Alouettes take out frustrations on lowly Roughriders

Duron Carter put up Ben Cahoon-like numbers as the Montreal Alouettes won the basement battle with a 41-3 beatdown of the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday.

On a night when Cahoon, the second-leading receiver in CFL history, had his No. 86 retired in a halftime ceremony at Molson Stadium, Montreal (2-3) ended a three-game skid with little difficulty, despite having played on Monday. Carter was catalytic with eight receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown. Veteran rush end John Bowman, one of the few current Alouettes who played with Cahoon, also contributed a sack as Montreal built a 22-0 halftime lead.

That put the game well out of reach of injury-depleted Saskatchewan (1-4), which had quarterback Mitchell Gale making only his second career CFL start behind a patchwork offensive line that was operating with one healthy starter, right tackle Thaddeus Coleman. The Roughriders did not cross Montreal's 35-yard line until the 10:16 mark of the third quarter and reached the red zone only once. Receivers Rob Bagg and Ricky Collins Jr. each failed to record catches in the opening half.

Alouettes quarterback Kevin Glenn threw for two touchdowns, with B.J. Cunningham and Brandon Rutley the recipients. Carter made a diving catch for a 16-yard touchdown on a pass from backup QB Rakeem Cato late in the fourth quarter.

Montreal had averaged only 14.8 points during the first four games. The Als matched their average in the first quarter alone.

A strange turnover from Saskatchewan set up the second touchdown. Gale tried a swing pass to Bagg, but threw the ball low and slightly backwards. Alouettes defensive back Billy Parker caught the ball off a clean bounce and had a path to the end zone before a quick whistle stopped play.

Following a successful Montreal coach's challenge for a fumble recovery, Glenn manufactured a 63-yard drive. Wide receiver Samuel Giguere drew a 20-yard pass-interference penalty on Roughriders cornerback Justin Cox to move the ball to the 1-yard line, then scored on a short run two plays later.

Brandon Bridge added a rushing TD for Montreal. Kicker Boris Bede, who has struggled with his accuracy all season, was 1-for-2 on field goals, with the miss resulting in a 46-yard single. Bede is only 6-of-14 on the season.

The Roughriders' offensive line appeared to take another hit. Guard Josiah St. John, the No. 1 overall pick in the CFL draft, needed on-field treatment for a leg injury midway through the fourth quarter. Saskatchewan already has left tackle Xavier Fulton, left guard Brendon LaBatte, and centre Dan Clark on the six-game injured list. Right guard Chris Best has yet to suit up due to an undisclosed injury.

Quarterback Darian Durant missed his second consecutive game due to a sprained ankle.

Rookie kicker Tyler Crapigna was 1-for-1, kicking a 38-yard field goal midway through the third quarter to ensure Saskatchewan would avoid a shutout.

Saskatchewan and Montreal are each back in action on Thursday. Montreal hosts Jonathon Jennings and the improved BC Lions, while Saskatchewan visits the Calgary Stampeders.