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Whyte's last-second FG lifts Als over Lions

Aug 23, 2013 - 4:11 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Eric Deslauriers made a diving 57-yard catch with one second remaining to set up a Sean Whyte 14-yard field goal that gave the Montreal Alouettes a wild 39-38 comeback win over the British Columbia Lions in a Week 9 thriller.

Tanner Marsh made a clutch throw with time winding down, and Deslauriers' sensational grab helped end a two-game slide for the injury stricken Alouettes (3-5), who overcame six turnovers, including four interceptions from their rookie quarterback.

"I threw it as far as I could and gave (Deslauriers) a chance," Marsh said of the game-altering pass. "Eric made an outstanding catch."

Montreal (2-6) was without several starters, most notably quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who suffered a head injury in last Saturday's loss to Saskatchewan.

Josh Neiswander got the nod under center and was quickly pulled after throwing an early interception. Marsh was much more effective in relief duty, as he tossed for 329 yards while throwing for a major and running in another.

Paul McCallum made five field goals, Tim Brown returned a missed field goal for a score and Travis Lulay threw two touchdown passes to Shawn Gore, but the Lions (5-3) had their two-game winning streak come to an end.

Tyron Carrier's big kickoff return at the start of the second half set up Jerome Messam's 16-yard touchdown run, which cut Montreal's deficit to 21-14.

Momentum briefly stayed with the Als when Lulay threw an interception on the next play from scrimmage, but the hosts could not capitalize, as Whyte missed a field goal attempt that was caught by Brown in the end zone. Brown zig- zagged his way through the defenders, made the kicker miss before midfield and outran everyone else en route to a 125-yard TD.

The crowd in Molson Stadium quickly got back into it when Arland Bruce III hauled in a deep pass for 86 yards, prior to Marsh scrambling for a 6-yard TD.

Whyte split the uprights on a 42-yard field goal late in the third quarter, then connected from 30 yards out to pull the Als within 28-27 with 13:08 left.

A roughing-the-passer penalty extended BC's next drive, and McCallum padded the lead with a 33-yard field goal. The game looked like it was iced shortly thereafter, as Korey Banks picked off an errant Marsh pass, and Gore took a short pass and went in for a 29-yard TD.

Carrier kept Montreal in it by taking back the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a major, though the critical two-point conversion failed. Carrier was tripped up by McCallum at the BC 30-yard line a little later, and the Als settled for a 34-yard Whyte field goal.

Marsh was intercepted the next two possessions, but came up with the big play at the end.

"We created six turnovers. You have to capitalize on those, but we didn't," Lions head coach Mike Benevides said. "You have to give a ton of credit to Montreal. They made big plays when they had to, especially in the fourth quarter."

McCallum's 45-yard field goal followed by a safety coming off an errant snap on a punt gave the Lions an early 5-0 lead.

Lulay hit Gore on a slant for a 10-yard major, and McCallum added a 39-yard field goal early in the second quarter for a healthy cushion.

But Marsh, despite rain coming down in bunches, finally got the Alouettes moving, and on 3rd-and-goal from the 3-yard-line, the rookie from Arkansas Tech connected with S.J. Green in the end zone to get Montreal on the board.

"I'm a third stringer, but I prepared like I was starting, and I got my opportunity," Marsh said.

McCallum connected on kicks of 44 and 25 yards out just before halftime.

Game Notes

Banks' upped his interception total to 37 for his career ... Duron Carter, the son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Cris Carter, caught a 52-yard pass in the second quarter for Montreal ... Bruce caught seven passes for 167 yards ... Lulay threw for 206 yards on 15-of-28 attempts ... These teams meet again in British Columbia on Sept. 15.