It was a battle," said Whitaker. "A typical playoff type game."

Game Notes

Calvillo now has eight straight 300-yard passing games ... Lulay has thrown a touchdown pass in 20 consecutive games ... The Lions hold a 33-31-1 edge in the all-time, regular-season series.