Music: {allcanada} Getting crowded in the West

Sunday, October 30, 2011

{allcanada} Getting crowded in the West

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MONTREAL -- Johnny Forzani and Jon Cornish each scored a pair of touchdowns and Drew Tate improved to 2-0 as a starter as the Calgary Stampeders downed the Montreal Alouettes 32-27 on Sunday to move into a three-way tie for first place in the CFL West Division.

The Stampeders, B.C. and Edmonton are all 10-7 heading into the final week of the regular season, but Calgary has lost the season series to both rivals and must beat Winnipeg on Saturday and have both the Lions and the Eskimos lose to finish first and get the bye to the West final.

The Alouettes (10-7) wasted a chance to move ahead of Winnipeg into first in the East and must beat B.C. next Sunday and have the Blue Bombers lose to Calgary to claim first place.

Brandon Whitaker, Adrian McPherson and Marc-Olivier Brouillette scored TDs for the Alouettes in an end to end game in which their defence struggled to keep up with Tate's pass attack and scrambling ability. Montreal kept the game close on turnovers and a clever trick play that worked.

A late drive saw Anthony Calvillo hit Eric Deslauriers with a 31-yard TD pass with 1:56 left to play, but a two-point conversion attempt that could have tied the game failed when Keon Raymond just got enough of Calvillo's foot to trip him up before he reached the end zone.

The Stamps settled it with their final drive, capped by Rene Paredes' 41-yard field goal.

The Stampeders offence was humming through the first half, but was set back by a pair of fumbles.

Tate's opening drive went six plays capped by a 32-yard TD toss to a wide open Forzani 3:15 into the game.

The Alouettes answered right back with a five-play drive and Whitaker's seven yard TD run.

Then Calgary marched back, as a 41 yard toss to Rob Cote set up Cornish's one-yard scoring plunge.

The Stampeders escaped trouble when a video challenge showed Henry Burris, now the backup quarterback, fumbled on a third and one play. Montreal took it to the Calgary three only to turn the ball over on downs.

Montreal made no mistake when Joffrey Reynolds fumbled on Calgary's next possession and Greg Laybourn returned it to the two. McPherson took it in from the one. Stamps punter Burke Dales kicked one in for a single and a 15-14 halftime lead.

Charleston Hughes stripped the ball from Calvillo and Calgary recovered at midfield, only to see Chip Cox pick off a Tate pass at the Montreal 31 to open the third quarter.

Tate then helped himself on another drive with an unexpected quarterback draw to help set up Cornish's second TD from the one.

The Alouette offence looked to be going no where, but a direct snap to Brouillette in punt formation saw the backup safety romp 72 yards for a TD to cut the Calgary lead to 22-21.

The Stamps got that back after Montreal turned the ball over on downs again at midfield and Tate hit Forzani with an 18 yard TD toss 4:11 into the fourth quarter.

Calvillo got the yards he needed to reach 5,000 passing yards for the sixth time in his career and his favourite target Jamel Richardson caught five passes to give him 110 for the season, two short of the team record held by Ben Cahoon.

In the final minute of the game, Richardson caught a 37 yard pass to put him over 100 for the game -- his CFL record 12th game with 100 this season. Calvillo had two pass attempts into the end zone to end the game, but neither connected.

Montreal receiver Kerry Watkins left the game with an undisclosed injury early in the second quarter.