ALOUETTES REMAIN UNDEFEATED WITH ROAD BLOWOUT OF ROUGHRIDERS

The Montreal Alouettes are leaving no doubt about who is currently the best team in the CFL.  This past weekend they ran their record to a perfect 3-0 with a 43-10 domination of the host Saskatchewan Roughriders.  The Alouettes started slow on offense, but methodically broke down the Roughriders over the course of the game.  The Als’ defense smothered Saskatchewan throughout, prompting fans to begin streaming out of Taylor Field by midway through the third quarter.

Montreal QB Anthony Calvillo threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns on 24 of 34 passing.  The two touchdown strikes put Calvillo at 333 TD passes for his career, tying the late Ron Lancaster for second on the CFL’s all time list.  Lancaster, who passed away last year, played most of his career in Saskatchewan and is revered as a legend of the game in much the same way that NFL fans view Johnny Unitas.  Calvillo still has a ways to go to claim the top spot, held by Damon Allen who threw 394 TD passes in 23 seasons under center.
 
Calvillo received a lot of help from his rushing game, particularly Avon Cobourne who ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns becoming the first running back to break the century mark against Saskatchewan this season.  After the game he praised his teammates on both sides of the ball, singling out Montreal’s suffocating defense:

"It wasn't me. It was my teammates. I think I do have the best O-line in the league and they make it easy for me. "Our defence is ridiculous. I mean, number one in the league. The way we ended last year, they just stayed on a roll. Six turnovers. Countless two and outs. They pretty much kept the offence in the game because we started off way too slow."

Saskatchewan managed only 145 yards of total offense, and pulled starter Darian Durant out of desperation in the second half in favor of Steven Jyles.  All of the Roughriders’ points were scored by their defense off of Alouette turnovers.  In his postgame comments, Roughriders’ coach Ken Miller summed up the loss:

"We had a problem with giving up penalties. We take a lot of pride in ball security. We didn't do that today. We take a lot of pride in not giving up big plays and making some ourselves and that ratio. We made some big plays but we gave up some big plays as well. On the other hand, I want to give credit to Montreal because they played well and when it counted they were able to score points."

Montreal easily covered as -4 road favorites, with the combined 53 points going UNDER the posted total of 57.  The Alouettes have covered all three games this season, with the previous two contests this season going OVER the total.  Saskatchewan dropped to 2-1 straight up and against the spread, and also played their first UNDER of the season.

The Alouettes will host Hamilton on Thursday night and have been installed as a -14 point favorite with the total set at 55.  Saskatchewan welcomes the Edmonton Eskimos to Regina on Saturday.  The Roughriders are -4 home favorites with the total in the game posted at 53’.