Montreal Alouettes 26 Toronto Argonauts 13 (July 26, 2007)
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0 commentsBrian Bratton's 79-yard punt return for a touchdown with 1:36 remaining led the Montreal Alouettes to a 26-13 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Thursday night.
Bratton's touchdown cemented the win, but it was kicker Damon Duval who kept Montreal in solid position for the victory, hitting three field goals and three singles that staked the Als to a 19-13 advantage.
Montreal (2-2) moved into a second-place tie with Toronto (2-2) in the East Division standings and disappointing a Rogers Centre gathering of 31,097. The Alouettes mustered just one touchdown, and it was set up by a Chip Cox interception in the first quarter.
The two teams meet again next week at Molson Stadium to complete the home-and-home series.
The loss tarnished a record-setting performance by receiver Derrell (Mookie) Mitchell and a solid effort by running back John Avery. Mitchell became Toronto's career receiving leader with a 28-yard catch in the first, He came in needing four yards to surpass Paul Masotti's total of 8,772 yards, and received warm ovation for his accomplishment.
Avery, who was called out earlier in the week by Argos head coach Mike (Pinball) Clemons, surpassed the 100-yard rushing plateau, becoming the first Toronto player to do so since he did it in '04 in a game against Hamilton.
Veteran Damon Allen replaced an ineffective Mike McMahon early in the first, and moved Toronto's offense well enough but could only guide the unit into the end zone once, that coming in the opening quarter.
Toronto pulled to within 18-13 on Noel Prefontaine's 33-yard field goal at 2:31, capping a sparkling 13-play, 83-yard drive that ended in large part by a questionable call by the officials.
A diving catch by Arland Bruce III was called an incompletion despite the replay appearing to show the Argos receiver had got his hands under the ball. Toronto challenged the play, but despite the video evidence, the original call was allowed to stand. One play later, Prefontaine booted the field goal.
Jeff Johnson scored Toronto's touchdown. Prefontaine booted the convert and two field goals.
Elijah Thurmon had Montreal's other touchdown. Duval added two converts.
Montreal rode three second-quarter Duval field goals to a 17-7 half-time lead. The Als had a glorious chance to break the game open, driving to the Toronto one-yard line with 12 seconds remaining. But coach Jim Popp went for the field goal instead of gambling for the TD.
It wasn't a surprising decision. Last week, Montreal failed to score on three tries from Winnipeg's two-yard line, allowing the Bombers to march 109 yards for a pivotal TD in their 20-18 win.
McMahon was lifted for Allen after throwing an interception on the Argos' second possession that set up Calvillo's 12-yard TD pass from to Thurmon at 9:14 for an 8-0 lead.
Allen responded by marching Toronto 94 yards on eight plays, capping it with a 12-yard TD strike to Johnson at 13:15.
NOTES: The Argos wore their light blue third jerseys . . . . Running back Robert Edwards, a 1,000-yard rusher the last two years, was one of Montreal's four healthy scratches for the game, leaving Jarrett Payton, the son of former NFL superstar Walter Payton, to make his CFL debut at tailback.
courtesy cfl.ca
Date
July 26, 2007
