Rookie quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw his first career CFL touchdown to help lift the Montreal Alouettes to a 19-14 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday.
The win snapped the Alouettes’ (5-11) two-game losing skid and put a halt to the Riders’ (5-11) four-game winning streak.
Both teams had already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Adams, making his first career start, found a wide-open Marcus Henry in the back of the end zone for the fourth-quarter score that gave the Alouettes a 19-5 lead. The 22-yard strike was Montreal’s second touchdown of the half after both team failed to find the end zone in the first half.
Adams completed 11-of-24 pass attempts for 177 yards and the single touchdown. He was also intercepted once.
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The Riders made things interesting midway through the fourth quarter when Darian Durant ran 10 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to seven (19-12) with seven minutes remaining.
A potential game-tying scoring drive was snuffed on an incomplete pass attempt as time expired.
The Alouettes’ defence set up the team’s first touchdown. Linebacker Chip Cox sacked Durant and knocked the ball from the quarterback’s hand. Michael-Alan Cash recovered at the Saskatchewan four-yard line.
Adams and the Montreal offence took advantage on the next play. Samuel Giguere took a handoff around the right end for the touchdown that gave the Als a 13-5 lead midway through the third quarter.
Montreal appeared to have added to its lead when Cox scooped up a Durant fumble on short yardage and raced 34 yards for a touchdown. However, an offsides penalty against the Als negated that play.
Adams led Montreal on two scoring drives in the first quarter. Boris Bede kicked two field goals (50 yards and 24 yards) and the Alouettes jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
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After a conceded safety, a Tyler Crapigna field goal from 42 yards brought the Riders to within one at 6-5.
That score stood at the half.
Saskatchewan running back Joe McKnight was the team’s top performer on offence for the second consecutive week. Playing in his second game with the Riders, McKnight rushed for 62 yards on 13 carries. He also had 83 yards on nine receptions. The previous week, the former Edmonton Eskimo starred in the team’s 29-11 victory over the Toronto Argonauts with 150 rushing yards.
Durant was 25 for 37 for 208 yards.
Both teams will conclude the home portions of their 2016 seasons next weekend. The Riders will host the B.C. Lions in the final CFL game to be played at Mosaic Stadium. The Alouettes will host the Calgary Stampeders.
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