BURSTThe streak is over for the B.C. Lions.
Quarterback Davis Alexander threw for 297 yards and a touchdown, lifting the Montreal Alouettes to a 37-30 win over the visiting Lions in CFL action Friday at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
A big third quarter propelled the Als (10-2) to their home triumph, as they ended a five-game win streak for the Lions, who slipped to 6-6 on the year.
Tyler Snead had a pair of touchdowns for the victors, with Liam Talbot and Tyrice Beverette also adding TDs. Kicker Jose Maltos Diaz had three field goals and four extra points.
For the Lions, quarterback Nathan Rourke tossed for 375 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw a costly interception. Justin McInnis and Jermaine Jackson had B.C.’s touchdowns, with kicker Sean Whyte accounting for five field goals and an extra point.
B.C. running back Zander Horvath, who exploded for 164 yards and four touchdowns last week in a win over the Ottawa Redblacks, had just 46 yards on 17 carries, and was stopped twice on third down attempts.
The Als opened the scoring on their first drive, marching confidently downfield and finishing things off with an eight-yard TD toss from Alexander to Snead. Maltos Diaz added the convert to make it 7-0.
B.C. answered with a scoring drive of their own, with Whye booting a 39-yard field goal to pull B.C. within 7-3.
Montreal rolled downfield again, driving to the B.C. one-yard line. But the Lions defence, led by Darnell Sankey, stiffened and rebuffed three straight sneak attempts to force a turnover on downs.
With five seconds left in the quarter, Horvath broke loose for what appeared to be a 69-yard TD romp, but it was called back due to a holding penalty and the quarter finished with Montreal up 7-3.
Early in the second quarter, Whyte connected again, this time from 27 yards out, to pull B.C. within 7-6.
With 3:06 left in the frame, he gave B.C. third first lead at 9-7 with a 49-yard field goal.
With less than two minutes left, Montreal’s Cole Spieker caught a pass but fumbled after being hit by B.C.’s TJ Lee. Parker McKenna recovered for the Lions, who wrapped up the first half with a 45-yard Whyte field goal to give them a 12-7 lead at the break.
The momentum took a swing toward the Als in the third quarter. Three minutes in, Maltos Diaz hit a 50-yard field goal to cut the B.C. lead to 12-10.
The Lions responded with their first touchdown, a 20-yard connection from Rourke to McInnis. Whyte’s extra point left B.C. up 19-10.
With 6:48 to play in the quarter, Canadian running back Talbot carried in from six yards out for a Montreal major. Maltos Diaz added the point after to cut the B.C. lead to 19-17.
With just over four minutes to play in the quarter, the Als defence stopped Horvath for a second time on the night in a third-and-short situation, getting the ball back at midfield.
Montreal then appeared to take the lead as Alexander rolled to his right and launched a second-down bomb to Snead in the end zone. It was initially ruled a catch but the call was overturned after replay review.
On the next play, Maltos Diaz hit a 48-yard field goal and Montreal moved ahead 20-19.
On the first play of their ensuing drive, Rourke was intercepted by Beverette, who took it back 57 yards for a touchdown. Maltos Diaz added the convert and Montreal suddenly had an eight-point lead at 27-19. It was Beverette’s second career pick six. The Als outscored B.C. 20-7 in the quarter.
Whyte’s fifth field goal of the night, from 36 yards away, pulled B.C. within five at 27-22 with eight minutes to play.
With three minutes remaining, an end zone penalty interference call gave the Als the ball at the B.C. one. Snead then took a handoff and strolled in untouched for a TD and Maltos Diaz converted to give Montreal a comfortable 12-point lead at 34-22.
A circus touchdown catch in the end zone by Jackson with 1:38 to play gave the Lions some late life. B.C. converted a two-point try to pull within four at 34-30.
The Lions attempted an onside kick but it was recovered by Montreal’s Tyson Philpot. Maltos Diaz kicked a 39-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to make it 37-30 for the Als, who held on for the win.
NOTES: Alexander now has 25 TD passes on the year, against just two interceptions… Montreal clinched a playoff spot and a home playoff date (they are 7-0 at home this season) with the victory… McInnis finished with 100 yards on six catches… Sankey led the B.C. defence with nine tackles and no other player had more than three… The Leos host the Als in a rematch on Saturday, Sept. 12 (7 p.m.) at BC Place.